This facilitated workshop will introduce participants to emerging frameworks and better practices to assist children and youth to cope with and adjust to the emotional, social, and community impacts of conflicts and natural disasters. Drawing upon national and international expertise, participants will have the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the psychosocial dimensions and impacts of disasters, of emerging 'better practices' for children and youth in disasters, and the importance of bridging child welfare and health promotion practices into disaster preparedness and recovery programs.

Since 2002, the Victorian Office for Children has embarked on a sustained evidence based reform process designed to better manage demand for child protection services and provide assistance to families earlier, thereby avoiding the need for a statutory intervention. A key element of this reform program has been the Family Support Innovation Projects. Initially established in eight pilot sites in 2002 these projects are now being expanded across the State. This paper will describe the key features of the projects and their impact upon the child and family services system.

Urban Aboriginal parents are an under-researched group, as are culturally specific parenting programs. Considering that referral to parenting programs is currently the norm in cases where there are protection concerns, a study that analyses how Aboriginal parents experience these programs is vitally important to determine if current culturally appropriate programs are working from the parents? point of view. Of particular salience are the beliefs and meanings that parents ascribe to the cultural components of the program. This study analyses the experiences of urban Aboriginal parents from a symbolic interactionist/feminist standpoint theoretical perspective.

This doctoral research project examined the decision-making processes of child welfare workers with regard to investigations of intrafamilial child sexual abuse (defined for the purposes of this study as the sexual abuse of the child by the mother’s partner). Of particular interest was the impact that expressions of maternal support have on the decision- making process. Other factors that may influence decision-making, such as worker knowledge of intrafamilial sexual abuse, risk assessment tools, and supervision, were also considered.

Review of the various offences that the ICE team investigates related to child exploitation and the Internet. This includes child pornography, Internet luring and sex tourism. The definition of these offences, including what is classified as child pornography, will be examined. Cpl Gray will discuss the characteristics of those “priority” targets that her team investigates and the steps that can be taken to avoid these predators online. Basic Internet safety will also be examined from a victim services perspective

The Child Welfare Secretariat (CWS) was created in 2004 to develop a more balanced, flexible and sustainable service framework. Ontario’s new system provides a more flexible intake and assessment model, alternatives to court for resolution of disputes, and a broader range of placement options. An overview of Ontario’s new model and Ontario’s Differential Response Model will both be presented. The two response options provide more flexible and customized service responses. The Seven Pillars of Permanence will be described.

This study will lay the foundation for theory, policy and practice development in regards to children and adolescents who, for a number of reasons, have to provide care for their parents or other family members beyond what would normally be expected. This study is hoping to begin to fill the gaps in knowledge regarding the dynamics, needs and circumstances of these young people. This presentation will provide an overview of the preliminary findings of phase one of the research project.

Foreign employment of mothers is currently a popular theme for discussion and debate, because these mothers contribute to the national economy. Therefore, this study was to investigate physical abuse and neglect of 13-15 year old children of migrant mothers in rural areas of the Kandy district. As reported by the children in the index group, the care provided by the main caregiver was inferior to the quality of care given by the mother. Neglect in the physical, educational and emotional domains was higher among the children of the index group. If the cost implications of physical abuse and neglect can be estimated, it can be compared with the economical gain from the employment.

History in child welfare, particularly child protection, is that we have moved back and forth between the child rescue and family strengthening paradigms. Community capacity building moves beyond child rescue and family strengthening. This presentation discusses the community capacity building paradigm drawing on research that is currently being done in a high needs neighbourhood. Implications and challenges for child protection work for the future are explored.

Studies have shown that providing education and support services to parents around the time of a baby’s birth, and continuing such services post birth , significantly reduce the risk of child abuse and contribute to positive, healthy, child-rearing practices. In Washington State, the community, private sector and state government have adopted numerous initiatives designed to prevent child abuse and neglect. This presentation will identify partnership/collaboration community initiatives, budget and policy initiatives, and successes and failures in prevention of child maltreatment.

