Dr Danielle Douglas is a lecturer and programme leader of the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice in the School of Humanities at SETU, Waterford. She holds a BA in Applied Social Studies from WIT, an MA by Research from WIT, and a PhD in Children and Youth Studies from UCD. Her research interests include vulnerable children and young people and their families, resilience, children’s geographies, identity and selfhood. Her research has included a diverse range of creative methodologies including photo methodology and narrative inquiry.

Danielle began her career in 2003 as a project support worker in the Subla Centre, a young traveller education project, before becoming a learning support tutor for students with disabilities in Higher Education and finally a lecturer in Social Care. Danielle was a relative foster carer for many years and has extensive experience as a consultant and trainer to various child protection, advocacy and peer support organisations at national and international level including work with UNICEF, Eurochild, Tusla and many more.

She was elected as the youngest and first care-experienced President of the International Foster Care Organisation in 2017 and held the role for three years. She was co-host of their 2014 international conference. She was also a core group founding member of Power4Youth, a European peer support network for care experienced young people. She has been a member of quality assurance committees for the assessment of foster carers for various organisations in Ireland and was a member of Tusla—Child and Family Agency’s Research Advisory Group between 2016 and 2023