In the intricate tapestry of society, few threads are as delicate as those that safeguard the well-being of children and families. This is illustrated by the worldwide attention to the importance of the first 1000 days, as well as by supranational policy initiatives such as the European Child Guarantee that was adopted by the European Council in 2021 and which grants children the right to quality basic services such as education, housing, and healthcare.
At the heart of supporting the well-being of children and families, many actors and disciplines have a role to play, including social work. This issue serves as a call to recognise and elevate the significance of social work in shaping the trajectory of young lives, but also critically shaping the foundations of our communities.
In the end, social work operates at the intersection of the private (children and their families) and the public (society), at the intersection of compassion and intervention, addressing a myriad of complex issues ranging. One pivotal element in addressing these complex issues, ranging from abuse and neglect to poverty and mental health struggles, is to recognise that children actively shape their own upbringing, and that they should not be approached as a Tabula Rasa or as part of a moratorium, but as active agents.
In this issue, we contribute to this principle by publishing articles that illustrate the diversity of issues children and families are faced with, while also paying attention to the lived experiences of those involved, and in particular to the lived experiences of children and their families.