The Scottish children's panels as a catalyst for civic engagement and child well-being.

Abstract

Scotland's child welfare system has developed as hybrid of both residual and universal approaches and incorporates local involvement through trained volunteers participating in children's panels and community-based interventions. Furthermore, Scotland's move toward independence from the United Kingdom, called devolution in Scotland, has resulted in a resurgence of new recommendations focused on child well-being from birth through adolescence for all Scottish children. This article will explore policy development of Scotland's unique child welfare approach through the children's panels and the commitment to civic participation. It will expand on how recent initiatives, policy, and practice guidelines may have implications for providing a promising, sustainable model focused on child well-being, and may be useful for consideration in other cultural contexts that view liberty and civic engagement as core values.