A new way of looking at child welfare systems that returns to the basics

1. Positive Collaboration in Aboriginal Child Welfare in
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CREATIVITY The group spirit is infectious when you’re Alberta RELATIONSHIP . science is finding that
relationship is how we create change. So we’re
..
around a bunch of people who want to be creative. It lights a
introducing more technology . . . How are we going
spark in your own creativity . . . Dr. Jean Lafrance and Dr. Linda Kreitzer to do a better job?
A Joint Project with the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society; Alberta Child
and Youth Services; University of Calgary
Abstract Emerging Themes Practice Implications
Study explored effective collaboration between agencies in Relationship Relationship
child and family services with Aboriginal families. Implications at •The importance of relationship has decreased at different levels •Would our offices not be more client friendly?
the organizational and practice level are discussed. in the organization. •Would professional staff be so unavailable to the children in
•Fear of retribution is a barrier to forming positive helping their care?
relationships •Would so many children spend their lives in care and end up on
Methodology • Time with families has become increasingly limited. the streets and in jail?
•Would our workers spend the bulk of their precious time at
Participatory action research was used in this study to create an computer screen.
Creativity
ongoing dialogue between an Aboriginal NGO and two •Administrative work drains precious time with families
government agencies concerning effective collaborative •Tightening of policies has reduced the ability to be creative. Creativity
processes within their organizational structures. A group of 10 •Creative practice is not well supported. •Would leadership look askance at those who push the
people met once a month for a year to explore these issues in a envelope?
supportive environment that allowed for creative thinking •Would staff be weighed down with procedural requirements?
concerning the improvement of child and family practices.
Leadership
•Senior management seems to have lost touch with front line •Would top down direction keep shifting as new programs are
workers concerns and realities. created??
•Would the procedural bounds that contain creativity not be
Organizing the Data • There seems to be an undue emphasis on management
instead of inspired leadership. loosened?
•A risk aversive management culture leaves workers feeling
Data was obtained from meetings, guest speakers and a final •Leadership
unprotected when things go wrong.
retreat. All were recorded and transcribed, and subsequently •Would we have more joint decision-making?
analyzed by group members and an outside consultant. •The Difference in Work Settings •Would we have a commitment – make it work at all levels
Themes emerged from first and second level coding •A marked difference in perspectives was noted between the •Would there be greater sincerity and a genuine interest in each
usual government work settings and Bent Arrow at two other point of view?
Work settings levels. Government staff co-located in this agency seemed •Would there be a greater willingness to listen to each other?
less constrained in practice than their colleagues in •Would we create a win- win environment ?
government settings and Aboriginal staff employed by Bent •Would we respect wisdom born of experience ?
The project compared and contrasted the influence of Arrow seemed to feel the most free in establishing
organizational factors on front line practice. Important
differences were noted that have profound implications for how
relationships and coming up with creative solutions. This •Work Setting
can be attributed to the more traditional approach to •What impact does size have to do with the operation?
child welfare is organized and led. services that encouraged friendlier and more intimate •What is it about an Aboriginal setting that makes such a
contact in a more approachable building Such features as difference and how can this be replicated?
joint staff/client meals, a relaxed environment encouraged •Why would a less formal setting make such a difference?
Culturally as well as spiritually that’s how I can make
communication and interaction, and the incorporation of •Why would we hesitate to provide greater self-
sense of my world and my life and my being . . . that’s
spiritual practices such as smudging contrasted with sterile determination of Aboriginal people?
when, everything becomes clearer for me
and forbidding government offices.
Participants : Eric Baich , Wayne Caron , Colleen Courtoreille , Dr. Linda Kreitzer, Dr. Jean Lafrance , Tari McGee , Julie Porter-Anderson , Sherine Uitbeyerse ,
Cheryl Whiskeyjack . Special thanks to Shauna Seneca who passed away subsequent to forming this project .
Funder: Alberta Centre for Child , Family and Community Research . Edmonton , Alberta , Canada .