Child Welfare

The topic of child welfare deserves a chapter unto itself, and yet in this chapter on contemporary Indigenous challenges, it is one of many topics offered. Therefore, only the most cursory of introductions is provided to some of the key elements within child welfare. Many additional resources are suggested for you to explore on your own.

Damage to the wellbeing of children did not end with residential schools, but rather began there and has continued in various ways since. The challenges today are outlined in this chapter as: The Sixties Scoop, poverty as a justification for child apprehensions, underfunding, birth alerts, and Jordan’s Principle.

For a look at the statistics associated with the involvement of child welfare services in the lives of Indigenous families and communities see: Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal.