Socio-Developmental Network Analysis: Establishing a Research Method to Examine Socio-Contextual Dynamics of Children in the Mockingbird FamilyTM

Abstract

In recent years, social network analysis has had its own distinctive theoretical and methodological underpinnings. This article proposes a novel method for the application of a fused mixed-methods approach and social network analyses that incorporates the critical aspects of numerous characteristics of children’s social development in a statutory care setting. We collected data from children involved in the Mockingbird Family out-of-home care model, following its implementation in Australia. Our approach involves three steps: social-developmental network indicators, relational dynamics, and social-developmental network narrative. We contend that this approach has the potential to provide powerful data representation that facilitates the understanding of the complexities of children’s social development, the links between different positions and roles of children, and their social network in the Mockingbird family. Using exemplars, we show the potential of the research method to unearth rich data for seeking to understand the system change important for strengthening children’s safe and protective environments.

Reconsidering Recognition in the Lives of Children and Young People in Care: Insights from the Mockingbird Family in South Australia

“…The benefit of the Mockingbird Family is its function as a micro-community of support. The collective endeavor of multiple carers and foster care agency workers appeared to have greater potential to enhance emotional, cognitive, and social support for children and young people, compared to single-family fostering or kinship caring (Patmisari et al 2023). In the current study, Honneth's theory was applied and centered on the importance of validating human experience.…”

“…Considering that recognition is experiential and intersubjective (Marshall et al 2020;Munford and Sanders 2020), it is critical that carers and foster care agency workers support emotional recognition in their roles, through child-centered approaches that demonstrate authentic acceptance, respect for children's and young people's autonomy, and social support to assist relationship-building (Patmisari et al 2023). Accordingly, Honneth (1995) underscores the essentiality of social recognition as a key factor enabling individuals to assert their rights within a community or social context (Table 1).…”

Can participatory processes lead to changes in the configuration of local mental health networks? A social network analysis

“…As shown in Table 3, we also asked them to grade the "closeness" of their contact or relationship to the other stakeholders with whom they maintain a link, the type of link (e.g., research, implementation, or legal), and the frequency of their contact (very often to rarely). As other studies focused on SNA impacts (21)(22)(23)(24)(25), we analyzed the survey data using Kumu (Jeff and Ryan Mohr, web-based open source, version 2022 available at https://kumu.io). Kumu is an online system mapping tool and visualization platform for mapping systems and relationships that facilitates quantitative analysis using the metrics shown in Table 2.…”

Exploring social networks in foster caring: The mockingbird family in Australia

“…The families within the constellation come together monthly at the ‘hub home’ to provide peer support and provide an opportunity for the children and young people to socialize in a safe and familiar environment. The Mockingbird Family model builds formal and informal social support through social networks within constellations to create a supportive care environment for children and young people (Patmisari et al, 2024), while also supporting the foster carers. The first Australian constellations were formed during the first year of COVID-19, and their monthly constellation catch-ups went online which provided opportunities for overcoming isolation associated with caring, managing the challenges of home schooling and lockdowns (McLaren et al, 2023).…”