Building Black Community Accountability in Child Welfare: Black Service Provider Experiences across Canada

Background and purpose : The pervasive overrepresentation and disparity of Black children in Canadian child welfare systems has prompted significant scrutiny and demands for system reform. This issue, deeply rooted in historical and socio-political structures, varies considerably across provincial landscapes requiring a comprehensive approach that encompasses policy, agency, and community. Policy, specifically, plays a pivotal role as it not only defines the organizational structures within which agencies function but also empowers these entities to execute internal strategies or forge partnerships with the community. This study aims to explore the role of Black service providers in three provinces—Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta—in fostering accountability and reform within the child welfare system.

Methods : A purposive sampling strategy was employed to enlist a cohort of 18 Black service providers who engaged in three focus groups, segmented by jurisdiction to account for provincial nuances. These providers were either affiliated with the child welfare system as employees or were associated with community organizations renowned for serving Black children and their families. The majority of participants identified as female, with four identifying as male. Each focus group session was conducted online, lasted approximately 90 minutes, and adhered to ethical standards approved by the institutional review boards of two participating universities. Sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Focus group questions explored the services offered by providers, the distinctions between their services and more conventional forms of child welfare service, the hurdles encountered when collaborating with or operating within the child welfare system, and the aspirations and needs of Black service providers.

Findings : Data analysis revealed three distinct models of Black community accountability, which were influenced by provincial context and the varying degrees of acknowledgment of race and anti-Black racism by their respective provincial governments. Black service providers across all three jurisdictions described three main themes: the centrality of race and racism, the role of advocacy for Black families, and challenges to navigating the child welfare agency. Providers stressed the importance of addressing race and racism both in their direct interactions with Black families and in the systemic biases evident in child welfare reporting and decision-making processes. Advocacy emerged as a central element of their service delivery. Challenges included inadequate resource planning, a lack of transparency and information sharing, and agency fragmentation.

Conclusions and implications : Culturally adapted services are crucial for bridging gaps between the child welfare system and Black communities. Proximity and agency of the Black community within the system are important considerations, as being too distant hampers the ability to effect change. Across all three models and jurisdictions, service providers consistently reported experiences of anti-Black racism and expressed a universal desire for self-governance in child welfare, calling for more autonomy in the design and delivery of child welfare services for Black families.