Mrs Florie J E Schmits

I am a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Bristol, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. My research focusses on understanding the decision-making and the barriers and facilitators of placing brothers and sisters together in care from a local authority’s perspective. The project uses a mixed-methods design: a quantitative analysis of children’s social work case documentation and interviews with social workers, to examine sibling placement decision-making, factors influencing these decisions, sibling contact arrangements and facilitators for improving sibling care. 

Previously I worked as a Senior Research Associate on a ESRC funded project, led by University of Bristol colleague Dinithi Wijedasa, on the long-term trajectories of mental health of children in State care in England, including the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project included analyses of longitudinal national administrative data on children in care, and data from a survey of more than 1000 children and young people in care in 14+ local authorities.

Before joining the University of Bristol, I worked at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. At Chapin Hall, I used administrative and survey data to generate evidence about a variety of child welfare topics: young people missing from care, children at risk of re-entering care and foster parent recruitment and retention.