Highlights from a study exploring child welfare workers’ thoughts on the overrepresentation of Black children in child welfare
August 25, 2022
According to Ontario child welfare workers and community service providers, Black children are currently overrepresented in – and experience different outcomes within – Ontario’s child welfare system. This study examined the possible reasons by conducting focus groups with participants from different community service providers and child welfare organizations in Toronto.
Participants were asked two questions: “What do you think contributes to the differences between Black and White families in child welfare involvement?” and “What are your views on why Black families experience disparate outcomes in Ontario’s child welfare system?”
Researchers identified 10 themes in the participants’ thoughts on overrepresentation, which touched on topics that included racism and bias, a lack of appropriate training and resources, and various contextual factors.
This research builds on our growing understanding of the Family Identity lens of the Vanier Institute’s Family Diversities and Wellbeing Framework.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., and Fluke, J. (2022). Understanding the overrepresentation of Black children in Ontario’s child welfare system: Perspectives from child welfare workers and community service providers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 123, 105425. doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105425
