An Anti-Oppression Framework for Child Welfare in Ontario

Appendix C: Using the FrameworkAnti-Oppression Framework for Child Welfare in OntarioAugust 2010Step 1: Identify the Intended OutcomesFor this example, the proposed intended outcome is:An agency that strives to reduce the disproportionate number of children in care frommarginalized groups.Step 2: Identify Potential Key ChallengesTypes ofChallengesKnowledge andAwarenessSkillsAttitudesAssumptionsDefinition of ChallengeIdentifying Knowledge andAwareness challenges will engagethe agency openly in a discussionon whether staff, Boardmembers, foster parents andvolunteers have the necessaryknowledge and awareness tointegrate AO in their daily work;and if not, what strategies areneeded?Identifying these challenges willengage the agency in exploringthe ability of staff, Board ofDirectors, foster parents andvolunteers to do AO work.Identifying these challenges willreveal the extent to whichindividuals/agency culture/sectorbelieve in the importance ofachieving anti-oppressionoutcomes.Identifying these challenges willopen the discussion aboutjudgments and pre-conceptionsrooted in participants’ sociallocation (age, class, gender, race,sexual orientation) about whatFactorsThe Board of Directors, staff, fosterparents, volunteers have difficulty inacknowledging their power.Many of the staff believe in antioppressionas an important valuebut have difficulty knowing how tobe more anti-oppressive in theirwork.There may be reluctance to addressthis issue either because it is notseen as a real problem or is seen assomething outside of the agency’scontrol.There are people in theagency/sector who believe thatfocusing attention ondisproportionate representation ofchildren from marginalized groupsmay take away attention from otherservice priorities.There is an assumption thatmarginalized groups have moreissues and this is why there arehigher rates of admission to carerather than it being the result ofinstitutional/systemic barriers.36 | P a g e