Abstract

Child Welfare in Canada: current strengths and deficiencies in policy and practice and their implications for the development of children served

Kathleen Kufeldt

This presentation will relate particularly to the developmental progress of children who need child welfare intervention. It will also discuss how the system can improve social inclusion of this often marginalized group. There is growing international awareness that evidence-based practice is essential to both improved effectiveness and efficiency in child welfare. Accordingly we will first examine the links between research, policy and practice in Canadian child welfare and how these relate to trends occurring in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Based on this analysis, suggestions for closer attention to the developmental needs of the children, and improved efforts at social inclusion will be offered. Our research has disclosed that these concerns are imperative if the quality of life of children served by the state is to reach standards enjoyed by more fortunate peers. Also Included in our analysis will be discussion of First Nations issues.

Bio

Kathleen Kufeldt's career has been closely associated with the welfare of children. She has worked in a children's residential setting, has a background in child protection and family counselling and has published extensively, particularly with respect to children's rights, foster care, and runaway and homeless youth. She obtained social work qualifications from the Universities of Edinburgh and Southampton and graduate degrees (MSW and PhD) from the University of Calgary. Her academic career includes a term as Assistant Dean at the Faculty of Social Work in Calgary and a four year term as the first incumbent of the Chair in Child Protection at Memorial University of Newfoundland (funded by the RC Archdiocese of St. John’s, Newfoundland). She is now an Adjunct Professor attached to the University of New Brunswick. The University of New Brunswick is the home of the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research and Kathleen is the coordinator of the Centre’s research team focussed on Child Abuse and Neglect. During the Year of the Child (1979) she organized the first conference in Canada for youth in care, the Who Cares Conference and continues to support the development of networks for youth in care. Most recent competed research activity was the Looking After Children in Canada project funded by Human Resources Development Canada with support in kind from the provinces and agencies involved.

Brad McKenzie also has a considerable publication record. His knowledge of child welfare is extensive and he has a particular interest in First Nations child welfare issues. As well as his work at the University of Manitoba, and with First nations communities, he is actively engaged in social work education in the Ukraine.

Brad and Kathleen have recently completed editing a new child welfare text: Kufeldt, K. & McKenzie, B. (2002), Child Welfare: Connecting Research, Policy and Practice. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier Press, in press.

Back to Papers