Child Welfare

A pregnant Ronda Merrill-Parkin watches her kids, who were removed by the government in October 2018 and returned about seven months later, play in Vancouver in May.

Many describe the child-welfare system as broken and stuck. Indigenous families are hugely over-represented due to the ongoing impacts of colonization. Media is seen as a barrier to positive change. That’s why, for  three years, The Discourse worked with youth, parents and others connected to the system to deepen and improve reporting.

Report calls for child welfare reforms

We spoke with the two Quw’utsun women who led the needs assessment project.

‘Justine’ to get her girls back from foster care

After a three-year battle, this Siksika mom says she’s reached an agreement with B.C. social workers to bring her daughters home.

‘You’re constantly drowning’ in cases and paperwork, says B.C. social worker

An illustrated look at a day in the life of a child-protection worker.

The verdict is in: We’re failing to invest in Indigenous families

MMIWG report and our latest investigation show that the state prioritizes funding foster homes over supporting struggling families.

B.C. paying foster parents instead of supporting struggling families, experts say

‘We’re willing to give strangers just about anything to look after kids, but we have this blockage when it comes to supporting families,’ says professor.

This Indigenous mom’s two-front fight might be gaining ground

‘Justine’s’ human rights complaint and trial could change B.C.’s child-welfare system.

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