Indigenous Child Welfare: Strategic Corrective Measures (INSW 200)

Indigenous Child Welfare: Strategic Corrective Measures
Name
Institution
Indigenous Child Welfare: Strategic Corrective Measures
The era of the 60s scoop remains one of the darkest periods in the history of Canada. It was characterized by forceful separation of families, with many minors from aboriginal families being seized from their homes and forced to live in new environments (Carreiro, 2016). In some instances, the children were sent as far as the UK and the US to live in families that were non-aboriginal. The massive violation of the rights of the minors was effected without the consent of the adult members of their families as enshrined in the Canadian constitution. Decades later, the impact of the atrocities committed against the population is evident. It depicts a generation deprived of the right to learn their cultures which define their being. It equally highlights a generation forced to denounce their cultural dynamics against their wish. Currently, the number of aboriginal children under social care has dramatically increased, a reflection of the mistakes committed in the past (APTN National News, 2014). While in ‘exile,’ the minors were not allowed contact with their families, a factor that compounded their struggles to learn the new cultures that were considered more civilized and acceptable in Canada. This case thus focuses on some of the strategic measures that can be taken to correct the mess and improve the welfare of the native children.
Reuniting and Supporting Aboriginal Families
The genesis of the current welfare challenges faced by the indigenous children in Canada stems from the fallacious belief that led to the mass separation of the children from their families as a way of improving their acceptance in the society. The move undoubtedly worsened the state by converting the children into rejects who hardly acknowledge and appreciate their identity. As such, the aboriginal children have spent years in welfare homes which, worryingly, have done little to restore their confidence in their identity (Ciftci, 2015).
The first strategic move to assist this population, therefore, is the involvement of the indigenous communities and all other primary stakeholders in the management of the welfare of the children. These stakeholders include the children, their parents, their immediate communities, and the government. It is necessary to reintegrate the children back to their societies and empower them to grow in environments that they are familiar with (Douglas, 2012). The move will enable them to appreciate their identity and to regain their self-esteem which is fundamental for effective development. Also, the reintegration of the aboriginal children back into their societies can assist to overcome the inter-generational trauma that has stifled cognitive and socio-emotional development among the minors.
The government can also be involved in the restoration of normalcy in the lives of the children by providing support and assistance towards their education and social needs. In many instances, the aboriginal children are from poor neighborhoods and are thus unable to access quality education and other social services. The government can thus set aside funds to cater for the social needs of the reintegrated children (Ciftci, 2015). Further, strategic partnerships between the government and the leaderships of the communities can assist in overcoming the challenges associated with the welfare of the aboriginal children.
However, it is the duty of the social welfare employees to review the integration process and to ensure that the restoration of the relationship between the children and their family members follows the conventional curve. In some instances, the reintroduction of the children in the families may be blurred by cases of domestic violence and child abuse. Such developments may worsen the development of the children. Through close interaction with the community partners, the social workers can identify the aboriginal children facing such cases of abuse and adopt strategic measures that can help the children to overcome the challenges. Such cases may call for the reintroduction of the affected aboriginal children to the child welfare centers where they can access love and peace (Douglas, 2012).
Enhanced Access to Legal Systems
Another critical concern is the accessibility of the justice system to the aboriginal population. Critical reviews indicate that the system is characterized by multiple bureaucracies that can significantly prevent affected individuals from accessing justice. Agreeably, the separation of the children from the parents was a criminal offense that should be punishable under the Canadian policies. Therefore, this affected population should be given leeway to access justice systems to petition for compensation over the ills done to them.
Reviews of the Canadian welfare programs targeting the aboriginal populations also show that there has been a limited focus to improve the well-being of the children. Hence, many aboriginal children remain impoverished in spite of the decades of campaigns aimed to improve their well-being. It also shows that most of the rhetorics to improve their social well-being are but mere assertions with no significant practical commitments (Brewster, 2010). While housing and education are some of the basic needs for children, closer insights into the Aboriginal population show that many children have no homes, with some living in streets with their parents. The involvement of the legal systems will thus enable the disadvantaged groups to access adequate housing and education which will help them to navigate their way out of poverty. Also, the legal system should eliminate the various obstacles that exist, and which have been shown to prevent the reunion of Aboriginal children with their families. Such meetings will enable the children to appreciate their identities, and to subsequently strive to improve their lives and hence their societies (Russell, 2016).
Multiple factors may impede the access to the legal systems. The first impediments that the aboriginal children and families face in their quest for justice are financial barriers. For instance, many of the children are from poor households and cannot raise the legal fees necessary to lodge legal challenges. Secondly, the children may face cultural barriers that restrict them from participating in court processes. This aspect is more common in conservative native societies that believe that children should be submissive to older persons and should thus not challenge the authority or actions of the older persons. Besides, the children can face informational barriers that can efficiently prevent them from proactively being involved in legal claims (Carreiro, 2016). They may not understand their rights as per the Canadian child protection policies. It is thus for the social workers to enlighten them on their rights and obligations under the constitution.
The role of the social workers is to ensure that the justice system works for the indigenous children. The workers should help the children navigate through the bureaucracies of the systems and ensure that they are reunited with their families. In some cases, the social welfare wor...