English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

Some of the training provided to resource parents should also be
provided to the workers
> > Workers and managers are often overworked and there is little time to
encourage ongoing learning. Provide more time to discuss case issues,
do self-examination to identify bias and judgments, and give workers
time to grow.
“Books can only teach
you so much. Also,
the information about
Aboriginal people in
books is not always
accurate.”
- Focus group participant
Focus group participants recognized that the job of a child welfare professional
is extremely difficult and requires a great deal of support. Suggestions for
supportive processes for workers included:
> > Mandatory training for working with Aboriginal families for all
workers
> > Repeated training opportunities to ensure all workers are included,
because of the high turnover
> > Ongoing training plans for long-term workers
> > Debriefing sessions with managers and supervisors
> > Community and family engagement takes time, therefore it is difficult
to accomplish with high case loads. It would be helpful if they can
focus their attention in a meaningful way on the whole family and
take the time to build a relationship.
> > Managers need to assess whether workers are using a strengths based
approach:
> Ask workers to name three strengths of every family they
work with
> Review the worker’s files when they have higher numbers of
children in care
Focus group participants’ ideas to move cultural literacy forward included training in
the following topic areas:
> > Respecting Aboriginal worldviews, teachings and traditions
> > Experiential, cultural training, to allow time for reflection and
knowledge development
> > Training about traditional ways, including Aboriginal history, the clan
system, ceremonies, the life cycle wheel
> > The traumas suffered by Aboriginal peoples, including real life stories
> > Understanding and respecting the Treaties
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> > Formal and informal approaches to building relationships (e.g. seeing
an Elder, participating in formal training, participating in community
activities)