The West Coast Alternate Program is a collaborative, community-based approach to FASD. Our intention is to provide professional, individualised and group, guidance and encouragement in a reduced stress environment; to assist FASD affected students in maintaining a healthy life and; to minimize their risk of dropping out of school and/or becoming entrenched in negative behaviours.

A broad picture of housing conditions and child welfare service issues will be portrayed from an ecological perspective, incorporating research findings, policies, legislation and a conceptual framework. The workshop will demonstrate an effective working partnership between research, practice and advocacy interests to advance collective efforts to raise this priority concern for children. Local perspectives will be enlarged through inclusion of Ontario and Canadian incidence study data. Findings from a unique, descriptive study of housing and child welfare will be presented, highlighting housing issues identified in admissions to care and delays returning home.

This presentation will focus on the issue of youth transitioning out of care but will be comprised of three distinct yet interrelated components. The film Wards of the Crown will be shown to the participants and time will be given for them to reflect on what they saw and experienced through the film. Next, the youth involved in the film will form a panel to discuss their experiences with the participants. Finally, a paper will be presented that outlines the fundamental requirements for a successful transition program for youth leaving care.

1. Andrea Clarke / Ministry of Attorney General Dispute Resolution Office; BC Dispute Resolution Practicum Society and BC Mediator Roster Society / Pathways to Child Welfare Mediator Professional Development and Service Quality: Innovative Models in British Columbia

2. Bruce Bidgood / University of Northern British Columbia / Deconstructing Orphan Annie: An Examination of Child Characteristics Predictive of Adoptability of Children in Care

3. Bruce MacLaurin / University of Calgary / Characteristics of Street-Involved Youth Who Have Experiences Child Maltreatment

4. Christian Hackbusch / / Building Child Welfare Capacity in the Kingdom of Bahrain

5. Daniel Stavert / CARF Canada / CARF Canada: Leadership in Promoting Quality Service and Accountability Through Accreditation

6. David Rivers / Ranch Ehrlo Society / Intermediate Outcomes for a Holistic Residential Treatment Centre

7. Deborah Rutman / Rutman & Hubberstey: School of Social Work, U of Victoria, Tweddle, Gilbert & & Stapleton / Ageing Out of State Care: Evidence-based Approaches to Support Positive Transitions for Youth

8. Diana Rodriguez Mora / Fundacion de Estudios e Investigaciones Latinoamericanos / Palliative Care as a Child?s Right

9. Dipak Naker / Raising Voices / Mobilising Communities to Prevent Violence Against Children AND Edward Amankwah / Youth Action International / Children's Right to Shelter - Is it a Mirage

10. Sobhana Daniel / Doctoral program, School of Child and Youth Care - U of Victoria / Child Death Inquiries, Child Welfare Policy and Practice: An International Perspective

11. John Rogerson, Malaspina University College and Shelley Rivkin, Justice Institute of BC and Sheila Macaulay, MCFD / The Education Alliance: An Education/Employer Partnership Preparing Skilful Child Welfare Professionals

Through the guidance of a family therapist, who provided both strategic and emotional support for all parties involved in the transition, the capacity of birth parents was promoted in reunifying a child with them. Foster parents and birth parents have reported that the support provided has allowed for closer connection and collaboration between them. Key elements of the project to be presented include: the foster parents and birth parents as emotional systems; applying a systemic and multi-disciplinary approach; the critical elements that help facilitate successful transition; and recommendations.

Studies that exist demonstrate that the children of prisoners and ex-prisoners have exorbitant incidences of lower academic achievement, truancy, gang involvement, substance addiction, mental illness, crime and incarceration. Information regarding these children, the nature of their risk, suggested models of effective intervention for parents and children, and how the legal, educational, medical, and voluntary sector can assist these children must become public discussion. The Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver has developed and supported models of service, and knowledge and training in the sector.

This presentation reports on much needed data on the growing number of children with a range of disabilities receiving services in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal child welfare agencies. This session will present a report on the results of a study which describes the population of children with disabilities who are involved with the child welfare system in Manitoba and characterizes some of the factors associated with their involvement with the system.

This paper will present research findings regarding current policy/practice challenges and innovations in the delivery of services for children and youth with learning and/or behavioural disabilities in the care of Aboriginal child welfare agencies. The study also included an examination of collateral service providers’ and community members’ perspectives and experiences. Challenges identified included multiple definitions of disability, over-extended community resources (staff, alternate care providers, allied support services), provincial/federal jurisdictional factors (funding arrangements, social service provision), service delivery structures and inter-agency collaboration.

This workshop will explore the evolution of Alberta’s response to sexually exploited children and youth over the past 10 years. Particular emphasis will be on the circular interaction of emerging social trends and issues, social policy and changing social values, and the resultant legislative and programmatic response. In fall 2005, Alberta brought together stakeholders, service delivery partners, staff, youth and parents to examine the history, current services, emerging trends, best practice learnings, and challenges with the goal of developing strategies and recommendations for the further evolution and development of the initiative. Once again the interaction of changing social policy and values, emerging trends and knowledge related to services to youth, changes to Alberta’s child intervention legislation and services, and the experience of the previous seven years has led to a comprehensive strategy of legislative, policy, practice and service adjustments. These changes are designed to ensure that Alberta’s response to the issue of child sexual exploitation and the services provided continue to adapt to meet the current and future needs of sexually exploited children and youth.

The Abuse Focused CBT is provided by trained child and family therapists to families who have been identified as at risk of using physical abuse towards their children. The goal is to change the behaviour of parents and children and to reduce the risk for further abuse. This presentation will cover criteria used for the clients who can best be served with this approach and also will provide an overview of the application of AF CBT with the individual child, individual parent(s) and family. The presentation will also cover the advantages of using this modality as a means to children’s mental health and child welfare services to partner using a comprehensive approach.

The Family Support Program offers a collaborative, holistic, and strengths-based approach. Highly trained child and youth care workers engage with families directly in their life space through the development of therapeutic relationships and the use of hands-on interventions and activities. The primary goal is to work with families to improve family functioning. Presenters will provide participants with an opportunity to explore the implementation and development of the program, while also looking at the challenges and successes.

Presently, families coming to the attention of child protective services are predominantly the poorest of the poor, single parents with limited family supports. This study gives voice to perspectives of these parents regarding their experiences with child protective services. In-depth interviews yielded two primary themes: Surveillance and Control, and Inflexible, Discontinuous Benefits. The first described negative consequences of identification as neglectful parents with resultant monitoring of parenting. The second described parents’ views of increased limits and stipulations regarding benefits with resultant discontinuities in services and essential benefits. Implications of parent views regarding child protective functions of investigation and support will be discussed as will implications regarding alternate models for increasing financial and service stability.

This study invited 39 parents to reflect on their experience of a family preservation program. Parents explored the elements of intervention that were the most helpful to their progress as a family. This paper reviews the central process and content themes including: hands-on education and mentoring, peer support, practical support and emotional support that parents identified as critical to their most productive service experiences.

In this presentation, we will report on: the empirical findings supporting the normalcy of early increased and inconsolable infant crying; the findings supporting crying as a trigger for Shaken Baby Syndrome; the rationale and mechanism behind the Period of PURPLE Crying Program and; how these findings have been incorporated and tested in the program. We will also demonstrate how this program will improve on “best practices” currently available for reducing the incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome.

The North American Regional Consultation for the United Nations Study on Violence Against Children convened over 200 individuals from government and civil society across Canada and USA ? together with 370 young people. The youth focus groups convened during the consultation revealed the disturbing prevalence of violence in the lives of Canadian young people, and a sense of resignation among too many youth that violence is an inevitable and ineluctable fact of life. The consultation found a dearth of research and programming that engaged young people in design and implementation. Young people who have been research partners will present the views and experiences of children relating to issues of violence in their homes, in their communities and in the institutions they inhabit: how they experience violence, its impacts, appropriate responses, and how children themselves are taking action to address violence in their communities.

