Improving services for Aboriginal families

Aboriginal children are nearly ten times more likely to be in care than non-Aboriginal children. In spite of growing awareness of the systemic impacts of the residential school system and foster care system on Aboriginal families, child protection cases continue to be handled on an individual basis that ignores the systemic nature of the problem.

While the Ministry has taken some steps towards preserving the cultural heritage and kinship network of Aboriginal children, in 2006, the number of Aboriginal children in care surpassed the number of non-Aboriginal children for the first time. Less than 16 percent of these children are placed with an Aboriginal caregiver.

Apprehensions as the last resort

The CFCSA recognizes that the removal of a child from their family home is a very serious intervention and that the least disruptive measure should always be used in determining a safety plan for children.

However, the spirit behind this principle is lost where there are inadequate resources in place to employ the “least disruptive” intervention. The problem is twofold: social workers often do not have time to do a proper assessment of the alternatives to apprehension for a family; and even when social workers have the time, the resources to which they would like to direct families do not actually exist.

The lack of supportive and preventative services is not only a violation of the provisions of the CFCSA, it is indicative of a short-sighted, crisis driven style of child protection work that fails to support the integrity of families or the best interests of children.

Reunifying families

Little emphasis is placed on return planning once a child is taken into care. Parents reported that they are given little direction in terms of what is expected of them before their children can be returned. In some cases when a parent feels they have understood and addressed the

Ministry’s expectations, a series of new expectations arise, further delaying the return of the child. In other cases, the resources needed to fulfill the expectations are not available or have long waitlists. The ambiguity in the Ministry’s expectations and the inordinate delays involved in communicating with social workers lead mothers to lose hope that their children will ever come home.

The child protection process:
Barriers to effective service delivery

The child protection system is purported to be oriented toward family supports and ensuring the best interests of the child. However, there are multiple barriers to effective service delivery.

The web of surveillance: Mothers living in poverty are subject to a high degree of scrutiny by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, other government ministries and by the general public. As a result these mothers experience stress and distrust and may be reluctant to reach out for help in times of need, particularly when they believe that disclosing their personal difficulties could result in their worst fear – the removal of their children. As a government ministry that is mandated to provide the services necessary to assist and strengthen families, their investigative role inevitably creates a barrier to building trusting relationships with families.

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