African Nova Scotian Families (ANS)

Strong Communities Make Strong Families; Prevent Entry into the Child Welfare System

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Canada has a problem with anti-Black racism. This results in overrepresentation of children of African descent in the child welfare system.
Some other contributing factors include: overrepresentation, racialized poverty, immigration stress, lack of cultural awareness, family placement dynamics, policy impacts, & a lack of culturally-relevant services.

Understand that African Canadian families are wary of child welfare workers.
Help families access alternative sources of support.
Build trust & credibility within the community.
Prevent entry into the child welfare system.
Minimize trauma to children and families.
Take cultural safety training to avoid misinterpreting cultural parenting practices.
Consider that ANS have parenting practices in their cultural upbringing & racial experiences.
First make placements with family or in the community members if apprehension is unavoidable.
Understand their role in addressing structural, community, & individual barriers so that ANS families do not enter the child welfare system. These barriers include Eurocentric policies, lack of access in rural communities, stereotyping, & difficulty navigating the child welfare system.
Recruit Black social workers in all aspects of child welfare.

Are Urban Indigenous & immigrant and refugee communities, which often face similar challenges to ANS here in HRM.
Have common strengths of culture as well as close family & community ties.

(Google Documents)