This paper reports on what are social workers’ representations of family functioning and what are their practices to enhance the family functioning of neglectful families. Its main object is to better understand how social workers describe well-functioning families and those with functioning problems, and also what is the importance they give to family functioning in their evaluations and interventions.

Presentation will provide an overview of the research results of the Growing Great Kids ECD Program (GGK) within two contexts, Community Based Program for families living in extreme poverty and also for orphanage caregivers. The GGK Parenting Program in severely impoverished Philippine Island villages will be described. Outstanding results for the GGK for Orphanage Caregivers Program will be presented along with a description of this approach for improving care of young children residing in residence homes in the Philippines. Finally, the opportunity for countries to implement these two programs will be presented, describing the GGK Capacity Building approach allowing in-country management using a train the trainer model.

The paper elucidates the life experiences of 100 street children, including 36 in-depth case studies. The exploitative treatment endured by these children included physical, emotional and sexual abuse. The study reveals that the time, duration and severity of exploitation had a direct bearing on process of rehabilitation and the time they needed for settling down back to a healthy and disciplined life style. The intervention is a life project and there is further scope of observing and analyzing the outcomes of different methods employed for helping children grow as healthy adults in spite of adverse circumstance they were forced to live during their formative years.

In this session, young people will discuss the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and whether or not it is being respected. Participants will also discuss ways to advocate for themselves, their peers and their communities.

The ‘Isolabantwana’ or ‘Eye on the Child’ project identifies, trains and supports community-based volunteers to detect, prevent and address child abuse in South Africa with a holistic approach to services. Presenters take a critical and evaluative look at its successes and needs, including questions around the role of volunteers in resource-poor settings, and how the project has evolved to respond to new crises such as child trafficking.

The author attempts to examine the concept and practice of a strength-based approach to prevent child abuse and neglect as developed in Fiji with the Pacific Children’s Program (PCP). AusAID funds PCP and aims to support Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu to strengthen existing community-based initiatives and increase government, community and family commitment to child protection. In Fiji, the focus is on building capacities in local villages and communities and building on strengths already in place to address the growing concerns regarding child abuse and neglect with an emphasis of prevention. Strengths identified in terms of culture, religion, and language among others are reaffirmed and built upon to enhance child protection in a community setting. The author will also critically evaluate the Pacific Children’s Program in light of its progress thus far and identify strengths and shortcomings of the program in Fiji.

Presentation will illustrate new trends and development of innovative services in child welfare in Australia. The location of the model for discussion is Mildura, which provides specialist Aboriginal culturally appropriate services for the Indigenous communities. Presentation will outline current research investigating how victims of family violence transverse the legal system for assistance and hope when they are facing violence within their home; and also demonstrate a unique integrated service delivery model for victims of family violence and sexual assault highlighting the necessity to respond and acknowledge the individual rights of children as unique citizens.

There is considerable emphasis today on basing child welfare practice on evidence of effectiveness, and on sharing research knowledge with policymakers and practitioners in ways they can understand and use. In spite of this emphasis, it is not clear what specific methods are most useful for ’’bridging the gap’’ between research, policy, and practice. The purpose of this presentation is to share the methods that the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare has used and found to be effective for this purpose. Three interrelated types of specific methods will be described in our presentation: our networking infrastructure, effective use of technology, and our clear language techniques.

Delivering the right information, in the most effective format, to the most appropriate audience, via the most efficient and user-friendly channels is a process that presents various and evolving challenges. This presentation will explore those challenges and engage the audience in a dialogue to help refine our understanding of the Clearinghouse?s clientele and their information needs.

