Examining Child Maltreatment-Related Investigations of Children from Newcomer and non-Newcomer Households in Ontario, Canada

Objectives: The study aims to further the understanding of child welfare involvement with Newcomer families in Ontario, Canada in 2018. This study examines a) the rate and characteristics of child maltreatment-related investigations involving Newcomer families and b) differences in child maltreatment-related investigations between Newcomer and non-Newcomer families. Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2018 (OIS-2018). Using Statistics Canada Census Data, the Population-based Disparity Index (PDI) was calculated for Newcomer and non-Newcomer families. Descriptive and bivariate chi-square analyses were conducted to determine characteristics of investigations involving Newcomer and non-Newcomer households. Results: The PDI of the incidence of maltreatment-related investigations involving children under the age of 15 from Newcomer households versus non-Newcomer households in Ontario in 2018 is 2.48. Implications: The findings suggest that a child maltreatment-related investigation is more than twice as likely to occur if the investigation involves a child from a Newcomer household, when compared a non-Newcomer household in Ontario. This study demonstrates a need for further collaboration with Newcomer communities and their social service providers to better understand risk factors of child welfare involvement, and to increase protective factors for children from Newcomer families.

Newcomer Families’ Participation in Early Childhood Education Programs

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs are often the first point of contact that newcomers have with formal institutions in their new country, and function as sites wherein children can gain access to the language, rules, and customs of the dominant society. However, newcomer families may experience specific barriers to accessing programs due to the lack of recognition of their existing social and cultural capital within the host country. Reporting on part of a larger mixed-methods study focused on the post-migration barriers to integration experienced by newcomers, this article explores newcomer families’ perspectives on the issues affecting their participation in ECEC programs. Qualitative data were collected from 96 newcomers to Canada during 13 focus groups. The findings suggest newcomer families grapple with reconciling three main points of disjuncture or conflict associated with these child care decisions: social networks, necessity and opportunity, and socialization goals. While participation in ECEC programs facilitated the development of forms of capital valued in the new context, these families also felt compelled to shed some of their own aspirations for their children’s socialization and learning.

Newcomer families' experiences with programs and services to support early childhood development in Canada: A scoping review

It can be difficult for families with young children to navigate early childhood development supports. In particular, newcomer families often encounter additional barriers and require resources, programs, and services that are tailored to their unique assets, experiences, and needs. We conducted a scoping review of the literature published between 2000 and 2019 to explore what is known about newcomer families’ experiences with programs and services to support early childhood development in Canada. We searched 12 databases, screened 2390 articles, and included 34 articles for synthesis and analysis. Three common and connected themes were identified: 1) effective intercultural understanding, responsiveness, and communication are critical to ensuring full access to meaningful programs and services; 2) some newcomer families face systemic barriers exacerbated by their immigration status, and; 3) feelings and perceptions of families and service providers, as well as social supports, networks, and relationships influence how programs and services are accessed and experienced. Our review identifies the requirement for additional, participatory research that centres the voices and perspectives of newcomer children and their families and the need to expand that research to less populated and rural areas of the country to inform meaningful and culturally relevant policies, programs, and services for newcomer families to support their children’s well-being.

Food Insecurity and Nutritional Risk among Canadian Newcomer Children in Saskatchewan

Food insecurity continues to persist among vulnerable groups in Canada, including newcomer families. This mixed-methods study uses an exploratory sequential design to characterize the food security status of newcomer families with children aged 3–13 years. Parents completed food security and 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires, and parents and service providers were interviewed to explore their food insecurity experiences. Fifty percent of participant households experienced food insecurity, while 41% of children were food insecure. More recent newcomer families, and families with parents that had completed high school or some years of postsecondary training, more commonly experienced household food insecurity, compared to families with parents without high school diplomas or those with university degrees. Food-insecure children aged 4–8 years were at higher risk of consuming a lower proportion of energy from protein, lower servings of milk products, and inadequate intakes of vitamin B12 and calcium. Participants identified changes in food buying habits due to low income, using food budgets to purchase prescription drugs and to repay transportation loans, while the school food environment impacted children’s food security. Food security initiatives targeting newcomers may benefit from building on the strengths of newcomers, including traditional dietary practices and willingness to engage in capacity-building programming.

How Do New Immigrant Families (African Continent) with a Child with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Experience the Western Medical System?

