Kathleen Manion is a scholar-practitioner who bridges practitioner experiential knowledge, academic theory, and policy objectives. She is passionate about social justice, humanitarian issues, interdisciplinary perspectives and applied research. She is principally focused on children and young people’s wellbeing with a broad range of policy and practice experience in social work, community development, and interdisciplinary work. She strives to make complex concepts understandable and bring voice to research participants. Manion commits to student-focused experiences designed to spark curiosity and build lifelong learning. Her projects focus on youth advocacy; early years; child and youth rights, protection, and wellbeing; inclusive education; international social work; homelessness; environmental justice; and family violence.
Experience
Manion has worked in academia, government and the not-for-profit sector in several countries. Her previous research and policy work have included children’s rights, quality education, participation and youth climate action. She has focused on the prevention of violence against children and in families, neglect, sexual exploitation, human trafficking in women and children, suicide and self-harm. Manion’s previous research and policy work have also included early years, child rights education, young motherhood, homelessness, social work education and teamwork in higher education, youth justice, child protection and wellbeing.
Education
2017
Masters in International Law, Specialisation in Human Rights Law
University of London
2006
PhD in Sociology
University of East London
2003
Masters of International Social Work and Community Development Studies, with Distinction
University of East London
1996
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Major
University of Waterloo
1998
Peace and Conflict Studies Diploma
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1996
Certificate in General Social Work
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Awards
2024
Jubilee UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair Medal, Maria Grzegorzewska University
For life-long achievements in the field of human rights, children’s rights and education for peace. For supporting the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5 and 10, and especially for achievements in humanitarian aid studies, promoting children’s rights and global education for peace.
Research
Research interest
Child rights
Child wellbeing
Youth advocacy
Publications
Childs, E., Manion, K., & Axe, J. (In Review). Navigating troubled waters – a journey of evolving supported housing for youth at risk of homelessness. Housing and Society.
Axe, J., Childs, E., & Manion, K. (2024, February). Zero Ceiling Work 2 Live Research Project January 2023 – December 2023: Annual Research Report. Prepared for Zero Ceiling and WorkBC.
Childs, E., & Manion, K. (2024). Leading and Innovating in the Early Childhood Education Sector: Early Childhood Professional Learning Fund Final Report for BC Campus, February 2024.
Childs, E., Manion, K., & Axe, J. (2024). Exploring approaches to encourage youth engagement in an organization fighting youth homelessness. https://zeroceiling.org/research/
Jones, S. & Manion, K. (2024). Researching Children’s Rights Education in Uganda and Canada: Reflections on a Decolonizing, Participatory Action Research Design. Sage Research Methods Data and Scientific Literacy: Case Study.
Manion, K. & Green, S. (2024). Surface v. Depth: Maximising the Efficacy of Cohort-Based Learning in Challenging Times. In F. Fovet. (ed.) Implementing transformative student-centered pedagogies in the neoliberal academy: Constraints and opportunities, CSMFL Publications.
Manion, K., Childs, E., & Axe, J. (2024). Individualized Support within the Context of Community: Removing Barriers for Youth at Risk of Homelessness to Move to Independence. Families in Society.
Tahsini, I., Manion, K., Wright, L. (2024). Uncovering Social and Gender Norms that Perpetuate School-Related Gender-based Violence in Albania. Children & Society. DOI: 10.1111/chso.12861
Axe, J., Childs, E., Manion, K., & Euverman, S. (2023, February). Zero Ceiling Work 2 Live Research Project January 2022 – December 2022: Annual Research Report. Prepared for Zero Ceiling and WorkBC.
Childs, E., & Manion, K. (2023). Leading and Innovating in the Early Childhood Education Sector: Early Childhood Professional Learning Fund Interim Report for BC Campus, November 2023.
Jones, S., & Manion, H.K. (2023). Critical literacy: An approach to child rights education in global contexts. Critical Literacy. DOI 10.1111/lit.12327. Literacy: 57(2) (wiley.com)
Jones, S., & Manion, H.K. (2023). Participatory, multimodal approaches to child rights education and empowerment in global contexts: A comparative case study in Uganda and Canada. Engaged Scholar, 9(2). https://esj.usask.ca/index.php/esj/article/view/70812/54307
Manion, K., & Green, S. (forthcoming). Understanding and Maximizing Cohort Learning [Report]. Royal Roads University.