With the collaboration of experienced BC foster parents, we have developed a complete and practical manual that provides theory and specific recommendations to foster parents and other caregivers. This manual offers an opportunity for caregivers to provide the best support possible to the youth through their preparatory stages towards independence. This presentation is grounded in the core beliefs of strength-based practice and the power and influence of relationship. In this presentation we will promote the creation of a strength-based culture in your home, by focusing your attention, and the youth’s, on what is being done well. At the same time, we will discuss how you can work with the youth to prepare the most intense success-oriented living skill program you can muster in all three of these areas.

This session will present information on an initiative started in British Columbia in 2004 to look at ways of fostering permanency for youth ’aging out’ of the child welfare system. Using a collaborative approach, Youth Transition Conferencing actively engages youth and significant others in their lives to address their needs so that when they leave care they are not on their own but have a caring person or people who they can draw on for support to make this difficult transition successful.

This workshop will focus on the transformation of child welfare services in Alberta. The process will examine the establishment of innovative social policy resulting in enabling legislation, and subsequent case management priorities. Particular attention will focus on the value foundations of the transformation to trend analysis of the outcomes to date.

The presentation will provide participants with an opportunity to view a model of attachment through the use of a community-governed and culturally congruent child welfare system. Current attachment theories are based in non-Native paradigms, which include service delivery philosophies laced with ethnocentric views not comparable with Aboriginal worldviews. Weechi-It-Te-Win Family Service’s theory of attachment will identify the conceptual framework, the longitudinal benefits, and will lay the foundation of the development of natural and anchored cultural resiliencies for generations to come. The presentation is transferable knowledge which will allow other Nations the opportunity to define their own conceptual framework as defined by their own cultural heritage and teachings.

First the presenters will describe how the Forum that is made up of over 30 social service agencies collaborated together to facilitate greater professional cooperation and coordination of services for high conflict families. As a result of this unique collaboration the Forum has developed standards of practice and identified a series of best practice approaches that will allow for greater cooperation and communication between different services. The second part will focus on the tool that was developed and the results of a pilot study that is beginning to examine the reliability and validity of this tool to assist clinicians with identifying different levels of conflict.

This presentation will describe the model and process of conducting a 12-week intervention program for women and their children exposed to violence. The model emphasizes providing information and support around woman abuse issues and the impact on young children. Issues of trauma will be addressed as well as the risk of maladaptive coping strategies that can impact on a mother’s ability to parent. Experiences from the program’s first year will be reflected upon and lessons learned presented with recommendations for practice and family violence research.

In England and Wales, the early identification of need is a key objective of the Children Act 2004 (s25) and hence the introduction of a Common Assessment Framework (CAF) to deliver swift multi-agency response; working with better information sharing and to eliminate repeat assessments, is now part of a more collaborative future envisaged for children's service. The CAF has been piloted and implemented in one local authority in Wales and is now being piloted in England where a more abbreviated model is being tested. The presentation will outline the assumptions behind the idea of common assessment and will identify the way the CAF is likely to link with the now well established and more complex requirement of the Assessment Framework that local authorities in England and Wales use to guide intervention with piloting of a CAF in one authority in Wales and will focus on the design, training and outcomes of implementation. The presentation will reveal how the scheme has bedded-in and particular reference will be made to the way professionals engage with the CAF and its impact on information sharing and early intervention.

In partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dalhousie University of Nova Scotia, and the University of Calgary, Canadian Red Cross RespectED conducted the Hidden Hurt research project. This study is unique in that the data set was prepared as part of a national prevention program that targeted the general population of all youth, not just at-risk young people. This research informs society on youths’ experiences of abuse and violence; primary prevention practitioners on creating safe learning environments and the importance of comprehensive prevention programming, leading to the development and delivery of more effective prevention programming.

A 30 minute film will be presented, along with follow-up reflecting team conversation, centering on the stories of several young people who have experienced child-protection interventions and have spent time in government care. The young people whose lives are shared within the film will also be present for the presentation. While elements of their stories are certainly tragic, the focus of this presentation will be upon the work that was done that assisted these young people toward finding purpose and stability within their own adult lives. Several essentials for effective practice will be highlighted, providing insight into how best to provide meaningful and responsive assistance for such children, young people and families.

