Social Work Practice with Children
Child Poverty
Child poverty in Canada: According to UNICEF (2012), Canada ranks 18th out of 35 industrialized countries when comparing child poverty rates to overall poverty rates, placing Canada in the bottom third with 13.3% of children living in poverty.
Intersectionality: Poverty is significantly shaped by intersecting factors such as immigrant/refugee status, race, cultural background, and heritage.
Effects of Childhood Poverty
Childhood poverty has been associated with several adverse outcomes, which include:
Poor health
Low success in education
Victimization
Greater contact with the legal system
Greater behavioral problems
Family Violence
Impact on children: Family violence significantly affects Canadian children and families.
In 2015, approximately 16,100 children and youth under the age of 17 were reported as victims of family violence, representing 30% of all violent offenses against children/youth.
Between 2005 and 2015, there were 307 cases of family-related homicides involving child and youth victims, with half of these victims being under three years old.
Girls are 4.5 times more likely to be victims of police-reported sexual assault by family members compared to boys.
Among those identifying as Indigenous, 40% report experiencing physical and/or sexual abuse as children, compared to 29% of the non-Indigenous population.
Child Maltreatment
Child Protection Trends: There was a notable increase in the number of children involved with child protection services from 1998 to 2008.
In 2008, there were 85,440 substantiated investigations into child maltreatment in Canada.
34% indicated exposure to intimate partner violence.
34% indicated neglect.
22% involved children of Indigenous heritage, which relates to structural factors and the legacy of colonization and cultural genocide.
Changing Conceptions of Children in Canada: A History of Child Welfare
Definition of Child Welfare: Child welfare encompasses a range of government and private services intended to protect children and promote family stability.
It is recognized as a special domain within social work practice.
The mandate of child welfare agencies is to collaborate with the community to identify at-risk children and determine the best means of protection and assistance.
Fundamental belief: Government interference in family life should be minimal, except when parental care fails to meet community standards, risking child welfare.
Guiding principle: Always act in the best interests of the child (CASW, 2005).
Types of Child Welfare Services
Family support: Services to assist families in the protection and care of their children.
Child protection: Investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect.
Child placement: Arranging safe living situations for children with kin, foster families, or licensed group-home facilities.
Adoption: Facilitating permanent adoptive placements for children.
Foster care: Supporting placements for children in alternative arrangements; foster parents provide daily care for children on behalf of the provincial Children’s Aid Society.
Key Features of Child Welfare Legislation
Best interests of the child: A paramount consideration in all welfare and legal decisions.
Parental responsibility: Acknowledgement of parents' primary duty in child-rearing.
Importance of continuity and stability: Essential for children's development.
Children’s voices: Their perspectives must be considered in decisions affecting their futures.
Cultural respect: Special consideration of Indigenous children's heritage is necessary.
Historical Stages of Child Welfare
Stage 1: Children as Objects (Up to the 19th Century)
Children were primarily viewed as possessions or objects under parental authority.
Economic exploitation: They were often made to work to contribute economically.
Legal void: There were no protective laws against child abuse or neglect.
Stage 2: Children as Vulnerable Individuals (Confederation to Mid-20th Century)
Perception shift: Children recognized as vulnerable beings requiring state protection.
State obligations to intervene if parents were failing to protect child welfare.
Act for the Protection and Reformation of Neglected Children (1888): Established state responsibility for child welfare.
First Children's Aid Society formed in 1891.
Child savers: Philanthropists who perceived societal issues requiring intervention on behalf of children.
Stage 3: Children as Subjects (Post-WWII)
Shift to viewing children as individuals with inherent dignity and rights.
UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959): Established guiding principles for protecting children.
Battered child syndrome: Coined by Dr. C. Henry Kempe; refers to physical injuries in children due to abuse by caregivers; urged reporting by medical professionals.
Indigenous Children and Child Welfare
Sixties Scoop: (1960s-1980s) High rates of Aboriginal child apprehensions led to loss of cultural identity, community ties, and status under the Indian Act.
Activism: Emerged in the 1970s-80s, leading to the creation of culturally relevant Aboriginal child welfare agencies.
Child and Family Services Act (1984): Introduced the concept of least intrusive measures of intervention to protect children while aiming to interfere minimally with families.
The Badgley Report (1984)
The report highlighted widespread sexual abuse of children in Canada.
Statistics: One in two Canadian females and one in three males have experienced unwanted sexual acts; the majority occurring in childhood.
Perpetrators: Often familiar to the child, including family members.
Bill C-15 (1988): Amended legal provisions to support children's testimony in sexual assault cases.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)
A foundational document that enshrines civil and political rights for Canadian citizens and rights for everyone in Canada.
Parental vs. Child Rights: The Charter raises complex issues in custody removal proceedings, balancing parents and children's rights with child safety.
Changing Demographics in Canada
Increasing diversity among immigrants and refugees necessitates culturally relevant services tailored to various community needs.
French-speaking minority needs: Services must cater to the unique requirements of francophone youth.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989): Requires recognition of rights for every person under eighteen, covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations Child Welfare
Canadian Human Rights Act: enacted to protect rights against discrimination.
The 2016 findings: The Tribunal concluded the federal government discriminates by failing to provide adequate child welfare services to First Nations children on reserves.
Contemporary Child Welfare Practice
Social workers’ roles: Involvement in planning and delivering services including family support, advocacy, adoption, foster care, and child protection.
Duty to report: Mandated professionals must report suspicions of child abuse or neglect, defined as:
Child abuse: Physical or psychological mistreatment by an adult, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, or exposure to domestic violence.
Neglect: Caregiver’s failure to provide basic necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, or medical care; can also involve abandonment.
Children's Risk Assessment
When suspicion arises, child welfare workers assess the child's risk of harm.
Risk assessment: Evaluates the likelihood of future abuse or neglect to initiate preventive measures.
Entry threshold: Families must fall below minimal standards of care to enter the child protection system.
Response types: Include referrals for family assistance, supervision orders, or out-of-home placements.
In-home services: Support families to maintain safe environments.
Out-of-home services: Provide placements away from parents when necessary.
Legal Frameworks in Youth Justice
Legal distinctions:
Children over 13 treated as adults in legal systems.
Children under 13 classified under doli incapax, indicating a lack of capacity to commit crime.
Historical legislation:
Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA, 1908): First attempt to create a separate justice system for youth.
Young Offenders Act (YOA, 1984): Replaced the JDA.
Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA, 2003): Supersedes the YOA, updating the youth justice framework.
Role of Social Workers in Youth Justice
Responsibilities include:
Assessing young offenders.
Providing one-on-one support or group work.
Supporting the families of youth.
Collaborating in multi-agency and inter-professional teams.
Testifying in court and advocating for policy changes pertaining to youth in conflict with the law.
Restorative Justice
A collaborative process in which involved parties come together to address the aftermath of an offense and future implications.
In Indigenous communities, restorative practices aim to repair balance post-damage.
Preventive Social Work with Children
Community and school-based initiatives focused on reducing negative outcomes and fostering protective factors that support child development.
Leave out Violence (LOVE): Mission to minimize youth violence through nonviolent messaging.
Take-a-Hike Program: A three-year initiative aiming to support underperforming students through a combination of academic and adventure-based activities.
Key Challenges in Child Welfare and Youth Justice
Major challenges faced by social workers include:
Balancing parental rights with the need for child protection.
Dealing with the rights of youth in legal conflicts juxtaposed against societal safety concerns.
Managing complex state intervention dynamics regarding 'care' versus 'control.'
Navigating the tension surrounding the perception of children as being 'in need' versus them being responsible individuals.