School of Social Work and Social Policy

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Room 3063, Arts Building
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

Phone: 01 896 2001

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swsp@tcd.e Gaeilge
Dr. Eavan Brady

Dr. Eavan Brady

Assistant Professor, Social Studies

Biography

Eavan is an Assistant Professor in Social Work in the School of Social Work and Social Policy at Trinity College Dublin. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Trinity College Dublin, a Higher Diploma in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin, and a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College Dublin. Eavan's PhD explored the educational pathways of adults with care experience in Ireland using a life course perspective. Prior to joining the School of Social Work & Social Policy, Eavan worked in the homelessness, housing, and mental health sectors in both Dublin and Toronto, Canada. Eavan also spent two years working with Practice and Research Together in Toronto where she was heavily involved in supporting staff in child welfare agencies across Canada to use evidence-informed practices in their work. Eavan is the Course Director for the Master in Social Work Programme in Trinity College Dublin and teaches on this programme, the Bachelor in Social Studies (Social Work) programme, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Child Protection and Welfare.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

  • Matheson, I., Brady, E., & Connelly, G., The LinkedIn Education of Children in Care Network: Social media meets community of interest., Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 15, (1), 2016, p49 - 55Journal Article, 2016
  • Brady, E., Book Review: Pathways through education for young people in care: Ideas from research and practice, Child Care in Practice, 2015Review, 2015, URL
  • Brady, E., Child protection social workers' engagement in continuing professional development: An exploratory study., Social Work Education: The International Journal, 33, (6), 2014, p819 - 834Journal Article, 2014, DOI
  • Brady, E. & Busch, J., The Bookworm Club: Implementing and evaluating a pilot literacy program for children in out-of-home care., Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies Journal, 58, 2014, p26 - 33Journal Article, 2014
  • Brady, E., The Bookworm Club: The implementation story of an evidence-informed literacy program for children residing in out-of-home care in Ontario, Canada., Child Welfare, 92, (5), 2013, p137 - 149Journal Article, 2013
  • Brady, E., Hendsbee, T., Francis, A., & Justinich, M., The Bookworm Club: The evolution and evaluation of an evidence-informed literacy program for children residing in out-of-home care, 13th European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents International Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 2014, 2014Conference Paper, 2014
  • Brady, E., Using a life course approach to explore the educational pathways of care leavers: New dimensions in understanding, 14th European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents International Conference, Oviedo, Spain, September 2016, 2016Conference Paper, 2016
  • Brady E. & Dill, K., A Magical Movement: The real-life implementation story of how one child welfare community leveraged its newfound belief in evidence-based practice to create and implement a world-renowned literacy program for children residing in out-of-home care, 2nd Biannual Global Implementation Conference, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., August 2013, 2013Conference Paper, 2013
  • Brady, E., Exploring the Educational Pathways & Transitions of Adult Care Leavers: Developing a PhD Research Project, 3rd International Congress of the Swiss Association of Social Work, Zurich, Switzerland, September 2015, 2015Conference Paper, 2015
  • Brady, E., Holt, S. & Whelan, S. , Measuring success in family support services, Child Care in Practice, 24, (4), 2018, p351 - 368Journal Article, 2018, URL
  • Brady, E., A life course approach to studying the experiences of foster care alumni: A case study exploring the educational experiences of care-experienced adults. , 9th International Foster Care Research Network Conference, Universite de Nanterre, Paris, France, 27-29 September 2017, 2017Conference Paper, 2017
  • Somerville, L. & Brady, E, Young People and Social Networking Sites: Exploring the views and training opportunities of CAMHS social workers in Ireland , Journal of Social Work Practice, 33, (2), 2019, p141 - 155Journal Article, 2019, DOI
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., The Life Course Perspective: An integrative research paradigm for examining the educational experiences of adult care leavers? , Children & Youth Services Review, 87, 2018, p69 - 77Journal Article, 2018, DOI
  • Lwin, K., Wedeles, J., & Brady, E., Brief Report: The Role of Technology in Evidence-informed Practice: Uniting the Human and the Digital in Child Welfare, International Journal of Child and Adolescent Resilience, 5, (1), 2017, p67-72Journal Article, 2017
