The Children in Limbo Task Force (CLTF) is a group focused on improving the lives of children and young people who interact with, receive services from, or are cared for by the child welfare system. CLTF acts as a think tank that encourages inclusive and respectful discussions through written publications, conference papers, workshops, and meetings with others who have similar goals. Since it began as part of the Sparrow Lake Alliance, created by Dr. Paul Steinhauer in 1989, the Task Force includes child welfare staff, social workers, lawyers, psychologists, psychiatrists, advocates, and government members, all with many years of experience in this area.

In our view, we have noticed some serious issues in the Child Welfare Sector. We hear stories of workers feeling overwhelmed and stuck in a system that treats child welfare like a business. They struggle to do good work because of policies that limit them. Programs that once helped families are closing because of a lack of funding. Media reports talk about children being taken from homes and families being left behind. This is not the child welfare system we used to appreciate. We feel the need to take action and closely examine what is happening, what is effective, what isn’t, and what changes can be made.

Workers in Moral Distress

When you meet a child welfare worker today, it’s clear they find joy in helping families, but this often comes at a significant personal cost.

While many studies have looked into moral distress in healthcare, the experiences of child welfare workers have not been as thoroughly examined. Moral distress happens when someone knows the right thing to do but can’t do it due to various pressures, leading to feelings of guilt and anxiety.

Child welfare workers face tough daily choices and often deal with moral injuries and ethical dilemmas. They have to balance their responsibilities under laws like the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Ontario’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act. This legislation confirms that children in Ontario deserve to feel safe and supported. Yet, strict guidelines and paperwork take away valuable time from interacting with families.

When children are taken into care, it’s traumatic. Workers hope that care will be better for the child than their home situation. But what if they know the care system isn’t the answer? For example, having to place a teen in a hotel with few safeguards is a significant concern.

Child welfare workers do a variety of challenging tasks, from visiting homes facing domestic violence to supporting families dealing with trauma. These situations leave workers feeling exhausted. Cheryl Regehr studied how exposure to client trauma can lead to serious stress for these workers.

Despite their knowledge in areas like counseling and child development, child welfare workers often lack the resources to help effectively, leading to feelings of helplessness.

What can be done to help these workers? A 2022 study titled “A Dynamic Theory of Moral Distress in Child Welfare Workers” highlighted the gap between what services workers want to provide and what they can actually deliver. Training to build resilience is suggested, but more significant changes are needed too.

Without strong support systems and better agency backing, child welfare workers and their clients will continue to struggle. There’s often a disconnect between leadership and the on-the-ground realities of the work.

In July 2024, a report called Don’t Look Away highlighted the negative environment in the system, especially around the tragic death of an Indigenous boy involved in child welfare. It suggests that if workers can relate better and connect with families, it could foster a safer environment and reduce mistakes.

What is Missing that Worked in the Past and Ideas that Might Fill Gaps

Child welfare has changed over time, often reacting to situations rather than planning ahead. Funding tends to be prioritized over effective services.

Agencies receive funding based on outdated models that focus on the cost of keeping a child in care rather than supporting families in their communities. This has resulted in fewer resources for direct support to families, leading to financial struggles for many agencies.

Efforts have been made to create programs that help children and families, but these have been underappreciated or poorly executed. For instance, some initiatives meant to respect diverse family cultures led to misunderstandings instead. Resources used to provide hands-on support for families have been reallocated or lost due to lack of funding.

Many past programs have only been evaluated based on numbers rather than real outcomes for families. Youth in care have voiced that if their biological parents received the same financial support as their foster parents, they might not have needed to enter the system.

Siloed Systems, The Social Determinants of Health, and the Impact on Child Welfare

In May 2024, CUPE warned that children were being placed in unlicensed settings like hotels due to a lack of resources. The government’s response, an audit, is insufficient as it doesn’t address the needs of families. Many parents give up custody not due to abuse, but because they can’t find help to keep their children safely at home.

Social welfare, housing, child welfare, and mental health services in Ontario are severely underfunded, creating long wait times for essential services. For example, mental health assessments can take up to two years to get.

An alternative model from Denmark shows promise, where an independent agency addresses the complex needs of families.

In Ontario, fragmented systems make it hard for families to access needed resources, leading to even longer wait times and inadequate service.

The Importance of Involving the Child’s Voice

The Child Welfare Task Force (CLTF) emphasizes the need to keep children’s voices heard in child welfare. Their vision is that every child gets to know their story, understand what is happening, and participate in decisions affecting them.

In November 2018, the Ontario government decided to close the Ontario Child Advocate’s Office, which was crucial for protecting the rights of children and youth. This closure has harmed the ability to safeguard their rights and ensure their concerns are taken seriously.

With enough evidence of neglect and harm faced by children, it is vital for the government to reconsider the closure and reinstate the advocacy office.

Where Do We Go From Here?

This report aims to support current discussions about challenges in the system without criticizing involved agencies. A few steps can help address these issues. First, we need to listen to the voices of front-line workers who have valuable insights but often feel unheard.

Second, the funding model requires review and transparency to ensure appropriate resources are allocated. Ongoing budget cuts have harmed children, and clearer strategies are needed.

Lastly, restructuring the child welfare system to provide families with comprehensive support in a unified manner could make a difference. With some effort, a more integrated support system is indeed possible.