Faculty & Staff

Emmie is an Assistant Professor in the Bachelor of Child Studies (BCST) degree program. Her research interests and expertise are centered on children and youth rights, participatory action research, and amplifying the voices of young individuals. She is deeply committed to the principles outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and incorporates these into her teaching and research activities. Her work emphasizes the importance of educating both practitioners and young individuals about the UNCRC to ensure that children's rights are understood, respected, and implemented in various contexts. In addition to her academic work, Emmie has extensive practical experience working directly with children and youth in the field.

Areas of Instruction

• Children and Youth Rights
• Vulnerable children, youth and families
• Interdisciplinary professional practice
• Child Development
• Trauma-informed practice

Areas of Scholarship

• Children and Youth Rights
• Participatory and Action Research
• Advocacy
• Divorce and Separation

Selected Publications

Henderson-Dekort, E., van Bakel, H., Smits, V., & Van Regenmortel, T. (2023). “In accordance with age and maturity”: Children’s perspectives, conceptions and insights regarding their capacities and meaningful participation. Action research, 21(1), 30-61.

Henderson-Dekort, E., Smits, V., & Van Bakel, H. (2021). The meaningful participation and complex capacities of children in family law: Based on transdisciplinary perspectives and articles of the united nations convention on the rights of the child. The International Journal of Children's Rights, 29(1), 78-98.

Henderson-Dekort, E., van Bakel, H., & Smits, V. (2022). The complex notion of the capacity of a child: Exploring the term capacity to support the meaningful participation of children in family law proceedings. Social Sciences, 11(3), 98.

Henderson-Dekort, E., Van Bakel, H., & Smits, V. (2022). Gathering Perspectives on Expert Approaches to the Capacity and Rights of Children: Working to Inform a Capacity Assessment Tool for Children to Participate in Family Law Proceedings. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 63(1), 35-65.

Henderson-Dekort, E. (2018). Unheard Voices within Family Law, Custody, and Access: A Progression of Child and Youth Care Practice and Children’s Rights, 31 (2), 7-13. 

Selected Presentations

School Age Care Conference (2024). Children’s Rights Based Approach to Practice, Calgary Alberta

Celebrate! Teaching & Learning at MRU (2024). Knit, Crochet and Stitch for Child Rights and Social Justice: Practicing Craftivism in Early Childhood Education and Care Settings

Association of Early Childhood Educators of Alberta- Essential Pieces Conference (2024). Children's Rights Based Approach to Practice

Child & Youth Care in Action V: Embracing Challenge (2017). Technology Integration in Service Delivery: LifeBook as a Place for all Spaces

Relevant Community Service

Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children - Committee Member

Child Rights Academic Network (CRAN) – Member and Editor