1 Child Welfare Services and Ethno-Racial Diversity Dr. Sarah Maiter

2 Understanding Child Welfare Steele; Belskey Four Areas to consider: Parent Factors Child Factors Environmental factors Availability of Social Supports

3 Challenge of Framework How to make the framework meaningful and applicable to people from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds?

4 Key Issues to Consider Race, ethnicity, and culture are important sociological concepts and have material and social consequences for people so must be considered in analysis. This consideration can result in greater, albeit tentative and exploratory understanding of the contexts of diverse people.

5 Traditional Approach We have tried to understand a groups ‘culture’ in order to provide appropriate services. Yet the outcome of this has been that we have explored issues in a culture that we think result in child maltreatment. Thus for example it would not be uncommon to hear some of the following statements in a child welfare setting:

6 Some Generalizations “In their culture they demand obedience from children, therefore, they do not treat children as individuals with rights…” “Why don’t they let their daughter go on a date…she is fifteen years old…”

7 Generalizations “It maybe alright in their country…but here it is against the law…” “it is their culture to discipline their children harshly…”

8 Training that can be harmful Statements such as the following in training Some ethnic or cultural backgrounds may be more likely to condone severe spankings or beatings as a form of discipline.

9 Further Concerns: A ccepting problem behaviour as ‘cultural ’ One example A judge gives a man a lighter sentence for sodomizing his daughter. The judge asserts that this is a culturally sensitive approach as the man protected the daughters virginity which, the judge says is important in the family’s religion.

10 What does this say about our approach to ethno/racial/cultural diversity We continue to see this diversity as different and other. This difference and being the other is judged as being inferior. This is not new, it has been the case historically and seeing the difference as inferior has made it possible to colonize and conquer.

11 Impact in Child Welfare We tend to see groups as monoliths We focus on ‘problems’ within a culture Different ways of living are seen as problematic Child abuse and neglect are seen to have been caused by culture Focus is on getting the family to change this cultural behaviour And we fail to provide appropriate ongoing services Settlement needs of immigrant families are seen as a burden on Canadian Society

12 Research in Counseling raises concerns 50% of persons of color terminated counseling after one session compared to 30% of white persons. Reasons cited: lack of non-white staff, traditional approach to service provision, poor responses to the educational and vocational needs of ethnically diverse clients, antagonistic response to culture, class, and language. (Sue & Sue 1990)

13 Moving Forward Self Awarness On a personal level Self Awareness is critical. We need to be reflective. Recognize that we are influenced in a myriad ways by history, current events, the media, etc. Affects our perceptions and interactions with members of diverse groups. Embedded in our institutions.

14 Moving Forward Being Aware of the Context Along with self-awareness we must increase our knowledge of the context of members of diverse ethno-racial groups –in non-judgmental ways. Knowledge of the daily experiences of racism For Newcomers - struggles around settlement issues -- both at the personal and societal levels. Knowledge of broad cultural differences, e.g. collectivist and individualistic cultural differences. Knowledge of problems that are universal, e.g. oppression of the less powerful (women, children) in any group. Societal struggles within particular groups to fight this oppression.