scholarly journals The Overlap Between the Child Welfare and Youth Justice Systems in Manitoba, Canada

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marni Brownell ◽  
Nathan Nickel ◽  
Lorna Turnbull ◽  
Wendy Au ◽  
Leonard MacWilliam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Home Care ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Indigenous Youth ◽  
Child And Family Services ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Criminal Charges ◽  
Justice Systems ◽  
Youth Incarceration

IntroductionManitoba has one of the highest rates of children taken into care of child welfare services (Child and Family Services; CFS) in the world, and also one of the highest youth incarceration rates in Canada. Policy-makers recognize there is overlap between these systems; the extent of that overlap is unknown. Objectives and ApproachWe linked CFS, Justice, and Population Health Registry data to quantify the overlap between having a history of CFS during childhood (0-17 years) and being charged with a crime as a youth (12-17 years). Using a cohort approach, we selected all individuals in Manitoba who were born in 1988 (N=28,178); those not in the province at any time from 12-17 years were excluded, leaving a final cohort of 18,182. The cohort was divided into 3 groups according to CFS involvement: CFS out-of-home care (1,148); CFS in-home services (3,395); no CFS (13,639). Criminal charges between 12-17 years were identified. Results6.3% of our cohort had CFS out-of-home care, 18.7% received CFS in-home services, and 75% had no CFS involvement. 10.5% of the cohort were charged of a crime between 12-17 years. Almost half (46.6%) of youth who had CFS out-of-home care had criminal charges, compared to 19.4% of youth who had CFS in-home services, and 5.3% of youth with no CFS. Despite accounting for only 6.3% of the cohort, youth who had out-of-home care accounted for 28.0% of youth with criminal charges. Indigenous (First Nations (FN) and Metis) children/youth were over-represented in both systems; for example, 24.5% of FN youth had been in care compared to 3.1% of non-Indigenous; and 32.2% of FN youth were charged with a crime compared to 6.6% of non-Indigenous youth. Conclusion/ImplicationsThere is substantial overlap between the child welfare and youth justice systems, with overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in both systems. Culturally appropriate programs and policies aimed at supporting parents, families and communities to care for their own children will likely have long-term positive impacts on the youth justice system.

scholarly journals Understanding out of Home Care Rates in Northern Ireland: A Thematic Analysis of Mixed Methods Case Studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Mason ◽  
Kate Morris ◽  
Brid Featherstone ◽  
Lisa Bunting ◽  
Gavin Davidson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Children In Care

Abstract Research exploring inequalities in UK child welfare interventions has produced counter-intuitive findings with respect to Northern Ireland (NI). Despite experiencing the highest levels of deprivation, NI also displays the lowest rates of children in care of all the UK nations. With reference to wider evidence in the field of child welfare inequalities, this article details the findings of two exploratory mixed methods case studies, located within NI Health and Social Care Trusts. Drawing on the narratives offered by child and family social workers, a series of possible explanations for NI’s significantly lower out of home care rates are considered. We suggest the operation of intersecting factors at multiple levels, including social work systems and practices, early help systems and structures, communities and families. These findings extend understandings of NI’s out of home care rates whilst raising broader questions for social work research and practice.

scholarly journals Children in out-of-home care in Australia: International comparisons

2008 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Tilbury ◽  
June Thoburn
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
Children In Care

As governments increasingly search globally for strategies to improve child welfare outcomes, it is vital to consider how policies and programs developed in other countries are likely to suit local conditions. Routinely collected child welfare administrative data can provide contextual information for cross-national comparisons. This article examines out-of-home care in Australia compared to other developed countries, and explores possible explanations for differences in patterns and trends. In doing so, it also examines the similarities and differences between NSW, Victoria and Queensland. It is argued that a sound understanding of how out-of-home care is used, the profile of children in care and the influences on data can assist policy makers to match proposed solutions to clearly understood current problems. The imperative is to plan and implement policies and programs that locate out-of-home care within a range of child welfare services that meet the diverse needs of children and families within local contexts.