INTRODUCTION: New immigrant families from continental Africa account for an increasing proportion of pediatric patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Canada and North America. As families enter the western medical system they face a myriad of tests and medications as well they encounter language barriers, endless forms and large teams. Previous experiences with healthcare also influence families' expectations and adjustment.There is no published data exploring the experiences of these families to help guide practice. Resources such as the Canadian Pediatric Society guide on immigrant health are not specific to SCD. We set out to examine cultural sensitivity methodologically in order to improve delivery of care. Research Questions: What are newcomer families' experiences with SCD in Canada and their home country?What are the prevailing values and beliefs related to SCD that shape the attitude and behaviors of newcomer families?How do newcomer families perceivethe current delivery of medical care (the barriers and the facilitators)? METHODS: Focused ethnography was used to understand the socio-cultural context in which newcomer families from Africa experience their child's SCD; to explore their perspectives, beliefs, how they manage daily life and experience the western medical system. A sample size of12-15 participants was selected to reach saturation.Participants were selected using purposeful and convenience sampling and semi-structured interviews were held with the primary caregiver(s) with use of aninterpreter if needed. Research Ethics Board approved. RESULTS: Saturation was reached at 10 families and 12 were interviewed due to recruiting methods. Demographics:12 caregivers (N=8 females; N=4 males); most were in their forties and from Congo, Nigeria or Liberia. The majority had 3 or more children, were married and employed. The majority did not have extended family within the region. Languages spoken at home were English, French, Yoruba, Swahili orMoorie. They immigrated to Canada between 2002 and 2015 For themes see table 1. CONCLUSIONS: Participants' attitude, perception and knowledge about SCD were profoundly affected by their experiences in their countries of origin. These mostly negative experiences (seeing children suffering without appropriate medical care; observing social stigma, etc.) were deeply embedded and determined their response to SCD in their children. 1. Practice guideline: Allow for sufficient time and provision oftranslation services to explore the families' experience with stigma within country of residence and origin as well as embedded in the healthcare system and the community. Despite the prevalence of SCD in their home countries the diagnosis was a surprise. The path towards acceptance was slow, emotionally convoluted and not linear. Acceptance of the diagnosis is a process and devastating in the context of previous experiences. 2. Practice guideline: Review diagnostic information early and have easily accessible information about SCD available for parents/family network. This information will also need to be reviewed with the child at key developmental time periods. SCD has a dominant impact on life causing renegotiation of all relationships: spousal, family, community, co-workers and school staff. Managing SCD influenced daily routines imposing structure which was disrupted for hospitalizations. Families were reluctant to leave children unattended in the hospital and thus sacrificed personal and employment goals. Social support is limited and families cope alone.Families tend to seek practical support and deny the desire for emotional support. 3. Practice guideline: 3a)Screen for potential isolation and explore whether other caretakers are aware of diagnosis and disease specific care 3b) Given the tendency to deny emotional support needs, lack of nearby extended family and the stigma in the community setting up networks that provide both practical and instrumental support could be meaningful and more likely utilized resources. The life-long complexity of SCD creates anxiety for the child's life expectancy. Families trust in medical expertise, improvements in medical treatments and their faith/religious beliefs are foundations for hope. 4. Practice guideline: HCP working with families should ensure awareness of clinical advances and develop means to easily share knowledge as it will strengthen hope for the future. Table 1 Table 1. Disclosures Bruce: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Apopharma: Consultancy.

The Role of First Language Facilitators in Redefining Parent Involvement: Newcomer Families’ Funds of Knowledge in an Intercultural Preschool Program

Involving immigrant and refugee families is a desirable goal of ECEprograms in Canada; however, families are typically brought into aprescriptive, defined space framed by Euro-North American standards of developmental appropriateness. Within this space, immigrant and refugee families’ funds of cultural knowledge are systematically marginalized. An intercultural preschool program, in which English was the common language alongside three otherlanguages, aimed at enhancing the children’s knowledge and pride intheir home languages and cultures; the program challenged the conventional view of parental involvement. First language facilitators and cultural brokers acted as conduits between home and preschool and supported social networking within each of the three cultural communities represented in the program. Drawing on data collected through ethnographic methods during a unit on babies as part of an emergent curriculum, the authors describe how the facilitators and brokers brought newcomer families’ knowledge funds into the classroom and curriculum, resulting in a culturally sustaining pedagogy.