Children, families and parenthood

Our research concerns families' everyday lives, norms and notions of parenthood and the best interest of the child, and the responsibilities of the welfare state. We study Swedish and global contexts through historical and contemporary perspectives.

Research projects

Ett dockhus som står på ett bord bredvid ett fönster.

Foster carer retention. How foster carers experience their role and what influences their willingness to continue fostering.

Foster care is often regarded as the best option, but many local authorities lack sufficient foster carers. The project examines the factors that influence foster carers’ willingness to continue or to end their engagement.

Two children walking along a road with their back turned to the camera.

Recruitment, assessment and collaboration in foster home care

The rights of children to stable foster care placements has lately been emphasised. At the same time there is a shortage. Why is that so and what can bed done about it? We want to find possible answers and address current and future challenges.

Escape from shame or vacation from family? The market for private infant homes and children's boarding houses 1915-1975

This project is about the commercial child care in Sweden that existed in parallel to the development of the welfare state during the 20th century.

A person in a denim jacket with his hands on his knees sits opposite someone who is gesturing with his hands.

Investigative child interviews in practice

When children interact with social services, they have the right to participate and have their voices heard. This project explores children’s participation in social work interviews conducted by social services.

The welfare of the child and the reproductive rights of adults

Is it a right to have biological children? Should treatment with conception be available to all, or should availability be restricted? We study how Swedish legislation and fertility clinics deal with these ethical dilemmas.

The Assessment of Prospective Adoptive Parents

Becoming a parent involves a highly private decision. However, adults who want to adopt a child must open their private lives to institutional scrutiny. In this project we study the assessment process preceding an adoption.

A child getting water in KwaZulu in South Africa

Health as connecting bodies, family relationships and places

People's knowledge of what causes disease and their experiences of how healing happen influence actions regarding health issues. This project has examined how marginalised families in a former homeland in north east South Africa act to stay healthy.

Researchers

Deputy Dean, Professor

Judith Lind

Associate Professor

Cecilia Lindgren

Senior Associate Professor

Sarah Mitchell

Coordinator

Ann-Charlotte Münger

Associate Professor, Docent