English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

SEE THE RESILIENCY IN THE JOURNEY OF THEIR LIVES
An important part of supporting families towards positive change is to build on the
family’s strengths. Each family has demonstrated resilience and has survived based
on what they have learned thus far. As a child welfare professional, look for the pieces
that are strong and have value, and build upon them.
Child welfare needs to credit families for their survival. Families have demonstrated
resiliency even if they have not developed all the life skills yet. Mothers are often perceived
as difficult because they challenge with a fighting spirit, but this is a reflection of their
passion for their children and families and exhibits their survival skills that have helped
them surpass difficulties to this point in their lives.
MAKE A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILY
When child welfare becomes involved with a family, it must commit to support the
family through the long-term change process. A family that is working to end the
violence needs long-term support and a circle of care around them.
I. PRACTICE: IMPROVE THE RECRUITMENT, SELECTION AND
TRAINING FOR FOSTER PARENTS
Focus group participants were often grateful for the foster parents who are taking
care of their children when they cannot. They have identified a number of consistent
concerns, however:
1. The pool of Aboriginal foster parents is small. In Ottawa, for example there
are no Inuit foster parents for the Inuit children in care.
2. Some foster parents are missing the necessary element of cultural awareness,
and children may be suffering exclusion from language and customs.
A FAMILY EXAMPLE FROM A FOCUS GROUP
A grandmother told the story of her daughter and husband. Her daughter had
experienced violence from her husband and child welfare services had been
involved with the family on several occasions. While child welfare was involved,
the support was inadequate. The mother wanted to go to treatment but was
not getting enough support and direction; one child was getting lots of support
because she had been diagnosed with FASD, but the other child received no
support but had the same symptoms; the mother had been drinking but had
sober adults in the house with her when she was drinking. The child welfare
professional placed the children into a non-Aboriginal foster home.
The children are now living with the grandmother (who is also a foster parent).
She is seeing behaviour in the children that shows anxiety and not a good sense of
identity. The children are unable to express their feelings, are lying and having
tantrums.
This family needed many services and a way to keep the children in the extended
family.
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