We ground our research in child welfare realities and policies and aim to deepen the role of research for policy making in child protection.
RESEARCH
The CRC SSVC program of research focuses on effectively identifying long-term child protection service trajectories, the mediating effects of out-of-home placement on children’s well-being, and the influence of socioeconomic vulnerabilities on child protection service outcomes.
In our research, we look at a variety of factors related to child welfare involvement across time and space using data science to analyze large administrative datasets. Our geospatial methods enable us to analyze structural (e.g., socioeconomic, demographic, neighbourhood service availability) elements within specific geographic areas and jurisdictions. In close collaboration with community-based child protection agencies, we employ our research to support population-based longitudinal analysis of child welfare involvement.
These approaches support policy analysis development that is informed by smart, contextualized research. See our research publications here.
POLICY
Taken together and in an integrated manner, the geospatial and longitudinal work of the CRC SSVC team can help policy makers better understand the context and challenges facing vulnerable children and families, which may change the way we prioritize social services and transform policy on these issues. Our research contributes better understanding of the extent to which jurisdictional disparities in socioeconomic vulnerabilities and health and social service funding impact the probability of out-of-home placement, family reunification and reunification breakdown, and recurrence of child maltreatment.
As the face and leader of the CRC SSVC research program, Prof. Esposito has contributed to policy discussions in a variety of public settings. We are also leading coordination efforts to streamline child protection data administration across Canada.
See a selection of our recent policy-related endeavours here.