Service User Participation in Child Welfare Institutions: Possible, Plausible and Preferable Future

This article explores participation as underlined in the new Norwegian Child Welfare Act on child welfare institutions (CWI). Future-oriented research on Child Welfare Services can provide important clues on how to practise what is in the young person’s best interest. The narrative thematic analysis is based on the stories of three young women aged 17–26 with different backgrounds and experiences from Norwegian CWIs. An analysis focusing on a possible, plausible and preferable future in CWIs offers a vision of how to develop more sustainable care. The narratives revealed challenges and possibilities connected to participation. By adopting a future-focused perspective in social work, we can explore the impact of the past on current practices and envision future possibilities based on present knowledge.