  • Brady, E., Using educational life history interviews to explore the educational pathways of adults who spent time in out-of-home care (e.g. foster care) in Ireland, The XX International Oral History Association Conference, Jyvaskyla, Finland, 18-21 June 2018, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Brady, E., The life course perspective: A guiding paradigm for examining the educational experiences of adult care leavers , Social Work, Education and Social Development, Dublin, Ireland, 4-7 July 2018, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Brady, E., Positive turning points in the educational journeys of care-experienced adults: Preliminary findings of a life course study, XV European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF) Conference 2018, Porto, Portugal, 2-5 October 2018, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Brady, E., What is placement success? Reflections on the educational outcomes of care-experienced adults (Symposium), XV European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF) Conference 2018, Porto, Portugal, 2-5 October 2018, 2018Conference Paper, 2018
  • Brady, E., Gilligan, R., & Nic Fhlannchadha, S., Care-experienced Young People Accessing Higher Education in Ireland, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 19, (1), 2019, p51 - 64Journal Article, 2019
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., Supporting care-experienced adults' educational journeys: 'Linked lives' over the life course, Child & Family Social Work, 25, (2), 2020, p221 - 229Journal Article, 2020, DOI
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., Exploring diversity in the educational pathways of care-experienced adults: Findings from a life course study of education and care, Children and Youth Services Review, 104, 2019, p104379Journal Article, 2019, URL
  • E. Brady and R. Gilligan, 'The role of agency in shaping the educational journeys of care-experienced adults: Insights from a life course study of education and care'., Children and Society, 34, (2), 2020, p121 - 135Journal Article, 2020, URL
  • Murran, S. & Brady, E., How Does Family Homelessness Impact on Children's Development? A critical review of the literature, Child & Family Social Work, 28, (2), 2021, p360 - 371Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • O'Connor-Funcheon, S & Brady, E, An exploration of professional and practice-based perspectives on reunification of children in out-of-home care in Ireland: The road less travelled?, Child Abuse & Neglect, 122, 2021, p105366Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • Lwin, K. & Brady, E., Re-conceptualizing Evidence-informed Practice Curriculum in Social Work Education, International Social Work Education and Development , Online, January - April 2021, 2021Conference Paper, 2021
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., The value of the life course theory concept of human agency: An example from a study of the educational journeys of care experienced people, XVI European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF) Conference 2021, Online, 1-3 September 2021, 2021Conference Paper, 2021
  • O'Connor, E., Whiting, S., Gilligan, R.,Holt, S., Brady, E.,Eliffe, R., Feely,M., Flynn, S., Houston, S., McEvoy., P.,, ''Hybrid Placement Model: A Social Work Teaching and Learning Resource'', TARA, TCD, 2020, -Protocol or guideline, 2020, URL
  • Gilligan, R., Brady, E., & Arnau-Sabates, L., Exploring the positive influence of informal support in the education and employment progress of care-experienced people., European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF), Zurich, Switzerland, 1-3 September 2021, 2021Conference Paper, 2021
  • Gilligan, R. & Brady, E., What helps adult care leavers return to education? Exploring the relevance of learner identity and the life course perspective, Journal of Youth Studies, 2021Journal Article, 2021, DOI
  • Robbie Gilligan, Eavan Brady. Laura Cullen, One More Adversity: The lived experience of care leavers in Ireland during the Covid-19 Pandemic, School of Social Work and Social Policy, TCD, February, 2022Report, 2022, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • O'Connor-Funcheon, S & Brady, E, An exploration of perspectives on supporting birth parents towards reunification with their children, Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 2022Journal Article, 2022
  • Robbie Gilligan Eavan Brady, 'What helps adult care leavers return to education? Exploring the relevance of learner identity and the life course perspective' , Journal of Youth Studies, 2022Journal Article, 2022, DOI , URL
  • Beasley, S. & Brady, E., Michel Foucault: Theoretical Considerations for Social Workers, Irish Social Worker, 2023Journal Article, 2023
  • Refaeli, T., Schuman, N., Brady, E., Mann-Feder, V., Munro, E., van Breda, A., Widening the care gap? An international comparison of care-leaving in the time of COVID-19, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 2023Journal Article, 2023, DOI
  • Lwin, K. & Brady, E., Unpacking evidence-based practice in social work education: A scoping review, Social Work Education, 2023Journal Article, 2023, DOI
  • Caffrey, L., Brady, E., Keegan, O., Dunne, S., Sheaf, G., Holt, S., & Gilligan, R., Children's Experiences of Signs of Safety: A Scoping Review, Children and Youth Services Review, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Stephanie Holt, Robbie Gilligan, Louise Caffrey & Eavan Brady, Through the Eyes of the Child: A Study of Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Intervention, 2023Report, 2023, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Økland, I., Oterholm, I., Brady, E., Social network enhancement: Bridging and bonding the social networks of child welfare involved youth, Child & Family Social Work, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI
  • Sting, S., Stohler, R., Brady, E., Gilligan, R., Werner, K., Barriers to the educational progress of care leavers: the neglected role of stigma?, Children & Youth Services Review, 173, (June), 2025, p9Journal Article, 2025, DOI
