Supervising and supporting child protection and welfare systems. The role and functions of monitoring mechanisms

Abstract

Child protection and welfare systems wield significant authority to intervene in family life to safeguard children, yet such interventions can have complex, sometimes harmful, consequences for children, families and communities. Recent scholarship highlights that, despite their protective aims, these systems may reinforce systemic inequalities and, at times, fail to prevent harm due to organizational shortcomings or structural biases. In response to these challenges, effective supervision and monitoring mechanisms have emerged as critical tools for minimizing errors and reducing harm. However, the structures, functions and impacts of these mechanisms remain under‐researched, with limited comparative analysis across contexts. This special issue addresses two central questions: What mechanisms exist for supervising child protection and welfare systems and what are their merits and costs? Drawing on contributions from 19 scholars across eight countries, the issue offers a comparative, multidisciplinary exploration of monitoring practices. This special issue advances a nuanced understanding of the risks and imperatives of monitoring in child protection. It aims to inform researchers, practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance the integrity of child welfare systems while outlining a future research agenda to address ongoing gaps in knowledge.