Recently, the International Conference on "Practice Innovation and Standards for Social Work Services in Child Protection," hosted by the China Social Work Academy, supported by the UNICEF China Office, and organized by the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Nanjing University, was held in Nanjing, China. More than 300 participants attended, including scholars and researchers from universities and research institutions across over ten countries and regions, practitioners from social work management and service organizations, and student representatives.

The conference brought together expert resources in child social work services from both China and abroad, focusing on the requirements for high-quality development of child protection in the new era. In-depth discussions were held on the functional positioning, practical pathways, and standard development of social work services in child protection. The conference holds significant academic value and practical relevance for improving the quality of social work services for child protection in China and promoting the high-quality development of social work as an academic discipline.

At the main forum, 19 senior scholars in child protection from China, the United Kingdom, Finland, Georgia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa, and other countries and regions delivered keynote speeches. The conference also featured six sub-forums, with over 80 speakers presenting academic papers on topics including the construction of child protection social work service systems, discipline development and talent cultivation, the functional roles of professional teams, best practice models, case management methods, and child mental health and crisis intervention. Participants from various research fields and practice backgrounds engaged in thorough exchanges on policy implementation bottlenecks, grassroots service difficulties, and standard-setting challenges, generating a set of constructive recommendations. The presentations included both best practices and theoretical insights from relevant countries and international organizations, as well as summaries of Chinese theory and practice in child protection, providing diverse perspectives and innovative ideas for building a child protection social work service system suited to China's national conditions.

Through the academic exchanges, participants further clarified that accelerating the high-quality development of social work services in child protection requires a deep understanding of the new situation and demands. Professional practice must be rooted in national priorities such as grassroots social governance and services for key child populations, pushing social work services from traditional casework toward strengthening family functioning, building multi-dimensional protection networks, and iterating systemic functions. Participants generally agreed that child protection social work in the new era must adhere to the "children first" development principle. It should not only leverage its professional strengths in caring for children in difficult circumstances and safeguarding minors' rights, but also become a vital support for improving the child welfare system and promoting holistic child development. Social work professionals need to continuously enhance their capacities in policy analysis, resource integration, and multi-sectoral coordination, actively draw on international experience, and explore local service models suited to China's context, demonstrating professional contributions in building child protection systems, improving grassroots child service networks, and cultivating professional workforces.

This conference was a key academic activity under the cooperation framework between the UNICEF China Office and the China Association of Social Work. The outcomes of the conference will be disseminated through publications in professional social work journals and through policy recommendation reports, providing important academic references and practical guidance for the formulation of service standards, innovation in service models, and the development of the workforce in child protection social work in China. As the organizer, the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Nanjing University provided a high-level platform for exchange for experts, scholars, and practitioners in child protection from both domestic and international arenas. The School will take this opportunity to further deepen theoretical research and talent cultivation in child protection, joining hands with all partners to promote the high-quality development of China's child protection enterprise and contribute Chinese wisdom and experience to the global cause of child protection.