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., Exploring the friendship experiences of care leavers: Insights from a study of life during Covid-19, EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION ON RESIDENTIAL AND FAMILY CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, University of Sussex, England, 12-15 September 2023, 2023Conference Paper, 2023
  • Gilligan, R., Brady, E. & Arnau-Sabates, L., Promoting the educational and work progression of care leavers over the life course: The neglected role of birth family members?, EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION ON RESIDENTIAL AND FAMILY CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, University of Sussex, England, 12-15 September 2023, 2023Conference Paper, 2023
  • Gilligan, R. & Brady, E, Care Leavers and their lived experience of birth family connections during Covid and beyond, EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION ON RESIDENTIAL AND FAMILY CARE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, University of Sussex, England, 12-15 September 2023, 2023Conference Paper, 2023
  • Recent developments in aftercare provision in Ireland in, editor(s)Refaeli, T Mann-Feder, V. , Leaving Care around the world: Twenty years of the International Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care, 2025, [Brady, E., Gilligan, R., Whiting, S.]Book Chapter, 2025
  • Downes, L., Elliffe, R., & Brady, E., Child and Family Wellbeing in the COVID-19 Context: A Critical Literature Review, Irish Social Worker, 2023, p42 - 51Journal Article, 2023
  • O'Kane, E & Brady, E., What Happens After Care? Investigating the Post-care Housing Pathways and Experiences of Adult Care Leavers in Ireland, Children and Youth Services Review, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI
  • Lwin, K. & Brady, E., Reimagining the Pedagogy of Professional Judgment and Decision Making in Social Work: Teaching Evidence-based Practice in Parallel with Field Practicum, Journal of Social Work Education, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI
  • Gilligan, R., Brady, E., Arnau-Sabatés, L., The educational and work progress of care experienced adults: the potential contribution of birth family adults over time, Children and Youth Services Review, 2024Journal Article, 2024, DOI
  • Gilligan, R., Holt, S., Brady, E., Caffrey, L., Safety and Beyond: What are children's priorities for their participation in the child protection and welfare process?, Child Abuse and Neglect, 2025, p11Journal Article, 2025, DOI
  • Økland, I., Brady, E. & Oterholm, I., A life course perspective on timing social network enhancement for child welfare-experienced young people, British Journal of Social Work, 2025Journal Article, 2025
  • Brady, E., Boddy, J., Cahill, L., Gilligan, R., Holt, S., & Parker, S., ). What are the outcomes and experiences of care-experienced adults aged 25 years or more? Findings from a narrative rapid review., European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF), University of Zagreb, Croatia, 10-12 September 2025Conference Paper
  • Whiting, S. & Brady, E., Exploring the role of family names in identity development for care experienced young people, European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF), University of Zagreb, Croatia, 10-12 September 2025, 2025Conference Paper, 2025
  • Tobin, S., Caffrey, L., Brady, E., Whiting, S., Sheaf, G., Gilligan, R., Mayock, P., Quinn, N., Foster Children's Lived Experience of Placement Breakdown: A Scoping Review., European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EUSARF), University of Zagreb, Croatia, 2025Conference Paper, 2025
  • Tobin, S., Caffrey, L., Brady, E., Whiting, S., Sheaf, G., Gilligan, R., Mayock, P., Quinn, N., Foster Placement Breakdown: A Scoping Review of Care-Experienced Narratives, Child & Family Social Work, 2025Journal Article, 2025
  • Brady, E., Journey to Publication, Irish Association of Social Workers National Social Work Conference, Dublin, Ireland, June 2016, 2016Conference Paper
  • Brady, E., Supporting the Educational Attainment and Progress of Children in State Care: A Preliminary Review of International Evidence, 2017Working Paper
  • Brady, E., How to be a Critical Consumer of Research: Strategies for locating and critically reading published research, The Irish Social Worker, 2018, p77 - 82Journal Article
  • Brady, E. & Gilligan, R., Supporting the educational progress of children and young people in foster care: Challenges and opportunities, Foster, 5, 2018, p29 - 41Journal Article
  • Brady, E., Supporting progress in education and employment among care leavers: Challenges and opportunities [INVITED SPEAKER], Irish Aftercare Network Annual Conference - "Together we Can" Promoting Education, Training & Employment Opportunities for Care Leavers., Athlone, Ireland, 25th May 2018, 2018Conference Paper
  • Holt, S., Whelan, S. & Brady, E.,, Evaluation of the Cottage Home Family Support Service, 2014Report
  • Monson, T. & Brady, E., Editorial , Child Care in Practice, 2022Journal Article
  • Brady, E., Book Review - Marginalised Communities in Higher Education: Disadvantage, Mobility and Indigeneity, Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care, 21, (2), 2022Review
  • Stephanie Holt, Robbie Gilligan, Louise Caffrey & Eavan Brady, Through the Eyes of the Child: A Study of Tusla Child Protection and Welfare Intervention - A Research Briefing, Children and Youth Services Review, 2023, -Miscellaneous, DOI , TARA - Full Text
  • Eavan Brady, Janet Boddy, Lynne Cahill, Robbie Gilligan, Stephanie Holt, & Sarah Parker, Care Leavers: 10 years on, A Narrative Rapid Review, 2025, 1-51Report, DOI , TARA - Full Text

