Cultural Brokers Child Welfare Research

"Exploring the role of Cultural Brokers as Intermediaries between Children’s Services and Families’

This research study explores the role of cultural brokers as intermediaries between immigrant and refugee families and child welfare workers.

Given the continued increase of immigrant and refugee populations in the Edmonton area as well as other parts of Canada, collaboration between provincial governments, local child welfare offices, and community-based immigrant and refugee organizations is crucial for the wellbeing of children, youth, and families. In particular, it is essential in diverting children and youth from entering provincial care.

Taking in consideration the above context, we developed two guiding research questions in this study:

1. How do cultural brokers support the negotiating process between immigrant and refugee families and child welfare authorities?
2. How does this negotiation and the learning it generates influence the ability of cultural brokers and child welfare workers to collaborate in focusing resources on effectively engaging communities and families in building their resiliency?

Introduction and objectives

This research study explores the role of cultural brokers as intermediaries between immigrant and refugee families and child welfare workers. Children from minority groups in Canada have historically been over-represented in child welfare settings and among children and youth in care (Gilbert, Fluke et al., 2012; Maiter & Stalker, 2011; Trocmé, Knoke et al., 2004). Many immigrant and refugee families experience high levels of stress and vulnerability as they learn to navigate new social and cultural contexts that potentially heighten the risk of child welfare involvement (LeBrun, Hassan et al., 2016).

Parents and children from immigrant and refugee families who are new to the country and experiencing marginalization and vulnerability need support systems, both individual and community, that foster a sense of self and better family relations, and assist in coping with economic, social, and cultural factors influencing settlement, adaptation, and integration in Canadian society. As a welcoming society, Canada needs to have creative ways to support harmonious transition of families into the country, and in particular to protect children and youth from violence and abuse. Currently in Canada, immigrants account for 60% of population growth (Lange, 2015). In Alberta, 644,100 (18.1%) people are foreign-born immigrants (Statistics Canada, 2016). In Edmonton, immigrants represent 20% of the population (The Canadian Magazine of Immigration, 2016), not counting the recent large influx of refugees from Syria.

Given the continued increase of immigrant and refugee populations in the Edmonton area as well as other parts of Canada, collaboration between provincial governments, local child welfare offices, and community-based immigrant and refugee organizations is crucial for the wellbeing of children, youth, and families. In particular, it is essential in diverting children and youth from entering provincial care.
Taking in consideration the above context, we developed two guiding research questions in this study:

1. How do cultural brokers support the negotiating process between immigrant and refugee families and child welfare authorities?
2. How does this negotiation and the learning it generates influence the ability of cultural brokers and child welfare workers to collaborate in focusing resources on effectively engaging communities and families in building their resiliency?