Birgit Larsson

Birgit Larsson is an Associate Professor in Social Work and Sociology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), affiliated with the School of Social Work and the Centre for Research on Children and Families (CRCF). She holds a BA from Harvard University (2004), MSc from the University of Edinburgh (2007), and a PhD from UEA (2015). Her research focuses on vulnerable youth in care and criminal justice systems, with expertise in childhood trauma, neurodevelopmental difficulties, and LGBTQ+ issues in foster care. She combines mixed-methods approaches using national datasets and qualitative narratives.

Key projects include investigating foster care permanence policies, evaluating youth justice probation services, and analyzing pathways of young women navigating multiple systems. Her work contributes to UN SDGs related to justice, equality, and quality education.

Recent publications explore LGBTQ+ youth experiences in care systems, foster care regulations, and young women’s intersections with criminal justice and education systems. Awards include the Charles Pick Fellowship (2009). Her research aims to inform policy and practice for marginalized children and families.