Research Expertise

  • Title
    Children and Young People's Experiences of the Child Protection and Welfare Service in Tusla, Child and Family Agency.
    Summary
    This study aimed to provide a point-in-time capture of children and young people's experiences of Tusla"s child protection and welfare services. It sought to align with the Signs of Safety Theory of Change and produce actionable findings that provide a deep understanding of children and young people's experiences as well as the factors that influence those experiences.
    Funding Agency
    Child and Family Agency - Tusla
    Date From
    2020
    Date To
    2023
  • Title
    Care Leavers: Ten Years On
    Summary
    The study, Care Leavers " Ten Years On, will be the first in Ireland to address the experiences of `graduates" of the care system in adult life, in terms of education, family, work, accommodation, health and well-being. Study findings seek to answer such questions as how do young people who leave the care system fare as adults? What makes a difference in supporting care leavers? What is important from their point of view? Funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, the study is part of Care Experiences: Journeys through the Irish Care System, a new national research and data project examining the lives of children in care and adults who were in care as children.
    Funding Agency
    Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth
    Date From
    2023
    Date To
    2025
  • Title
    A Qualitative Life Course Study of the Educational Pathways of Care-experienced Adults
    Summary
    This study sought to pioneer a new line of inquiry in this area exploring the educational pathways that `older" care-experienced adults have taken over the course of their lives. In addition, this study drew on the life course perspective (Elder, 1994; 1998) as both guiding research paradigm and theoretical framework to explore if, and how, this perspective could provide new insights into how the educational pathways of care experienced adults have been shaped and influenced over time. To that end, the central research questions guiding this study were: 1) What are the educational pathways that care-experienced adults have taken over the course of their lives, and expect to take in future? 2) How can the life course perspective enhance understanding of the ways that educational pathways are shaped and influenced over time?
    Date From
    2014
    Date To
    2019
  • Title
    Covid and Care Leavers Project
    Summary
    This study was undertaken in partnership with advocates from Empowering People in Care (EPIC). The aim of the study was to learn more about the experiences of care leavers in the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. By exploring how the pandemic was experienced by care leavers in Ireland we sought to shed light on the ways in which daily life may have changed for care leavers in this period, how they navigated those changes, and how they made sense of their experience.
    Funding Agency
    Department of Children and Youth Affarirs
    Date From
    2020
    Date To
    2022

Recognition

  • European Social Services Award for Child-centred Research 2023
  • Provost's Teaching Award Nominee 2016-2017
  • Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee 2023-2024
  • Trinity Excellence in Teaching Award Nominee 2024-2025
  • Registered Social Worker: License Number SW000286 CORU - Health & Social Care Professionals Council, Ireland To date
  • Irish Association of Social Work - Member To date
  • Reviewer - Social Work Education May 2020 to date
  • Board Member - Breaking Through: Supporting Practitioners 2017 to date
  • Reviewer - Journal of Social Work Practice 2018 to date
  • Reviewer - Children and Youth Services Review June 2020 to date
  • Reviewer - Journal of Youth Studies August 2020 to date
  • Reviewer - Children & Society August 2020 to date
  • Contributor: Practice Links Quarterly Publication, University College Cork February 2013 - to date
  • Reviewer - Child Welfare 2018 to date
  • All Ireland Social Work Research Conference - Organising Committee Member 2018 to date
  • Co-chair: Ontario Bookworm Club Steering Committee November 2012- August 2014
  • Irish Aftercare Network Committee - Member 2017 to date
  • Reviewer - Child Care in Practice 2017 to date
  • Member International Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood from Care (INTRAC) Executive Committee 2021
  • Reviewer - Journal of Technology in Human Services 2018 to date
  • Editorial Board Member - Child Care in Practice September 2019 to date