Mimi Petersen

Presentation

Profile Description

I am an Associate Professor of Social Work at Copenhagen University College and hold a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Work from Aalborg University. My research focuses on children's rights, transformative participation processes, social justice, and empowerment. I have extensive experience in research, teaching, and project management within social work, particularly in promoting the active involvement of children and young people in decision-making processes.

My work is based on a practice-oriented and actor-focused approach, collaborating closely with citizens, professionals, and students to develop knowledge, methods, and interventions. I am the founder of the Nordic Network for Children’s Participation in Decision-Making, Development, and Research and am affiliated with the Child Rights Institute at Lund University. Additionally, I serve as a board member of the Nordic Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NFBO).

Current Research Projects

I lead a major research project:

• A three-year research project funded by NUBU (January 2025 – December 2027)

Additionally, I am involved in the research project Boundary Youth Work – Bridging and Community-Building in Marginalized Residential Urban Areas, a three-year research project funded by DFF.

Research Focus

My research is centered on three main areas:

1. Active Citizen Engagement in Research and Practice
   • I work with participatory methods to develop practices where children, young people, and their families become active co-researchers and decision-makers in interventions affecting them.
2. Health Promotion Perspective
   • Based on Honneth’s (2003) theory of recognition and Antonovsky’s (2000) concept of Sense of Coherence, I explore how participation can promote mental, social, and physical well-being among vulnerable children and young people.
3. Intersectionality as an Analytical Framework
   • I apply an intersectional perspective to understand how social factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic status influence children’s and young people's encounters with the welfare system.

Project Management

I have extensive experience in developing, leading, and implementing research projects that involve close collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and citizens. Selected projects include:

• Ongoing three-year research project funded by NUBU
• Interdisciplinary Intervention Research in Roskilde Municipality – studying Signs of Safety as an alternative to placement outside the home
• Project Bella – a participatory project in Bellahøj empowering young people in their decision-making processes
• COVID-19 and Social Work – a comprehensive survey in collaboration with the Danish Association of Social Workers
• The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vulnerable Children and Young People – research application submitted to Lund University

I collaborate with research institutions and practice organizations across the Nordic region and internationally, including Forandringsfabrikken (Norway), NTNU in Trondheim, Boston University, and Lund University.

Facilitation and Networking

I have founded and lead several research networks, facilitating collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, including:

• Nordic Network for Children’s Participation in Decision-Making, Development, and Research (NNBI)
• Affiliated Researcher at the Child Rights Institute, Lund University
• Affiliated Researcher at the Children & Adolescent Research Environment, Ilisimatusarfik
• Board Member of the Nordic Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NFBO-NASPCAN)

International Relations and Professional Networks

I maintain close collaborations with international research environments, including:

• Department of Diversity and Inclusion, NTNU, Norway
• Child Rights Institute, Lund University, Sweden
• Resilience Research Center, Canada
• Center for Discretion and Paternalism, University of Bergen, Norway
• Ilisimatusarfik’s Center for Child and Youth Research, Greenland
• Department of Sociology, Emmanuel College, Boston, USA

Teaching and Knowledge Development

I have extensive teaching experience and actively work on developing research-based teaching in collaboration with practice fields. Selected include:

• Responsible for the Bachelor's Program in Social Work
• Developing close collaborations between students and the practice field
• Teaching the elective module "The Nordic Welfare Model and Comparative Perspectives on Social Work with Young People"
• Continuing education and training for nurses and health visitors on children’s participation and rights

Reviewer for International Journals

I serve as a reviewer for the following academic journals:

• Bristol University Press
• Routledge
• Taylor & Francis Group
• Child Welfare Journal

Impact and Influence

My research has had a significant impact in both the education system and practice field. Several of the methods and models I have developed are widely used, including:

• “Problem and Solution in Focus” – a model for child participation in research and development
• The Bachelor’s Program in Social Work – a model for practice-based learning
• Project Bella – where young people gained competencies through active participation, strengthening their educational choices