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Book Launch: Systems Complexity in Child Protection and Welfare Policy, Leadership, Practice and Evaluation

Date Released: 28 August 2025
Book Launch
The UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, 
University of Galway 
  
is pleased to invite you to   
 
Systems Complexity in Child Protection and Welfare Policy, Leadership, Practice and Evaluation
By Aisling Gillen, John Canavan, Carmel Devaney, Caroline McGregor
Book Launch 
Date:     19th September 2025
Time:     5.30–7:00pm  
Venue:  Staff Club, The Quadrangle, University of Galway
Systems Complexity in Child Protection and Welfare Policy, Leadership, Practice and Evaluation is the first ever book to provide a comprehensive exploration of the potential of Complexity Theory to improve Child Protection and Welfare systems globally. Focusing on system and dynamic characteristics of complexity, it applies concepts of self-organisation, emergence, path-dependence, and bifurcation to policymaking, leadership, practice, and evaluation. Using case-studies alongside practice and research examples, it illustrates how adopting a complexity focus to Child Protection Work in any jurisdiction can augment decision-making and critical analysis acumen at all levels in practice, services, and systems.
The highly ranked journal Child Abuse Review says of the book that it:
 
‘..presents a pioneering challenge to linear thinking and static governance. Utilizing systems complexity theory, it immerses readers in a dynamic and interconnected environment, where child welfare and protection function as an adaptive and continuously evolving ecosystem shaped by uncertainty, diverse stakeholders, interdisciplinary collaboration, global social transformations and technological advancements’.
 
This book will be of interest to all scholars and students of social work, child protection, family support, education, nursing and criminology.
 
 
 
We look forward to seeing you there.  If you have any queries, please contact Gillian Browne at gillian.browne@universityofgalway.ie