Developmental Child Welfare

Scope

The broad aim of the journal is to advance our understanding of the development, health (including mental health) and well-being of children and adolescents exposed to severe social adversity throughout the world, specifically maltreated children and adolescents who remain in their parents’ care, and those subsequently placed in alternative forms of care – as well as the long-term impact that these experiences have on adult development and the development of subsequent generations. Within this broad aim, the journal’s scope is defined by both specific subject matter, and specific populations. Its subject coverage is limited to children’s psychological, neurological, physical and social development and functioning (including research pertaining to children’s physical and mental health, learning and education), as well as parental, caregiver and systemic factors that shape children’s development and functioning. Its population coverage is limited to maltreated children and adolescents who remain with their families; those placed by the state in statutory (i.e. foster, kinship or residential) care; those who exit statutory care to adoption or other permanent arrangements, including restoration to their parents’ care; as well as their parents and caregivers (where parenting and caregiver research is directly pertinent to children’s development).