GIREFV

The creation of a research network entitled "Groupe international de recherche Enfants, Familles, Vulnérabilité" (GIREFV) aims to develop exchanges and collaborations between different European and non-European research units on issues relating to child protection in general, the follow-up of children and families in vulnerable situations in particular. This was made concrete following an international symposium held in Besançon in June 2017 (Education, families, children and vulnerabilities) Its ambition is to develop knowledge on the vulnerability of children and families in the field of child protection, to change views (representations) and practices with regard to vulnerable families through the promotion of participatory approaches and their modelling. Families, children, young people on the one hand, and professionals on the other hand can be involved in research projects to feed global knowledge through their knowledge, working in a reflective framework. We observe the emergence in the field of other approaches, other professional practices that go from an expert conception (the professional knows, as the researcher knows) to a participative logic (joint development of the project for the child or, in research, participation of actors in the analysis of processes). Among its objectives, the network wishes to present a project within the framework of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) actions and more precisely within the framework of the Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) actions, a project focused on the mobility of researchers and non-academic (professional) partners. The different research units concerned have had in common to work for many years on child protection issues such as attention to child development, parenting support, assessment of situations of neglect and abuse, care of children at home and outside the family home, professional practices, and the future of children and families. They are interested in the social and psychological processes at stake for families, professionals and institutions. They aim on understanding current developments in terms of both practices and representations. They place their work within the framework of field research that brings together professionals in order to strengthen the link between research and practice. The network, through a RISE project, wishes to organize exchanges through the organization of the mobility of researchers and professionals as part of a joint project on the place of children and families in child protection systems. The opening up of research to other models, the evolution of professional practices towards a greater attention to the expectations of children and families and their resources provide perspectives: renewal of knowledge, renewal of the understanding of the processes at work in the emergence of family and educational difficulties and in social accompaniment. This is an important issue in favor of children, their health, their future, for the definition of public policies and professional training policy.