Manion, K., Wright, L.H.V., Currie, V., & Lee, L. (2023). Creative and Participatory Methods for Bolstering Violence Prevention with Young People in Schools in South East Europe through Shifting Social and Gender Norms, 9(2). New Questions of Children’s Rights in Intersections. East European Journal of Society and Politics. https://doi.org/10.17356/ieejsp.v9i2.1117
Smith-Carrier, T., & Manion, H.K. (2023). Leveraging the Courts for Climate and Social Justice: Moving Beyond Justiciability to Advance Substantive Human Rights. Human Rights Review, (2022) 23:551-574 DOI 10.1007/s12142-022-00674-0
Axe, J., Childs, E., & Manion, K. (2022, February). Zero Ceiling Work2Live Research Project May 2021 – March 2022: Annual Research Report. Prepared for Zero Ceiling and WorkBC.
Manion, H.K. (2022). Reconciling the Criticisms and Commendations in Children’s Rights Education. Odrowaz-Coates, A. (Ed). Social pedagogy for social inclusion and children’s rights discourses, UNESCO Janusz Korczak Chair Book Series. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367221782_Social_pedagogy_for_social_inclusion_and_children%27s_rights_discourses_Edited_by_Anna_Odrowaz-Coates_Warsaw_Maria_Grzegorzewska_University_Press_2022
Manion, K. (2022). Nudging Social Norms to Redress Peer-to-Peer Violence in Schools. In International Conference on Childhood and Adolescence E-Book, 2022, pp. 615-627, https://icca.eventqualiia.net/en/2022/home/call/conference-proceedings.
Muñoz, Y., Manion, K., & Cohen, C. (2022). Children with Disabilities Speak Out: Consultations with adolescents to inform the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) and Global Disability Research Agenda. International Institute for Child Rights and Development, Collective Impact. Prepared for UNICEF.
Currie, V., Manion, K., & Wright, L. (2021). Shifting Norms around Violence in Schools:
A Guide for Trainers and Facilitators Working with Children and Young People. [Training Manual]. https://childhub.org/sites/default/files/library/attachments/Shifting%20Norms%20around%20VAC%20in%20Schools%20Guide-%20REVIS-FINAL%20Participant%20Version_3Aug2021.pdf
Currie, V., Wright, L., & Manion, K. (2021). Safeguarding Children from Violence in Schools: A Guide for Children and Young people in Children’s Clubs: Based on findings from a global research study on children’s clubs. IICRD. Report6.2 (end-violence.org)
Currie, V., Wrights, L., Lee, L., Manion, K., Gallopeni, B, Terzi-Barbarosie, D., Mateeva, A., Milojevic, S., Trbus, M., Costache, I., Lazor, T., & Zecevic, I. (2021). Final Report: Regional Research on Violence Against Children in Schools South Eastern Europe. Terre des hommes & International Institute for Child Rights and Development.
Axe, J., Childs, E., & Manion, K. (2020). In Search of Employment: Tackling Youth Homelessness and Unemployment. Children and Youth Services Review, I113(2020).
Axe, J., Childs, E. & Manion, K. (2020). Zero Ceiling Work2Live Research Project Fall 2019: Final Report. Prepared for Zero Ceiling. Royal Roads University.
Manion, H. K., Wright, L., & Currie, V. (2020, December). Role of Children's Clubs in Safeguarding of Children in Schools. Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
Manion, H.K., Dyck, T., Shah-Preusser, N. & Thackeray, S. (2020). Teaching Innovation through team and collaborative based learning. In S. Palahicky (Ed). Enhancing Learning Design for Innovative Teaching in Higher Education. IGI Global.
Manion, H.K., Jones, S. (2020). Child Rights Education - Building Capabilities and Empowerment Through Social Constructivism. Canadian Journal of Child Rights, https://ojs.library.carleton.ca/index.php/cjcr/article/view/2615/2427
Sentes, L, Manion, K., & Yen, K. (2020). BCOHRC Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner.
