New Report: Poverty-proofing for families in or on the edges of care

Date: 6th September 2023
Category: Basic Health and Welfare, Child poverty, Family Environment and Alternative Care
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New research by One-Parent Families Scotland has revealed the detrimental financial and emotional impact of poverty on a family when a child enters care and if they return from care, as well as a gap in policy responses and service delivery. 

The report, ‘Poverty-proofing for families in or on the edges of care,’ is commissioned by The Promise Scotland and conducted by One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) with support from the Child Poverty Action Group(CPAG). The report is based on interviews with practitioners and parents who have come into contact with the care system, exploring the link between poverty and care.

From their research, some of the areas that need to change include the supports given to families in or on the edges of the care system to include financial awareness and money management and for professionals and children’s practitioners to have increased awareness of the link between family poverty and a child’s sustained reunification with their family, including the children’s hearings panels.

 “If more young people were able to return to a safe and economically stable family then this would support the Promise made to care-experienced infants, children, young people, adults and their families that every child grows up loved, safe and respected, and able to realise their full potential.” – excerpt from the report.

The report contains series of short-term and long-term recommendations to mitigate against the negative consequences for families when a child is taken into care including more flexibility in the Scottish Child Payment and more funding for follow up research on the cost of implementing anti-poverty measures for families in or on the edges of care.

• Read the report here.