Building Black community accountability in child welfare: Provincial contexts and Black service provider experiences across three jurisdictions

Abstract

The disproportionate representation of Black children in Canadian child welfare systems has spurred significant scrutiny and calls for reform. This study examines the crucial role of Black service providers in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta in fostering Black community accountability within child welfare. Through focus groups tailored to each jurisdiction, Black service providers working in and adjacent to the child welfare system identified three distinct models of community accountability shaped by provincial contexts. Key themes of race and anti-Black racism, advocacy for Black families, and the complexities of navigating child welfare systems permeated each model. Across all regions, there was a resounding call for increased Black community autonomy in designing and delivering services for Black families, coupled with a desire for federal legislation to enable self-determination and governance of child welfare. The findings underscore the urgent need for a child welfare system that empowers Black communities to address racial disparities more effectively and respond to the protection and service needs of Black children, youth, and families.