One Vision One Voice: Changing the Child Welfare Field for African Canadians is a project of the African Canadian community, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Servicess, through OACAS. The project is guided by a Steering Committee of individuals and agency representatives from the African Canadian community. A Reference Group, made up primarily of African Canadian CAS staff, also provides guidance and support to the project.
The project will unfold in two phases. Phase 1 is the research phase, which will include:
- Literature review
- Best practice review
- Province-wide consultations with the African Canadian community, held throughout Toronto, the regions of Peel, York, and Durham, Windsor, Hamilton, London, and Ottawa from September through November
- Survey of CAS frontline staff
This research will explore what the literature and data indicate about the over-representation of children of African descent in child welfare. The consultations will hear directly from individuals and community agencies about the experiences of African Canadian children and families in the child welfare system and how the system can better support and improve outcomes for them.
The research report will be shared with the Ontario child welfare field and the public in January 2016.
The research will provide the foundation for a Practice Framework that will be completed by March 31, 2016, to be shared with the Ontario child welfare field mid-year.
As the project unfolds, the field will receive regular updates through The Voice and the OACAS website.
Learn More:
- Why are so many black children in foster and group homes? – Toronto Star, December 11, 2014
