WorldForum 2008: Call for Papers/Conference Contributions

29th September - 1st October 2008
City Hall, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

Call for Papers/Conference Contributions

1 February to May 30th 2008

The WorldForum 2008 Programme Planning Committee invites researchers, practitioners, service providers, young people and other interested parties to submit abstract proposals for oral presentations, and poster presentations.

Each year the International Forum for Child Welfare IFCW (www.ifcw.org) holds an international conference known as the WorldForum, which is co-hosted, by one of its member organisations. Last year, WorldForum2007 brought delegates from around the world together in New Dehli and the previous year in Canada delegates from 34 different countries attended. The 19th WorldForum is being held in Cardiff, Wales and is being co-hosted by Children in Wales (www.childreninwales.org.uk). The broad theme of the WorldForum 2008 is ‘Early Intervention and Prevention’. Please see the home page of our website for an explanation of what we mean by this.

Can I make a submission?

We encourage contributions
• From practitioners and academics in a range of disciplines including health, mental health, education, social services, youth justice, social policy, voluntary sector and others as appropriate
• Which cover the Conference themes from the point of view of developing countries as well as advanced economies
• From young people

Do I have to pay?

There is no fee for making a submission. If your submission is accepted for presentation then you will be required to pay a registration fee. Further information will be sent to you when we contact you about your submission.

Conference Theme: Early Intervention and Prevention

The Conference also aims to share information/knowledge relating to:

• Evidence-based Approaches
Exploring approaches to early intervention and prevention that are evidence-based through qualitative and/or qualitative evaluation
• Data Collection
Methods of gathering information on the risk and protective factors affecting children, young people and families that provide a basis for informed policy and programme development. Also ways of collecting and sharing information to identify children, young people at risk of poor outcomes or maltreatment.
• Service Innovation
Ways of identifying children and young people who may need therapeutic services, diagnostic services, ways of sharing information, preventative services which are innovative
• Strength-Based Approaches
Enhancing existing strengths and resilience of children, young people and their families receiving services. E.g. parents as experts of their child’s problems and needs, children taking control and making decisions about their treatment
• Community Engagement
Community engagement is a way of developing services by involving children, young people and their families in decisions that affect them. This can mean involving them in the planning, development and management of services
• Equality and Diversity
Equality is about creating a fairer society in which all children and young people, regardless of skin colour, ethnicity, religion, social class or sexual orientation have the same opportunity to fulfil their potential. Diversity is about recognising and valuing difference in its broadest sense
• Quality Assurance
The development of high quality services, procedures for monitoring services to ensure minimum standards. Exploring ways of improving practice including training and development.

All abstracts will be considered on the basis of individual merit by the Programme Planning Committee and will be appraised according to the following criteria:

• Relevance to the WorldForum 2008 theme and sub-themes
• Innovativeness of the proposed subject material
• Importance of the content to a multidisciplinary audience
• Clarity of the proposed presentation material

Conference papers will be organised into panel sessions of one-hour, each comprising three 15-minute papers and time for discussion. Presenters can bid for an hour slot to run the whole panel session or present for half an hour or fifteen minutes only.

Presentations can be in several formats: oral, poster or other formats such as film or drama.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

1. Download the on-line registration form on the website www.worldforum2008.org and email your abstract to worldforum2008@childreninwales.org.uk. Please save your abstract to your computer before submission.
2. Applicants must identify their preferred presentation format and length of presentation but the Programme Planning Committee will make the final decision as to the format for abstracts

NOTE

• Your submission must be in Microsoft Word format and must be submitted by email
• The official language of the WorldForum 2008 is English. Proposals should be in English. Text must be Arial size 10, single line spacing and Maximum 300 words
• Presenters must be registered with the conference in order to present. Final acceptance of the successfully reviewed abstracts will be completed after the presenters have registered for the forum.
• You will be notified by early May if your presentation has been accepted
• Unless you indicate otherwise the organisers will assume that you are happy for your abstract to be added to the website and conference materials
• WorldForum 2008 reserves the right to edit abstracts and speakers’ biographies

Click here to download Abstract submission form