English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

family but that does not have to be the most obvious focus of your relationship.
> > Maintain a focus on safety. The focus of child protection work is always to
increase safety [ for the children]. You will need to explore different options to
increase safety that reflects the Aboriginal concepts of family and that
supports the woman.
WHEN WORKING WITH THE WOMAN
When a woman has called the police and a child welfare
professional shows up at her door, she may be distressed
and confused. She will have called police to express
concern for her safety and to request protection. At that
initial contact, child welfare professionals must begin
to form a trusting relationship with women and assure
them that you are part of the protection plan for her and
her children.
“You need to know about me, to know
how to handle me; to know how to help
me. If you don’t, then you’re doing a
disservice.” - Focus group participant
Specific suggestions from women in the focus groups
included:
The first meeting:
> > Explain the impacts witnessing violence has on
children
> > Explain why CAS is there when the woman has
called the police for family violence
> > Let the woman know of the options/resources
available to her, especially during the initial
crisis
> > Assume that the woman is innocent of any form
of child maltreatment until you have evidence
> > Recognize that you are not seeing a mother at
her best
> > Focus on her strengths as a mother — ​the fact
that she called the police to protect herself and
her children
Attend to her needs as a woman experiencing violence:
> > Ask her if she would like to have an advocate who will be there to support her
and provide her with additional information. Encourage women not to go
through the system alone.
> > Offer her information about her rights in family violence situations. If you are
unfamiliar with them, bring a CAS colleague or a person from a VAW
organization with whom you have established a protocol relationship.
> > Explain the cycle of violence
No explanation was given when the
police and CAS showed up at one of the
woman’s homes. The woman did not feel
supported at all. Basically she was
told “you’re not able to protect your
kids.” - Focus group participant
PRACTICE TIP
Create a Safety Plan with the woman
for herself and her children. If you need
support in creating a family violence
safety plan, bring a colleague who can
work with the mother to develop a plan.
A safety plan prepares a woman to stay
safely in the home and to get safely out
of the home if necessary. See Appendix
B for a sample of a safety plan for the
person being abused.
99