Child Protection during the Perinatal Period: Innovation in Assessment and Practice

20th May 2021 : 13:30 - 16:45

Category: Public Seminar

Research Group: Child Development and Learning | Rees Centre

Speaker: Various

Location: Online - Registration required

Convener: Harriet Ward

Audience: Public

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK ON INFANTS, TODDLERS AND CHILD PROTECTION

CHILD PROTECTION DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD: INNOVATION IN ASSESSMENT AND PRACTICE

EXPERT SEMINAR AND DISCUSSION

 

REGISTER HERE

FULL PROGRAMME HERE

An optimal caregiving environment during the perinatal period is critical for the healthy development of infants. Challenges to optimal development include poor nutrition, a chaotic and stressful environment and, critically, insensitive and unresponsive caregiving. Infants are at higher risk of maltreatment than any other age group and have a higher-than-average risk of being the victims of homicide. Despite their vulnerabilities, infants deemed to be at risk of harm are often not given adequate protection within a time frame that is consistent with their developmental needs. Furthermore, an increasing number of infants are being removed at birth due to failures to identify and support pregnant women with recognised risks, many of whom have no specialist input until late in pregnancy.

This online seminar focusses on child protection in the period from conception to birth. This is a significant issue in view of widespread evidence concerning the high (and apparently growing) number of infants removed from birth parents within the first few weeks of life, in several different countries. The seminar will explore the following issues:

• Community-level assessment and intervention

• Pre-birth assessment: timeframes and processes

• Supporting pregnant and newly-delivered women whose infants are at risk of harm

• Effective interventions in preventing repeat removals

• Guidelines for humane and sensitive practice when infant removal is necessary

Key presentations from the seminar will be published in a special issue of Child Abuse Review. Participants are also invited to submit abstracts for papers to be considered for this Special issue:

(https://www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/News/call-for-abstracts-child-protection-during-the-perinatal-period).