English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

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$Marie Collins \$

A. HOW ABORIGINAL FAMILIES DESCRIBE THEIR CURRENT EXPERIENCE WITH CHILD WELFARE The practice of working with Aboriginal families has many complexities and carries a historical legacy that child welfare professionals carry into their work. In addition, child welfare professionals are charged with the responsibility to support families addressing family violence. The work of supporting families cannot be done alone. Child welfare professionals are one of many critical service providers that surround the family. This section provides feedback from focus group participants about what they would appreciate when working with child welfare professionals in family violence situations. This section reflects the focus groups’ current concerns and their suggestions to support moving forward. The current response to addressing family violence is problematic. When women call police to ask for help, the man is arrested and child welfare is called to assess the situation. When Aboriginal families were asked to describe their experiences of dealing with child welfare, they described how they felt their families were misunderstood and pulled apart; they felt powerless and, in some cases, disrespected. Women who reported violence to the police often did not know that the police would automatically call child welfare if children were involved. They did not realize that during a time when they were looking for support and protection they would have to deal with child welfare services. Many women felt that they were defending their approach to parenting instead of getting support for the family violence in their lives. Child welfare professionals were viewed as not always helping women or being supportive in keeping the family together. There is a great deal that child welfare professionals, other service providers and families need to learn together, and this work begins with establishing relationships based on mutual respect.
A LONGER-TERM VISION A strengths based approach can support a longer-term vision, in which communities can share how to address family violence. Strengths based approaches involve all service providers, working together with the family and community, to respond to the family experiencing family violence. This type of approach requires a commitment to healing of the individual, family and community and involves four stages: When working with Aboriginal families we need to recognize that it is an ongoing learning process and humility is required. We are learning a new view of the world. - Focus group participant 1. When family violence is identified, an immediate response and intervention happens with all parties: The parents and the children. Interventions can involve service providers, extended families and community members. The goal of the response is to do everything possible to keep the children safe and with at least one parent. If that is not possible, then service providers must develop interventions to keep the children with extended family or in the community. 2. The parent who has been assaulted receives support immediately, including counselling, health care and financial services. The parent who has been abusive receives an immediate risk assessment. If s/he is aware of his/her violent behaviour, s/he is provided with help to stop the violence and address the issues. Part of his/her responsibility in healing is to tell the children that the violent behaviour was wrong. Extended family and community members need to be involved as witnesses and supports to the family. 3. A collaborative healing program encourages families to remove themselves from their existing living situation and identify the strengths they have as a family and what needs to change in their family. At the conclusion of a proposed 16-week healing program, a welcoming ceremony would be held by the community. 4. A year-long aftercare program is established for the family. When the family completes this program, they are encouraged to act as experienced helpers for other families and to be advocates for change. B. PRACTICE: ESTABLISH A CULTURALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT The ability to gather information from another person in order to make an informed decision is an essential skill in child welfare. Interviewing requires the ability to establish a relationship and sets up an environment for shared honesty and truth. Focus group family members repeatedly said that they had very different experiences with different child welfare workers. The effects of colonization can produce barriers to relationship building. Understanding a person’s cultural perspective can facilitate the development of a relationship — a key starting point to establishing a culturally safe environment. 93
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WORKING WITH FIRST NATIONS, INUIT A
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SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL FAMILIES Than
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THE STEERING COMMITTEE Native Child
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8 4 > STRENGTHENING YOUR PRACTICE /
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Child welfare professionals have a
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4. To successfully protect First Na
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A range of violent behaviour can oc
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“The term ‘Aboriginal’ is off
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The Practice Guide is an invitation
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Clan family: This structure is base
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Family violence (witnessing and bei
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could live on the land and in the c
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The historical trauma of Aboriginal
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VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Adapted from
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FAMILY VIOLENCE Family violence in
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General characteristics of lateral
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G. ATTACHMENT Culture has commonly
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In Indian country, we should probab
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Customary Care: Customary Care reco
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Canada Mortgage and Housing Corpora
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Page 51 and 52: C. THE INUIT In 2006, there were 2,
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Page 57 and 58: status as a result of marrying non-
Page 59 and 60: MILLENNIUM SCOOP In her report, Pro
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Page 69 and 70: and linguistic development, is a de
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Page 77 and 78: Traditionally, it was the women who
Page 79 and 80: The OACAS Practice Guide, Critical
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Page 118 and 119: SOURCES Ajunnginiq Centre, National
Page 120 and 121: A. WHAT DOES “ABORIGINAL COMMUNIT
Page 122 and 123: Organizational change within CAS in
Page 124 and 125: ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE OF CHILD WELF
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A. A PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION In 1
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S O U R C E S Blackstock, C., Cross
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ONTARIO ABORIGINAL ORGANIZATIONS Ch
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APPENDIX A GLOSSARY Unless specific
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emaining within Canada. All 10 prem
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APPENDIX B SAFETY PLANNING FOR WOME
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APPENDIX C SAFETY PLANNING FOR THE
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flag situations arise from rigid ex
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REFERENCES 2-Sprited People of the
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Castellano, M.B., Archibald, L., &
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Hudson, P. & McKenzie, B. (2003). E
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Ontario Association of Children’s
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Teillet, J. (2010). Métis law in C
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English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

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