Creating Positive Systems of Child and Family Welfare: Congruence with the Everyday Lives of Children and Parents

The North American approach to child protection is broadly accepted, despite frequent criticisms of its core limitations: parental fear and resistance, the limited range of services and supports available to families, escalating costs, and high stress and turnover among service providers. Could these shortcomings be improved through organizational or system reform?

Based on findings from a decade’s worth of research, Creating Positive Systems of Child and Family Welfare provides original reflections on the everyday realities of families and front-line service providers involved with the system. It includes data from a variety of regions and situations, all linked together through a common investigatory framework. The contributors highlight areas of concern in current approaches to child and family welfare, but also propose new solutions that would make the system more welcoming and helpful both for families and for service providers.

Gary Cameron is a professor emeritus in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Marshall Fine is a professor in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.
Sarah Maiter is an associate professor in the School of Social Work in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University.
Karen M. Frensch was the research project manager for the Partnerships for Children and Families Project in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University from 2000-2019.
Nancy Freymond is an associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University.