An exploratory regional study on child welfare outcomes in Aboriginal communities

Meetings with the Executive Director of the Association occurred on a regular basis and a major feedback session occurred with the Board of the ANCFSAO near the end of the data gathering cycle. [...] In a 2007 review of research on outcomes for children and young people in care, Broomfield and Osborn (2007) conclude that many of the studies they reviewed were of good quality and the majority of children in care was in good physical health and displayed improvements in psychological functioning over time. [...] In a sense the current North American interest in differential response models reflects a focus on the part of policy-makers to shift the conventional child protection model in the direction of the family support orientation. [...] This orientation has characterized the initiatives of a number of First Nations child and family services agencies in Canada as they endeavour to develop new and different service approaches designed to de-colonize the historical effects of the mainstream child welfare system in their communities.