Aboriginal Agencies important in the delivery of Child Welfare Services essay
It is known that any state has its power and responsibility to meet the families’ needs through the well-developed social practice of child protection. In Canada, aboriginal agencies are of great importance as they deliver effective child welfare services to aboriginal children. The statistical data show that “aboriginal children constitute 40 % or more of the children in the state care in western and northern Canada,” but the attention paid to child protection practices is still inadequate (Walmsley, 2005, p. 1). Many experts make efforts to explain child protection practices performed by aboriginal and non-aboriginal social workers in Canada (Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission). Some of them are the representatives of aboriginal child welfare agencies, while others are working for the BC Ministry of Child and Family Development. In general, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal social workers are well-trained, experienced, have the proper social work education, and “ongoing responsibility of making protection decisions with regard to aboriginal children” (Walmsley, 2005, p. 2).
Today aboriginal agencies are considered to be more effective in the delivery of child welfare services to aboriginal children than non-aboriginal organizations that provide child welfare services to aboriginal people. They are well-informed of the needs and requirements of aboriginal families and communities, and have awareness of the nature of child welfare practices that refer to aboriginal children who live in Canada. According to the recent research, there are many different models and programs on child protection services. Each of them is structured and oriented within a proper regulatory framework that involves legislation, policy implementation and the use of the appropriate resources.
The major goal of this paper is to discuss why aboriginal agencies are important in the delivery of child welfare services. Special attention is paid to the role of aboriginal child welfare agencies, the historical context of the delivery of child welfare services in Canada, and the most important legislative issues self-determination issues in the delivery of Canadian child welfare services.
