Jumping through hoops: An overview of the experiences  and perspectives of Aboriginal mothers involved with child welfare in Manitoba

Bennett, Marlyn; Spillett, Leslie; Dunn, Catherine

doi:10.7202/1068866ar

Cited by 5 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Indigenous women encounter additional barriers directly related to colonization such as intergenerational trauma, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop phenomenon, and socioeconomic struggles (Aguiar & Halseth, 2015;Bennett, 2008Bennett, , 2009Carriere & Richardson, 2009;Chen et al, 2015;Cull, 2006;Evans-Campbell, 2008;Ing, 2006;Johnston, 1983;McKenzie, Varcoe, Brown, & Day, 2016;Niccols, Dell, & Clarke, 2009;Rousseau, 2015;Shahram et al, 2017), that are presented in the literature review. Research also revealed that between 70% and 80% of children in care of the British Columbia government are of Indigenous descent (Ministry of Children and Family Development, 2010;McKenzie et al, 2016;O'Donnell et al, 2010;Rousseau, 2015Rousseau, , 2018Trocme, Knoke, & Blackstock, 2004).…”

Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous women often turn to alcohol and drugs to numb their pain because of the aforementioned barriers (Bennett 2008(Bennett , 2009Evans-Campbell, 2008;Taplin & Mattick, 2015). Substance abuse interventions consequently often play a large part in the child welfare system in order to mitigate the risk to the child (Bennett, 2008;Crowe-Salazar, 2012;Perry, Newman, Hunter, & Dunlop, 2015;Reid, Greaves, & Poole, 2008;Taplin & Mattick, 2015).…”

Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The anticipation of your child being removed at birth or the thought of a child welfare social worker attending the hospital to implement a safety plan can discourage mothers from accessing prenatal care and informing supportive agencies of their pregnancy. These mothers may not seek help for addictions or address domestic violence issues to hide their pregnancy (Bennett, 2008(Bennett, , 2009Rousseau, 2015;Varcoe, Brown, Calam, Harvey, & Tallio, 2013).…”

Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shahram et al (2017) identified Indigenous women as experiencing violence, poverty, and poor health which directly relate to intergenerational trauma. Many Indigenous mothers discuss a lack of parenting skills due to their own parents' involvement with residential school, coupled with poverty and early motherhood, which often led to child welfare involvement (Bennett, 2008(Bennett, , 2009. It is important to acknowledge that many women, regardless of race, experience the loss of their child/children by way of the child welfare system.…”

Section: Intergenerational Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reid et al (2008) also noted MCFD fails to address and interrupt the cycle of intergenerational trauma, drug abuse, and poverty because of the paternalistic, racist, and Westernized system it employs. Many Indigenous mothers describe having to manoeuvre the system and jump through different hoops in order to keep their children or get their children back (Bennett, 2008(Bennett, , 2009Hughes, Chau, & Vokrri, 2016;Hunter et al, 2008;Mather & Barber, 2004;Reid et al, 2008). Cram et al (2015) acknowledged that keeping Indigenous children safe is important, it is also complex.…”

Section: Many Participants Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of Indigenous mothers with the child welfare system at the birth of their child

Buchner¹

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The topic of Indigenous women's experiences with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) at the birth of their child is one that falls through the gaps of current literature. This thesis is focused on identifying the experiences of Indigenous women when MCFD intervenes at the birth of their child; the purpose is to gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of child welfare interventions. I interviewed five Indigenous women using an interpretive description approach and analyzed the data using constant comparative analysis as well as conventional content analysis techniques. The findings highlighted the impact of child welfare involvement that included: powerful emotions, trust, communication and dismantled families; a structural power imbalance characterized as feeling powerless, being watched and judged, and jumping through hoops; addiction; socioeconomic struggles that included young mothers and homelessness, poverty, and neglect; missed preventative opportunities; the role of advocacy; identity and culture; and bonding. In conclusion, child welfare practice needs to include opportunities for preventative measures and planning to optimize support and communication with Indigenous pregnant women and mothers.

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Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Intergenerational Traumamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Many Participants Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Experiences of Indigenous mothers with the child welfare system at the birth of their child

Buchner¹

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Indigenous parents and child welfare: Mistrust, epistemic injustice, and training

Leckey¹,

Schmieder-Gropen²,

Nnebe

et al. 2021

Social & Legal Studies

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The settler state's taking of Indigenous children into care disrupts their communities and continues destructive, assimilationist policies. This article presents the perceptions of lawyers, social workers and judges of how Indigenous parents experience child welfare in Quebec. Our participants characterized those experiences negatively. Barriers of language and culture as well as mistrust impede meaningful participation. Parents experience epistemic injustice, wronged in their capacity as knowers. Mistrust also hampers efforts to include Indigenous workers in the system. Emphasizing state workers’ ignorance of Indigenous family practices and the harms of settler colonialism, participants called for greater training. But critical literature on professional education signals the limits of such training to change institutions. Our findings reinforce the jurisdictional calls away from improving the system towards empowering Indigenous peoples to run services of child welfare. The patterns detected and theoretical resources used are relevant to researchers of other institutions that interact with vulnerable populations.

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Indigenous mothers’ experiences of power and control in child welfare: Families being heard

Robertson

Sinclair²,

Hatala

2021

Journal of Social Work

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Summary There are upward of 11,000 Indigenous children and families in the Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFSs). Many factors coalesce as contributors to these high rates of care, including oppressive histories of Canadian settler colonialism, governmental policies and the Indian Residential Schools, and mass apprehensions of Indigenous children through “the 60’s scoop.” Although a process of “Devolution” began in Manitoba in 1999 to address Indigenous overrepresentation and improve cultural safety for children and families, the voices of women whose children are in care often remain silenced and marginal. Findings Utilizing an Indigenous Research lens, this qualitative study explored the stories and experiences of 12 Indigenous mothers involved with Manitoba CFS. The mothers’ stories revealed dynamics of power and control outlined in five core themes: (1) Being “set up to fail”; (2) Confronting “normalcy” and navigating case plans; (3) Dealing with tactics of intimidation; (4) Experiencing judgment and being labelled; and (5) Emotional politics. The mothers’ stories suggest that the CFS system continues to reflect colonial structures of oppression and that the “Devolution” did not fully have the intended impact on daily practice. Applications The womens' shared experiences highlight several areas for change, such as: enhanced family supports and worker relationships; utilization of capacity building frameworks; better institutional collaborations; increased efforts to maintain family relationships and units; and greater access to and quality of Indigenous cultural supports for mothers and children, including ceremony, healing, and access to Elders. Suggestions for more efficient and family-centered service provision are also offered.

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Jumping through hoops: An overview of the experiences and perspectives of Aboriginal mothers involved with child welfare in Manitoba

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Experiences of Indigenous mothers with the child welfare system at the birth of their child

Experiences of Indigenous mothers with the child welfare system at the birth of their child

Indigenous parents and child welfare: Mistrust, epistemic injustice, and training

Indigenous mothers’ experiences of power and control in child welfare: Families being heard

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