‘Shown love from the brokenness of a system’: Themes from a Poetic Inquiry Reimagining Child Welfare

Child welfare (CW) reforms have called for including family and youth voice. Yet, most initiatives have remained at individual levels, and research has rarely included youth, parent and professional voices simultaneously and equally. This study sought to integrate these perspectives and identify systems-level strategies that could reimagine CW. Using an arts-based method and thematic analysis, researchers investigated recommendations for policy and practice changes needed to transform CW to better support youth. Data were collected from individual and relational poems written by forty-one participants, including youth with foster care (FC) experience and CW professionals. Participants were located in a Midwestern state in the USA. Four themes were generated and several key findings were highlighted. First, results demonstrated relationship-building as central to supporting youth in FC. Secondly, participants described complex, fragmented and fluctuating views about the purpose of CW. Thirdly, strong emotions were commonly demonstrated by both youth and professionals. Fourthly, participants offered prescriptive actions needed to better support youth. Overall, this study indicates that CW should centre relationship-building, youth self-determination and practices that build resilience for youth and professionals. Findings also provide hope for transforming CW towards an accountable, family-centred, well-being system.