Essay On Overrepresentation In Children's Aid Society

APPENDIX #1

Overrepresentation of Black Children in Children’s Aid Society.

Interview Guide for Parent, Youth and Workers

Identity and knowledge of the issue

1) How you identify as a male, female, Trans, Other, or Non-binary?

2) What is your Cultural Back Ground?

3) What does the word Racism mean to you?

4) What are the characteristics or attributes associated with racism, “how can you tell if you are being discriminated against”?

Experience within the Child Welfare System

5) Do you feel you are treated differently because of your skin colour?

6) Have you treated anyone defiantly or been treated because of their race?

7) How was your interaction with the child welfare system Negative or Positive, ‘could you elaborate more’?

8) Have you ever had your child taken by Children’s Aid Society, or removed from your home? If yes, do you mind explaining why (parent only)?

9)

Do you feel like you’re can express yourself?

10) Where you place in a Home that reflect your culture (ask when appropriate)?

11) Have you been in a Group home, if yes how was your experience?

12) How was your experience working with the child welfare services (Workers only)?

13) If you could define the main cause for over representation of children, or the reason why there are so many black children in the Children’s’ Aid Society, what would that be ?

Solutions

14) If you could change anything about your experience with the child welfare system, what would it be?

15) What actions can the children’s aid society take to improve the service provided to black children and families?

16) Do you have any Suggestion for Managers and Directors of the Children’s Aid Societies?

Probe and follow-up Questions if you need more information (These examples below can be used to gather more information if one needs to).

To Go Deeper: tell me more about that case, why were you at home?

To Clarity statement: So, your child was taken away after you got

evicted?
To Steer the conversation: That was very interesting, how about we talk about this experience?
Contrast or have a better understanding of an issue: How was your experience living in a group home after you were removed from your home?

APPENDIX #2
Email Draft that will be sent to Directors of Child Welfare Agencies

Dear Executive Director,

Thank you for taking this time out of your day to read my email. My Name is Jason King am Graduate Student at Ryerson University, and am emailing you to ask for your help in gathering research participants for a study looking at the experiences of black racialized, workers, parents, and youths that use your services. It takes a community to make a change, your help is very important to us reaching our goal.

This research will be providing solutions to improve the lives of black racialized groups, and workers providing new alternatives to help youths as well as support existing literature. Looking forward to hearing from you, thank you in advance for the support and please have a wonderful and productive day. See attached Flyer for info, please share this information with staff and program participants.

Sincerely yours
Jason King
Research Assistant Ryerson University