Sentes, L, Manion, K., Yen, K. (2020). BCOHRC Theory of Change. BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner.
Shah-Preusser, N., Thackeray, S., Dyck, T., Manion, K., & Palahicky, S. (2020). Team Based Learning: Collaboratively Guiding the Journey. In J. Haruo (Ed.). Collected Essays on Learning and Teaching (CELT) - Guiding the Journey: Learner-Teacher-Learner. Vol. XIII. Collected Essay on Learning and Teaching. https://celt.uwindsor.ca/index.php/CELT/issue/current
Axe, J., Manion, K., & Childs, E. (2019, September). Zero Ceiling: Research Report 2018 Launch: September 18, 2019. Whistler, Canada.
Manion, H.K. (2019). Right to Play- Bringing it to the Fore. Lisbon: International Conference on Childhood and Adolescence Book. https://icca.eventqualia.net/en/2020/home/abstracts/publications/ pp.149-168.
Manion, H.K. (2019). Theory for social work with children. In M. Payne & E.R. Hall (Eds.). Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory. Routledge.
Axe, J., Childs, E. & Manion, K. (2018). Zero Ceiling: Program Review Summary: Full Report – April 9, 2018. Prepared for Zero Ceiling. Royal Roads University.
Axe, J., Childs, E. & Manion, K. (2018, November). Summary of Initial Themes - Zero Ceiling Program Review Fall 2018. Prepared for Zero Ceiling. Royal Roads University.
Manion, H.K. (2018). Children and Youth in the Refugee Equation: Working with the Vulnerable. In K. Christie & M. Boulby (Eds.). Living in Fear: Migration, Refugees and Human Security in the Mediterranean. Palgrave.
Manion, K., Dyck, T., Palahicky, S., Shah-Preusser, N. & Thackeray, S. (2018). Team based Learning: Living our Model at Royal Roads University Final Research Report (Summary and Full). [Unpublished Report]. Royal Roads University.
Young, M.G. & Manion, H.K. (2017). Harm reduction through housing first: An assessment of the Emergency Warming Centre in Inuvik. Harm Reduction Journal, 14 (8).
Manion, H.K. (2015). International social problems. J. Wright (Ed). The International Encyclopedia of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition. Elsevier.
Albrecht, G., Beard, T., Bianchi, D., Draca, J., Fluke, J., Gerbaka, B., Gray, J., Madrid, B., Manion, K., Mansell, J., Tonmyr, L., Van Puyenbroeck, H, Wolstenholme, S. (2012). Child Neglect: National Data Profiles. In H. Dubowitz (Ed). ISPCAN World Perspectives on Child Abuse 10th Edition, pp.48 - 56.
Manion, K. & Nixon, P. (2012). Listening to experts: Children and young people’s participation'. Social Work Now, 49 (February) 30-39.
Rock, L., Karabanow, J. & Manion, H.K. (2012).Childhood and Youth in International Context: Life-Course. In K. Lyons, T. Hokenstad, M. Pawar, N. Huegler, & N. Hall (eds) Handbook of International Social Work, London: Sage.
Sturmfels, D. & Manion, K. (2012). Giving children a voice: Paving the way for Child, Youth and Family’s participation strategy. Social Work Now, 49 (February) 40-46.
De Haan I. & Manion, K. (2011). Building Safety and Deepening our Practice. Social Work Now, 47(April) 35–43.
Manion, K. (2011). Focusing on the child: Redressing neglect in child protection. Social Work Now, 48 (October) 27-32.
Manion, H. K. & Renwick, J. (2008). Equivocating over the Care and Protection Continuum: An Exploration of Families not Meeting the Threshold for Statutory Intervention. Social Policy of New Zealand.
Lyons, K., Manion, H.K. & Carlsen, M. (2006). International Social Work: global conditions and local practice, Palgrave.
Lyons, K. & Manion, H. K. (2006). Migration - an ongoing focus for local and international social workers. In N. Hall (ed.) Social Work Around the World IV, Berne: International Federation of Social Workers Press.
