CHILDREN AT THE CENTRE: THEIR RIGHT TO TRUTH AND VOICE
Published: May 2019
A Children in Limbo Task Force Publication
Summary: This publication is a collection of voices and varied perspectives, from young people with lived experience and from various professionals who have worked within the child welfare system. Some of the authors are members of the Children in Limbo Task Force, some are not. The papers vary in style and in length.
We sincerely hope that this publication will encourage and support improvements in the human and financial resources available to our children in need.
Contents:
Select a specific section or read the full publication here: Children at the Centre: Their Right to Truth and Voice
- Introduction
Gitte Granofsky - Loss of a Story/Loss of Identity
James R. Wilkes - Listening to Children – From Rights to Love
Irwin ElmanVoice of Lawyers - Children at the Centre: Their Right to Truth and Voice
Marvin M. Bernstein - The Child, Youth and Family Services Act: Can Listening to Children Be Legislated
Mira PilchVoice of Clinicians - Truth or Consequences
James R. Wilkes - Permanency Planning and Foster Care
James R. Wilkes - Responding to Children Exposed to Trauma: Understanding Through Listening
Harriet MacMillan - The Importance of Giving Children a Voice
Nitza Perlman - Understanding Child Behaviour: Communication and Child-Centered Decision Making
Wendy ManelFamily Group Work - Including Children in Family Group Conferencing to Develop Adoption Agreements
Sally Palmer and Marilee Sherry - Family Group Conference (FGC): An Effective Customized Way For Children and Young Persons to Participate
Marilee Sherry and Anita Horner - Jewish Family and Child: A Model for Permanency Planning for Youth in Care
Jeff MintzPermanency, Adoption and Openness - Adoption with Openness and Alternative Paths to Permanency
Gail Aitken - Helping Children Maintain Positive Connections with Birth Family and Culture After Adoption
Pat ConveryVoices of Lived Experience - My Name is Sparrow
Sparrow-Rose Garlow - Some Musings on the Phrase “The Best Interest of the Child”
Wendy Hayes - An Open Letter to My Parents
Ingrid Palmer
Want to order this publication?
Children at the Centre: Their Right to Truth and Voice is available from:
Children in Limbo Task Force
c/o Ms. Birgitte Granofsky
e-mail address: birgittegranofsky@gmail.com
THERE ARE NO WIZARDS: THE CHILD WELFARE CONUNDRUM
Published: June 2010
James R. Wilkes
Child Psychiatrist
Chair, Children in Limbo Task Force
Summary: The Limbo Task Force of the Sparrow Lake Alliance has two previous publications:
Children in Limbo, 1996, and Permanency Planning in the Child Welfare System, 2002.
The Task Force has continued to meet and discuss matters of continuity of care in the child welfare system and how best to provide children and youth with a sense of permanence.
Contents:
Select a specific section or read the full publication here: There Are No Wizards: The child Welfare Conundrum.
- Introduction: There Are No Wizards: The Child Welfare Conundrum 2
James R. Wilkes - Summary of Children’s Needs 5
Janet Morrison - Life Narrative and Voice Are Children’s Rights 7
Birgitte Granofsky - Tell Me My Story 13
Mary Rella - Child Protection Court Proceedings 26
Kristina Reitmeier - Adoption and Contact with Birth Family: Can a Child Have It All? 41
Elizabeth Keshen - The Foster Parent Role in Supporting an Aboriginal Child’s Permanency Plan 48
Landy AndersonTo - Visit or Not to Visit: Issues Regarding Access Visits for Children in Care 60
Gail Aitken, Sarah Burgess, Janet Morrison - Therapeutic Access 73
Mary Rella - Therapy for Children in the Child Welfare System 90
James R. Wilkes - Where’s My Place?: Helping Children in Out-of-home Care 96
with Separation, Identity, and Self-esteem
Sally Palmer - Parenting By Committee 110
Jean Skelton - Kinship: Successes and Challenges 122
Lin Brough, Andrea Smart - It’s About Time: Rethinking Our System of Care for Youth 139
Virginia Rowden
PERMANENCY PLANNING IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM
Published: January 2002
Summary: “This book is intended to promote optimal care and management of children in the child welfare system. It is directed primarily at the front-line and supervisory staff of Child Protective Services (CPS). It could also serve as a resource for lawyers, judges, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, teacher, child and youth workers, and other professionals who work with children in the child welfare system.”
– Excerpt from Introduction
Contents:
Select a specific section or read the full publication here: Permanency Planning in the Child Welfare System
I. Overview
- Introduction 4
James R. Wilkes - Planning Flow Chart 7
James R. Wilkes - Glossary 8
James R. Wilkes - Factor Affecting Planning 10
James R. Wilkes - Extending Option in Permanency Planning 15
Gail AitkenII. Removing a Child from Home - When Should Children Be Taken Into Care? 27
Paul D. Steinhauer - Use or Risk Assessment Tools 33
Harriet MacMillan, Paul D. Steinhauer, Deborha Chappel - Truth or Consequences 40
Jame R. Wilkes, Cheryl MilneIII. Use of Access - Introduction 56
- The Role of Access in Permanency Planning 59
Margaret Osmond, Nitza Perlman, Nancy Dale, Sally PalmerIV. Adoption - Adoption and the Issue of Access or Contact 90
James R. Wilkes - Adoption with Access 93
Paul D. Steinhauer - Using Mediation as an Effective Technique to Achieve
Success in Open Adoptions 101
Marvin M. Bernstein - Access and the Changing Face of Adoption 124
Nancy DaleV. Placement Out of the Family Home - Introduction 132
- Foster Care 133
James R. Wilkes, Sally Palmer - Staff-Operated Settings 138
Margaret Osmond, Sally Palmer, James R. Wilkes - The Recognition, Prevention and Management of Attachment
Disorders within the Child Welfare System 145
Paul D. Steinhauer, Margaret Osmond, Sally Palmer,
Harriet McMillan, Nitza PerlmanVI. Youth Transitions to Independence - Youth Transition to Independence 174
Cheryl MilneVII. Membership: Children in Limbo Task Force
REPORT OF THE CHILDREN IN LIMBO TASK FORCE
Published: April 1996
Summary: In Canada, the state assumed a major responsibility for the well-being of children. The state intervenes on behalf of children, using different mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is the child welfare system.
The purpose of this document is to identify some of the difficulties that destabilize the lives and undermine the development and continuity of important relationships for children in the child welfare and/or custody an access disputes. This is important to protect children’s development, mental health, competence and potential for take their place as successful and contributing members of society.
Contents:
Select a specific section or read the full publication here: Report of the Childten in Limbo Task Force – April 1996.
