Taking culture seriously: Can we improve the developmental health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care?

Raman, Shanti; Ruston, Sally; Irwin, Scott A.; Tran, Peter; Hotton, Paul Rex; Thorne, Simon

doi:10.1111/cch.12488

Cited by 19 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…They state that one of the most effective ways to keep Indigenous children at home is to provide cultural care and to support and build the capacity of Indigenous families through a trauma-informed approach, so that they can effectively care for their children in their families and communities. The rationale for developing for culturally appropriate, culturally safe, and culturally informed interventions when working with children from Indigenous backgrounds is documented through literature we sourced with an aim to address the issues of overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care (Aboriginal Child Family and Community Care State Secretariat [AbSec], 2018; Atkinson, 2013; Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2015; Bamblett et al, 2014; Banblett & Lewis, 2007; Healing Foundation, 2017; Klinic Community Health Centre, 2013; Krakouer et al, 2018; SNAICC, 2016; Raman et al, 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The themes with significant commonalities were clustered together. All the articles and reports discussed the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the child welfare system, the need to develop culturally safe models of therapeutic residential care, the importance of cultural connections and trauma-informed care (Bamblett et al, 2014; Krakouer, Wise, & Connolly, 2018; McDowall, 2016; Raman et al, 2017), the structural and systemic inequalities that affect Indigenous children placed in care (deFinney, Dean, Loiselle, & Saraceno, 2011), and policy, practice, and gaps in OOHC affecting Indigenous children and young people (Douglas & Walsh, 2013; Fernandez & Atwool, 2013). Data also showed some promising practice frameworks and promising policies that are employed within Australia.…”

Section: Research Design and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Indigenous Children and Young People in Residential Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

Gatwiri

McPherson

Parmenter

et al. 2019

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

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In Australia and internationally, Indigenous children are seriously overrepresented in the child welfare system. This article provides an overview of literature investigating the needs of Indigenous children in residential care facilities. The provision of culturally safe and trauma-informed therapeutic care to Indigenous children and young people in residential care recognizes that the trauma and violence that they have experienced is exacerbated by their Indigeneity due to the colonial histories presenting. Utilizing a systematic scoping review methodology, the study returned a total of 637 peer-reviewed articles that were identified and reviewed for inclusion. The process of exclusion resulted in the inclusion of eight peer-reviewed studies and 51 reports and discussion papers sourced from gray literature. Findings from this study, though dearth, indicate that trauma-informed and culturally safe interventions play a significant role in Indigenous children’s health and well-being while in care. Their experiences of abuse and neglect transcend individual trauma and include intergenerational pain and suffering resulting from long-lasting impacts of colonization, displacement from culture and country, genocidal policies, racism, and the overall systemic disadvantage. As such, a therapeutic response, embedded within Indigenous cultural frameworks and knowledges of trauma, is not only important but absolutely necessary and aims to acknowledge the intersectionality between the needs of Indigenous children in care and the complex systemic disadvantage impacting them.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Research Design and Methodologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous Children and Young People in Residential Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

Gatwiri

McPherson

Parmenter

et al. 2019

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Additionally, publications in this theme document discrimination, oppression, and inequities that Indigenous youth in care experience (Anderson, 2014;Berlin, 1978;Green, 1983). Research calls for "culturally appropriate care," which includes cultural connectivity plans with Indigenous families and youth in care (Anderson, 2014;Green, 1983;Klamn, 2009;Raman et al, 2017).…”

Section: Children In Carementioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Literature on the Involvement of Children from Indigenous Communities in Anglo Child Welfare Systems: 1973-2018

Sinha

Caldwell

Paul

et al. 2021

iipj

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A series of recent legal and policy developments in Canada have potential to contribute to reconciliation efforts, particularly related to the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in child welfare systems. However, systematic collection, analysis, and synthesis of research knowledge—particularly, research that is locally grounded—on Indigenous child welfare involvement is notably missing from these efforts. With the aim of collating existing research knowledge on this topic, this scoping review of literature includes a broad swath of literature spanning decades (1973-2018) and countries with similar settler colonial histories (Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand). Our search yielded 881 unique research publications. There was an increase in the number of publications over time in all four countries and a trend toward more empirical literature than non-empirical literature. We found that a plurality of publications focused on programs and services (n = 191), and policy or legal (n = 168) themes. While our review highlights a large base of literature on Indigenous child welfare involvement, it also illustrates the limits of the academic literature in representing the knowledge and experience of Indigenous Peoples and the need for more comprehensive synthesis and broader dissemination of the research related to Indigenous child welfare. These limitations restrict the extent to which existing research can inform the meaningful development of Indigenous child welfare policy in Canada. Due to these gaps, we advocate sustained investment in efforts to synthesize diverse sources of knowledge, support for open source publications, and structural support for Indigenous control of knowledge collection and dissemination regarding policy development related to their communities.

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“…In the land that was named Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander overrepresentation in child protection services is well documented and reflects a set of complex factors (Tilbury 2009) rooted in a pervasive history of discrimination and colonisation, dislocation, and the stolen generation and poverty (Raman et al 2017;Valentine & Gray 2006), yet a psychological explanation is unclear. In other words, has Australian-based psychological research sufficiently examined the underlying factors leading to this dramatic situation?…”

Section: Psychological Research With Children In Out-of-home Carementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This raises the question of "Are we there yet?" in addressing the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care (Raman, Reynolds & Khan 2011), and in terms of "taking culture seriously" for these children (Raman et al 2017).…”

Section: Psychological Research With Children In Out-of-home Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Psychology without culture is almost dead: A case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australian out-of-home care

Hameed

Coade

2018

IJCIS

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From its inception as a unique discipline, the broad field of psychology has made substantial advances and has contributed to innovative practices in the care of individuals presenting with mental distress within Western Euro-American societies and cultures. The aim of this brief article is to provide a constructive critical analysis of the key limitations, knowledge shortfalls, ineffective assessment approaches and treatment modalities of “mainstream” psychology in addressing the psychological needs of children affiliating with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australian out-of-home care. This article selectively draws from an in-depth analysis of the research literature and argues that in its current state, psychology without consideration of Indigenous culture has failed to satisfactorily improve psychological services and outcomes for these children and their families; in other words, psychology without culture is almost dead. This brief article raises various questions for future psychological research within this field and proposes feasible alternatives to these complex issues, supported by successful examples from the child abuse and neglect domain within the child welfare systems in Australia. It concludes with key recommendations for future appropriate inclusive psychological research, with the ultimate goal of strengthening culturally endorsed “healing” practices, service delivery and policies.

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Taking culture seriously: Can we improve the developmental health and well‐being of Australian Aboriginal children in out‐of‐home care?

Abstract: There are challenges delivering a trauma-informed, culturally respectful service to Aboriginal children in out-of-home care in an urban setting, but it can be done if attention is paid to culture and the enablers and barriers are identified.

Cited by 19 publications

References 33 publications

Indigenous Children and Young People in Residential Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

Indigenous Children and Young People in Residential Care: A Systematic Scoping Review

A Review of Literature on the Involvement of Children from Indigenous Communities in Anglo Child Welfare Systems: 1973-2018

Psychology without culture is almost dead: A case of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australian out-of-home care

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