Phase 1 Research Project: Immigration Status in Child Welfare Policy and Practice

The first phase of the Border(ing) Practices initiative examined how immigration status is understood and addressed within child welfare policy and practice in Ontario and British Columbia. While child welfare systems have increasingly recognized the need to address systemic racism, particularly for Indigenous and Black children and families, much less attention has been paid to how immigration status shapes child welfare decision-making and the experiences of immigrant children, youth, and families.

Working in partnership with child welfare organizations, community-based organizations, legal advocates, and policymakers, Phase I explored how immigration policies, systemic racism, and child welfare systems intersect. This work laid the foundation for later phases of the project by identifying key policy gaps, emerging practices, and opportunities for systems change.

Please see the attached document for more information.