The Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare (CECW)

Projects & Resources

• Progress On Aboriginal Child Welfare Reconciliation
• Analysis Of Canadian Incidence Study (CIS) Of Reported Child Abuse And Neglect 
• Profile Of Children With Disabilities Involved With Child Welfare Agencies In Manitoba
• Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare Publications
• Reports and Research

Progress on Aboriginal Child Welfare Reconciliation

In 2005, CECW organized a North American Aboriginal Child Welfare reconciliation event. The reconciliation conference was held at Niagara Falls, Ontario on Oct 26-28 2005 and was the first such event in North America. The 213 people who attended represented expertise in Indigenous child welfare from throughout North America and beyond. Notable international guests included keynote speaker Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi of South Africa, Muriel Bamblett, Chair of the Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Care (Australia), Professor Jaap Doek, Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child and Lesley du Toit from South Africa.

The document that emerged from the event, “Touchstones of Hope for Indigenous Children,
Youth and Families” is influencing child welfare legislation and policies across Canada and in the U.S.

Several First Nations child and family service agencies and provincial governments are using this product to guide transformations in child welfare.

A new curriculum for child welfare leaders and bachelor of social work students has been developed to guide the implementation of the Touchstones.

Canadian Incidence Study (CIS) of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect   

The CIS is a periodic survey funded by PHAC and is an important part of the Agency’s child surveillance activities. CECW supports analysis of CIS data to help inform policy advice on topics including:   

• child emotional maltreatment
• physical abuse of children in Canada
• children with disabilities involved in child maltreatment investigations
• abuse and neglect of Aboriginal children
  

CECW Driving Change in the Provinces

The Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth used CECW analyses of CIS data to redesign its legislation and regulations. The provincial governments of Manitoba and British Columbia have used CECW analyses to transform services for Aboriginal children and families.

The Mi’kmaq Child and Family Service Agency in Nova Scotia used CIS data analyses to target prevention services to the most prevalent forms of risk facing children and families in local communities.

CIS data are also helping develop provincial legislations and regulations, and to improve child welfare services for Aboriginal children and families.

Profile of Children with Disabilities Involved with Child Welfare Agencies in Manitoba

In 2005, the CECW funded a Manitoba study on children with disabilities in child welfare. The study was conducted by the Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba and the Child Protection Branch of the Manitoba Department of Family Services and Housing.

Study Results

33% of all children in care in Manitoba have a disability, and more than 50% have multiple disabilities.

First Nations children account for more than 66% of children with disabilities.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) was diagnosed in 34% of children in care with disabilities, or 11% of all children in care in Manitoba.

Of the children in care with FASD, 94% are Aboriginal.

Redesigning Provincial Child Welfare Policy

The CECW is working with federal and Manitoba provincial policy makers to:

• develop policies that better support children with disabilities living in Aboriginal communities;
• increase public awareness campaigns about the risk of drinking alcohol during or before pregnancy; and
• find ways to develop supports and services to families who have children with disabilities.
  

Other provinces are expressing interest in tracking children in care with disabilities and implementing policy reform.