This chapter in the book, Social Work Reflections, explores social work’s role in supporting care-experienced people and their families. It examines how social workers can promote meaningful participation and engagement across the life course for people with care experience. This chapter situates care-experienced people not as passive recipients of social work services, but as active agents in shaping child welfare. It is well documented that care-experienced people face significant challenges ranging from instability in placements and educational disruptions, to long-term impacts on mental health and relationships. Many face societal stigma and the legacy of family and institutional abuse. Whilst care-experienced people are overrepresented in statistics relating to homelessness, involvement in criminal justice and mental health services, it is important to acknowledge that these challenges do not define care-experienced people, with many healing from their trauma and reaching their potential with happy, fulfilled lives in adulthood.
