Child, Family & Development / Family Systems
SUB-T02-048Crisis and Transition Support
Definition
Crisis and Transition Support is the systematic study and design of conditions, interventions and safeguards affecting children or families within family systems.
Why this matters
Children have evolving capabilities and limited power over many systems affecting them. Errors in crisis and transition support can create developmental, relational, educational, health or safety consequences that persist.
Research questions
Which information, coordination and emotional supports help families navigate separation, relocation, illness, bereavement or emergency?
Hypotheses
Pre-structured role, document and support maps will reduce disruption and decision overload during transitions.
Proposed methods
family systems mapping, household ethnography, coordination-task analysis, participatory co-design, service-journey mapping and longitudinal outcome tracking; adapted specifically to Crisis and Transition Support; child-appropriate participatory methods; caregiver and practitioner input; age-stratified analysis; validated developmental measures; service-pathway testing; safeguarding review; delayed or longitudinal follow-up; implementation-fidelity assessment
Stakeholders and beneficiaries
family members; carers; social workers; clinicians; schools; legal advisers; community services; employers; crisis and transition support specialists; lived-experience family advisory panel; independent child-rights reviewer