Community-based child protection as occupational justice practice: a critical relational analysis from the Greek economic crisis

Purpose This study examines a decade-long, community-based, child-centered intervention in Northern Greece during the economic crisis, aimed at addressing child poverty as a structural occupational injustice. It explores how occupational justice principles – through relational, family-centered and participation-focused practices – can enhance children’s access to meaningful occupations and developmental opportunities. The article aims to demonstrate the potential of occupation-centered interventions to transform child protection frameworks and inform practice and policy in occupational therapy and social work, highlighting strategies that mitigate systemic inequities while fostering relational resilience among children and families. Design/methodology/approach The article draws on longitudinal field experience from a decade-long community initiative, using a qualitative, practice-based approach. It integrates interprofessional collaboration, reflexive practice and participatory methods to document children’s and families’ engagement in educational, recreational, cultural and civic occupations. Data were collected through observation, case studies and stakeholder feedback, emphasizing relational dynamics and family-centered practices. The methodology reflects an occupational justice framework, linking structural inequities to participation restrictions and evaluating interventions that promote access, inclusion and resilience within community and institutional contexts. Findings The intervention enhanced children’s participation in meaningful occupations and strengthened family and community relational networks, mitigating the effects of structural poverty. It demonstrated that occupation-centered, relational approaches can address systemic inequities, support developmental opportunities and foster resilience. The initiative revealed practical strategies for integrating occupational justice into child protection and social work frameworks, including interprofessional collaboration, participatory planning and flexible, family-centered programming. Findings underscore the importance of policy and practice shifts that prioritize relational, participation-focused interventions to reduce occupational deprivation and improve holistic well-being among marginalized children and their families. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its qualitative, context-specific focus in Northern Greece, which may reduce generalizability. Data were primarily practice-based and observational, lacking large-scale quantitative measures. However, the longitudinal approach offers rich insights into relational and occupation-centered interventions. Findings highlight the need for further research evaluating similar models across diverse sociopolitical contexts, incorporating mixed methods and measuring long-term developmental and systemic outcomes. This work underscores the potential of occupation-centered frameworks to inform evidence-based child protection and social work practices while acknowledging the constraints of localized, community-driven initiatives. Practical implications The study is limited by its qualitative, context-specific focus in Northern Greece, which may reduce generalizability. Data were primarily practice-based and observational, lacking large-scale quantitative measures. However, the longitudinal approach offers rich insights into relational and occupation-centered interventions. Findings highlight the need for further research evaluating similar models across diverse sociopolitical contexts, incorporating mixed methods and measuring long-term developmental and systemic outcomes. This work underscores the potential of occupation-centered frameworks to inform evidence-based child protection and social work practices while acknowledging the constraints of localized, community-driven initiatives. Social implications Occupation-centered interventions can mitigate the social effects of child poverty by fostering inclusion, relational resilience and community cohesion. By addressing structural inequities, such initiatives empower children and families to participate meaningfully in educational, cultural and civic life. The study highlights the role of socially responsive policies in reducing occupational deprivation, strengthening social networks and promoting equitable opportunities. These approaches contribute to broader social justice goals, demonstrating that sustainable community engagement and child-centered programs can transform local child protection systems and positively influence societal perceptions of marginalized populations. Originality/value This article provides a rare decade-long, child-centered, community-based intervention case study during an economic crisis, operationalizing occupational justice principles in practice. It uniquely combines longitudinal fieldwork, interprofessional collaboration and reflexive, relational approaches to examine systemic inequities and participation barriers. By linking occupation-centered practice to child protection frameworks, it offers innovative strategies for practitioners and policymakers. The study contributes original insights into how occupation-focused interventions can enhance developmental opportunities, relational resilience and social inclusion for marginalized children, highlighting a practical model for addressing poverty-related occupational injustices in complex socio-economic contexts.