Meet our core members: Tanishta Rajesh

Tanishta Rajesh is a PhD student at the Department of Public Health Sciences at Stockholm University. Her research is centered on examining the inequalities experienced by families involved in child welfare services. As part of the Drivers of Inequalities Among Families Involved with Child Welfare Services (DRIVERS) project, Tanishta investigates the factors contributing to child placements in out-of-home care (OHC) and the long-term impacts on parents.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your academic background and what led you to pursue a PhD?
I have a bachelor’s degree in dentistry and a master’s in public health from Stockholm University. My interest in public health grew during my master’s studies, where I became particularly passionate about health inequalities and the structural factors that shape people’s lives. This motivated me to pursue a PhD, where I could delve deeper into researching the impacts of social interventions on vulnerable populations.

Q: What is the focus of your PhD thesis?
My thesis is part of the DRIVERS project, where I focus on families engaged with child welfare services in Sweden. Specifically, I examine the parental factors that contribute to a child’s placement in out-of-home care (OHC) and explore the trajectories of these parents both before and after the child’s placement—looking at how their psychosocial and socioeconomic conditions evolve over time.

Q: What are some of the key questions your research is addressing?
One of the primary questions I’m investigating is how parental issues, such as mental health challenges or financial instability, may contribute to the decision to place a child in care. Additionally, I’m exploring what happens to these parents after their child is placed—whether the intervention leads to improvements in their circumstances or if it exacerbates existing difficulties.

Q: How do you hope your research will contribute to the field?
I hope my research sheds light on how interventions like OHC placements affect not only the children but also their parents. My goal is to provide insights that can inform better support systems for at-risk families, ultimately helping to shape policies that more effectively address their needs.

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