Child wellness and social inclusion: values for action

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Child Psychology
• Community Health

Background:

• Exclusion and marginalization negatively impact child wellness and social inclusion.
• Inclusion is a key factor contributing to personal and collective health.
• Child wellness and social inclusion are interconnected, necessitating integrated study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To articulate the core values of social inclusion and child wellness.
• To define actionable roles and responsibilities for promoting these values.
• To integrate findings from a special issue on PAR into a comprehensive framework.

Main Methods:

• Literature synthesis on social inclusion and child wellness.
• Analysis of methodologies and lessons from Participatory Action Research (PAR) with youth.
• Conceptual framework development integrating research contributions.

Main Results:

• Identified foundational values for social inclusion and child wellness.
• Outlined practical strategies and responsibilities for fostering youth inclusion.
• Synthesized diverse PAR approaches to support a unified framework.

Conclusions:

• Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a vital methodology for enhancing child wellness through social inclusion.
• A clear framework is needed to guide efforts in promoting youth inclusion and overall wellness.
• Integrating research findings strengthens the understanding and application of inclusive practices.