The initiative A.I.D.E.S. is an important social innovation that consists of the implementation of an intervention procedure to analyse the developmental needs of a child, the ability of parent figures to meet those needs and the quality of family or social environment likely to influence how those needs are being met. In this presentation, we will give the results of the testing process. Specifically, we will examine to which extent the analysis, the planning, the implementation and the review of the Individualized Service Plan for each child is influenced by contextual variables related to networking as well as to organizational factors and techniques.

There is a wide array of international standards designed to protect children from violence. These standards have been widely ratified and, in some instances, recognized in national and sub-national laws and policies, effectively ensuring that, to prevent and address violations of children's rights, efforts are enhanced to put standards into practise. Violence against children - including female genital mutilation and cutting, trafficking, domestic violence and other forms of abuse and exploitation nevertheless persist across regions and cultures. Current research suggests that real remedies and sustainable mechanisms to protect children from violence lie in community adoption and internalization of international standards.

Measuring violence against children has always proved to be a major challenge. UNICEF initiated a project in 2003 to bring together experts who have been working in this area to share their work and agree on a common minimum set of indicators, that were selected by this global reference group have been subsequently field tested. The second phase of this project is presently engaged in identifying indicators that could help measure violence against children in homes and in schools. Finally, UNICEF offices in six countries have partnered with institutions and experts to develop a Participatory Assessment Tool which is a qualitative instrument where children themselves provide information on their experience with violence through focus groups and using techniques like story telling and role plays.

The presentation will detail anti-oppressive social work approaches using therapeutic interventions that address the concerns facing the youth of today. Those that work with vulnerable youth need to recognize and promote their dignity and personal value through building caring, nurturing environments; managing behavioural problems through trust and relationships; work to build strengthened families and communities; and maintaining a high level of competence throughout organizations. The residential treatment centre within which we provide services works towards creating that culture.

As poverty continues to grip Pakistan, the number of urban street children grows and has now reached alarming proportions, demanding far greater action than presently offered. The program launched a peer education program, including: awareness of self and body protection focusing on child sexual abuse; STDs/HIV/AIDS; life skills; gender and sexual rights awareness; preventive health measures and; care at work. It also opened care and counselling center for these working and street children and handed these centers over to local communities.

A partnership was established between supervisory child welfare staff at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto and a local children's mental health provider from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services of Ontario to develop and deliver a training curriculum entitled Planning and Managing Access to child welfare practitioners. This partnership has evolved into the development of a Therapeutic Access Program. We will describe this innovative teaching program which challenges child welfare workers to maximize the clinical opportunities afforded by access. Program outcomes include expedited permanency for children, increased parenting capacity, enhanced client satisfaction with service, increased worker competence and increased credibility with the court system.

In 2001, the Estonian Union for Child Welfare started the purposeful prevention and information work about school violence and bullying with the project called No to Violence?. Upper elementary school students were involved in the actions, and formed project teams with the help of a grown-up supervisor and started anti-violence action at their schools. In co-operation with the scholars of the University of Tartu, several studies have been conducted in the course of the project No to Violence? in order to find out the nature and range of school bullying and different possibilities of how to cope with the problem. Us-Us is a joint project of the Estonian Union for Child Welfare and pupils, through which humane attitudes in the relationships between adults and children are supported, basing upon the methods of social drama.

A brief overview of the SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) Assessment process and how it is used to assess potential adoption and foster family applicants in British Columbia will be presented. The SAFE tool was developed in California and has been in use in BC for over 5 years. It provides social workers with an information gathering and family assessment tool that offers a uniform, systematic and comprehensive assessment process specifically designed to identify strengths and potential problem areas.

This workshop provides criteria for qualifying family conditions as threats to a child's safety. Workshop leaders will compare this criteria based approach to safety assessment against more traditional influences; will discuss the pitfalls of misuse of certain concepts in judging safety; and will review personal, professional and political concerns related to how child safety is qualified within child protective services. Workshop participants will be involved in sharing the implications of use of the safety threshold criteria in their countries and programs.