Mental health outcomes among child welfare investigated children: In-home versus out-of-home care

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 106-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Marie Conn ◽  
Moira A. Szilagyi ◽  
Sandra H. Jee ◽  
Aaron K. Blumkin ◽  
Peter G. Szilagyi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Out Of Home Care

scholarly journals Meenoostahtan Minisiwin: First Nations Family Justice "Pathways to Peace"

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-88
Author(s):  
Joe Pintarics ◽  
Karen Sveinunggaard
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Child And Family Services ◽  
Family Services ◽  
Nations Child

Community justice initiatives are now common in Canada, both for young offenders and in adult criminal cases; there are only a few examples of alternative methods for dealing with justice issues in the area of mandated child welfare services. The initiative outlined in this paper represents one of the most comprehensive family justice initiatives in First Nations Child and Family Services in Canada. Meenoostahtan Minisiwin: First Nations Family Justice offers a new way of addressing conflict in child and family matters, outside of the regular Child and Family Services (CFS) and court systems. It incorporates the traditional peacemaking role that has existed for centuries in Northern Manitoba Cree communities, alongside contemporary family mediation. The program brings together family, extended family, community members, Elders, social workers and community service providers in the resolution of child protection concerns through the use of properly trained Okweskimowewak (family mediators). The Okweskimowewak’s role involves assisting participants to articulate their personal ‘truth’ (dabwe) and to hear and respect the dabwe of others; to create a safe and nurturing context by addressing inherent power imbalances; to explore the root causes of family conflict in order to address the long term best interests of children; and to facilitate innovative and collaborative planning outcomes for families. The program was developed by the Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba, a mandated First Nations Child and Family Services agency, although it receives its services mandate from the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) Exectuive. It is jointly funded by the Aboriginal Justice Strategy of Justice Canada and the Manitoba Department of Family Services and Housing. Overall direction for the program is provided by the First Nations Family Justice Committee, a sub-committee of the MKO Exectuive Director of Awasis Agency, and representative chiefs of the MKO region. The program currently employs a Program Coordinator, two full time regional Okweskimowewak, two full time community-based Okweskimowewak and an administrative assistant. Since its inception in 1999, the program has received referrals involving more than seven hundred families, including well over 1900 children and 1500 volunteer participants. Services have been provided in seventeen First Nation communities in Northern Manitoba as well as in Thompson, Winnipeg, The Pas, and Gillam. The Meenoostahtan Minisiwin program responds to all aspects of mandated child welfare, as well as other situations where the best interests of children are in jeopardy. These have included mediating care placement arrangements; child-parent conflicts; family-agency or family-agency-system conflicts; assisting in the development of service plans in neglect and abuse cases; advocating on behalf of families attempting to access services; family violence; larger community-wide conflicts; and working to address systemic problems which impact the lives of First Nations children and families. We believe that by establishing processes which focus on restoring balance and harmony within families and communities, we are working towards an overall increase in the health and wellness of community members. And you who would understand justice, How shall you, unless you Look upon all deeds In the fullness of light? Only then shall you know that the erect And the fallen are but one man standing in The twilight between the Night of his pigmy-self And the day of his god-self. K. Gibran

Child Welfare: Overview

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Pecora
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Foster Care ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Developmentally Appropriate ◽  
Welfare Program ◽  
Out Of Home Care

The mission of child welfare is multifaceted and includes: (a) responding to the needs of children reported to public child-protection agencies as being abused, neglected, or at risk of child maltreatment; (b) providing children placed in out-of-home care with developmentally appropriate services; and (c) helping children find permanent homes in the least-restrictive living situations possible; and (d) providing “post-permanency” services to children so they do not return to foster care. This section describes the mission, scope, and selected issues of major child-welfare-program areas.

Developing a Case Typology for Children in Out-of-Home Care: Child Welfare Worker Perspectives

2008 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret M. Skrypek ◽  
Susan J. Wells ◽  
Kristen Bauerkemper ◽  
Laura Koranda ◽  
Amber Link
Keyword(s):  
Child Welfare ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Care Child ◽  
Out Of Home Care
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