‘Seen but not heard’– young people's experience of advocacy

Abstract

Boylan J, Ing P. 'Seen but not heard' -young people's experience of advocacy Int J Soc Welfare 2005: 14: 2-12 © Blackwell Publishing, 2005 This article draws on two pieces of empirical research undertaken in England with young people in public care. The research examined young people's experiences of a range of advocacy services, and the extent to which the involvement of an advocate facilitated young people's voices being heard in decision-making. The research responded to contemporary concerns about children's participatory rights, citizenship and social inclusion, set in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This article examines the strengths and limitations of advocacy for young people in public care and compares the different types of advocacy services that are available to young people and considers the extent to which adult perceptions of childhood and youth frame the services that are offered. It provides a comparison of the outcomes for young people who have had an advocate and those who have not. The concluding discussion argues that young people in public care feel excluded and marginalised from decision-making processes, and that advocacy has a pivotal role to play in placing at centre stage the wishes and feelings of young people.

Advocacy, Social Justice and Children's Rights

“…While definitions of advocacy are contested they are broadly synonymous with the struggle for fairness, empowerment and social justice. Independent advocacy originates from service users and their feelings of powerlessness in various situations (Advocacy in Action 1990;Boylan and Ing 2005). In this context, advocacy can act as an important mechanism to counter some of the disempowering experiences and negative outcomes children encounter.…”

Young People’s Voice: The First Visiting Advocacy Project in Italian Residential Care for Children

“…This underlines the importance of ensuring an independent representation to looked-after children with respect to their particular vulnerability (Boylan and Ing 2005;Utting 1997) above and beyond the excellent interpersonal skills of the social care workers.…”

“…Advocacy is a way to challenge the power relationships among adults and children by promoting the right of children to be involved in decision making and to have their views valued and listened to with equal importance (Boylan and Ing 2005;Martin and Franklin 2010). This was one of the aims that motivated the non-profit organization to carry out this project, as pointed out by the manager in his interview.…”

“I didn't Know You were Fighting So Hard for me”: Attorneys' Perceptions of Youth Participation in Child Dependency Proceedings

“…Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that youth have a legal right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. This declaration prompted a great deal of debate regarding what youth participation means and how to effectively promote it (Augsberger, 2014;Bessell, 2011;Boylan & Ing, 2005;Cashmore, 2002Cashmore, , 2011Checkoway, 2011;Jenkins, 2008;Hughes, 2010;Khoury, 2006;Lansdown & Karkara, 2006;Murray & Hallett, 2000). Although the United States is the only country that has not ratified Article 12, federal policies reinforce the rights of children and youth to have a voice in legal matters that affect them-especially pertaining to child welfare permanency planning and transitional plans.…”