Involving child and youth advisors in academic research about child participation: The Child and Youth Advisory Committees of the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Collins, Tara M.; Jamieson, Lucy; Wright, Laura H.V.; Rizzini, Irene; Mayhew, Amanda; Narang, Javita; Tisdall, E. Kay M.; Ruiz-Casares, Mónica
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 109(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Children -- Participation -- Child rights -- Children in research -- Child and youth advisory; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104569
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: Opening up dialogue with children and youth can add to research and support participation. Young people's advisory groups contribute a valuable ethical dimension to research practice. Institutional ethics requirements can create challenges for ethical practice with children and youth. Young people and adults may have differing expectations of the role and process of advisory groups. Virtual communications can facilitate dialogue, but have limitations in the Global South. Abstract: Nearly thirty years ago, the world recognised the participation rights of children with the adoption by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since then childhood researchers in the Global South and Global North have been at the forefront of promoting these rights. The increased involvement of children and youth in research has challenged 'traditional' adult research practices in numerous ways. This article explores the role and contributions of Child and Youth Advisory Committees (CYACs) in the research process. It discusses the establishment of CYACs and how they supported the International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP). The ICCRP began as a three-year multi-country research project addressing children's rights to participation and protection and monitoring this connection internationally within several Global South and North countries: Brazil, Canada, China and South Africa. This article describes the creation and functioning of the ICCRP CYACs and the strengths, challenges, and creative processes in implementation. Findings presented relate to ethics regulation, differing expectations and assumptions about CYAC involvement, and virtual communication. These are discussed with the inclusion of adult researchers' and the CYAC members' perspectives. The article shares lessons learned about the role and significance of dialogue to support other child and youth advisory bodies in research at the local and global levels.