Abstract
Introduction to the Topic
The disproportionality and disparity faced by Black children and youth in the child welfare system are now well-documented and visible in public discourse, along with explanations for these phenomena (Clarke, Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 2, 2011, Journal of Progressive Human Services, 23, 3, 2012; Dunbar & Barth, 2007; Fallon et al., 2015; Gosine & Pon, Journal of Progressive Human Services, 22, 2, 2010; Hill, 2006, 2007; Pon, Gosine, & Phillips, International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 3 & 4, 2011; Roberts, Shattered bonds: The color of child welfare. New York, NY: Civitas Books, 2002; Stahmer et al., 2005; Teklu, Canada’s forgotten children: Written submissions to the committee on the rights of the child on the third and fourth reports of Canada. Toronto, ON: African Canadian Legal Clinic, 2012). This chapter explores the factors that are hidden behind the disproportionate numbers and considers the mental health impact of child removal on Black children, youth, and families in Ontario. It draws on the literature and our professional experiences to explore the impact of removal on Black children, youth, and families in Ontario’s child welfare system.
Main Argument
In recent years, the issues of disproportionality and disparity in child welfare have received considerable attention. In Ontario, the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest daily newspaper, has brought public awareness to the issues of disproportionality among Ontario’s Black families, children, and youth (Contenta, Monsebraaten, & Rankin, Toronto Star, A1–A33., 2014, 2016). In spite of growing public awareness and efforts to address disproportionality through government policy reforms and program and service enhancement by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies and individual child welfare agencies, there remain significant gaps, particularly as it relates to the structural factors, such as anti-Black racism, poverty, lack of affordable housing, child care, domestic violence, and mental health challenges, that bring families and children to the attention of Ontario’s child protection system (Clarke, Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 2, 2011, Journal of Progressive Human Services, 23, 3, 2012; Contenta, Monsebraaten, & Rankin, 2016). A notable gap is the mental health impact of removal and the lack of culturally responsive mental health services for Black children, youth, and families.
Discussion
The literature is consistent with our professional experience that child removal is a traumatic experience for Black children, youth, and families, and can affect them in profound ways, including grief, guilt, shame, attachment disruption, and separation anxiety. Many Black children and youth do not receive mental health or other services to deal with their loss, separation, or attachment issues. After aging out of care, some youth continue to struggle with their mental health, and become involved with the criminal justice system.
Implication
The chapter concludes with three recommendations that aim to address the trauma of removal that Black children, youth, and families experience. First, we put forward a recommendation for a Black CAS that will be structured to respond to the legacy of slavery and historical trauma, including contemporary anti-Black racism in child welfare. Second, we recommend a multi-service community-led model to better respond to the multiple and complex needs of Black children, youth, and families, including anti-Black racism and other structural problems that bring them to the attention of child welfare authorities. Third, we recommend the development of a provincial mental health strategy for African Canadians that specifically names anti-Black racism so that Black children, youth, and families have access to much needed culturally responsive mental health services.