This presentation examines the impacts of disasters on older children and youth, with special attention to the psychosocial consequences of catastrophic events and related programming implications. The presentation will discuss the need for an integrated and comprehensive approach to programming for older children and youth in disasters. Drawing upon national and international expertise, including youth perspectives, the presenters will use a facilitated discussion format to solicit participant views and expert advise on the development of a 'better practice' framework for ongoing policy making, research and practice on children and youth in disasters.

To date the Roots program has been instrumental in guiding traditional social work practice towards an increased collaborative process in planning for Aboriginal youth in care. This Youth Panel will share their journeys through the Roots program and their future and valued perspectives. This workshop emphasises the value of relationships, mentors and connections to family, culture and communities. It also demonstrates innovative social work practice in supporting our Aboriginal youth in re-establishing attachment and healthy connections physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. This is an experiential workshop that inspires all who have attended, and will continue to do so.

The Safe Babies Program was developed and implemented in a number of communities across the province of British Columbia almost ten years ago in response to an increased awareness of the unique needs of infants exposed prenatal to drugs and alcohol and the education and support needs of the foster parents who frequently care for them. Professionals from many disciplines, foster families and birth families all provided input and direction into the original design of the program. This panel presentation will include an overview of development of the program, the philosophy and key principles underlying the program, and core components. The interdisciplinary panel members will then describe how the program was adapted to their communities, including urban inner city, suburban and rural community settings. Panel members will include foster parents, social workers and registered nurses.

The evolution of online culture is having dramatic impacts on youth behaviours. Consequently, youth workers and child welfare professionals are increasingly being presented with issues associated with youth engaging in high-risk behaviour in online settings. Youth work practices need to be updated and reflect the emerging consequences for young people. This presentation will profile examples of online sexual exploitation; highlight the therapeutic implications of online sexual exploitation and child pornography and outline the approaches used by the Safe OnLine Outreach Society to provide education and information to meet the arising needs of professionals dealing with youth sexually exploited online.

A discussion of the progressive and innovative approaches taken by the Vancouver Police Department in responding to child welfare issues within the city of Vancouver. Vancouver has significant numbers of street youth and children at risk given that it is a core city area. The presentation outlines the partnering approach of the Vancouver Police Units working with the Ministry of Children and Family Development Child Protection personnel, Probation Services, Victim Services and counselling providers. How these integrated and cooperative approaches to child welfare issues enhance the effectiveness in protecting our children at risk will be discussed.

In many countries, indigenous young people are over-represented in the child welfare system. And in some countries, the number of immigrant young people arriving without parental supervision is growing. In this session, participants will discuss the unique needs, issues and ideas of indigenous and immigrant young people involved in child welfare.

A routine 911 call to police turned into one of the most extensive and disturbing sex crimes and child abuse investigations in the City's history. These investigators led what turned into an 18-month investigation into the serial sexual torture of local sex trade workers, and the sordid world of child prostitution in Southeast Asia. They will outline their investigation into the activities of Donald Bakker; on first glimpse a hard-working family man, but in reality a predator roaming the streets in search of the most vulnerable in our society. They will describe how this investigation took Detective Bieg and a team of investigators to Cambodia, where they identified 3 crime scenes and 7 child victims of Bakker, some of whom were as young as 5 years old.

In 2005, the Health Evaluations, Assessments and Liaison (H.E.A.L) team was the first multidisciplinary child abuse clinic in British Columbia to offer law enforcement and child protection social workers the opportunity for an extended forensic evaluation for children where sexual abuse remained undetermined following a one time forensic interview. Presenters from the H.E.A.L Team will discuss the results of their recent pilot project and the evaluation protocol will be presented. Specific interview techniques for young or reluctant children will be reviewed. Balancing forensic integrity of the interview with the developmental needs of the child will be discussed, as well as the future role of extended forensic evaluations in British Columbia.

In BC, Child Protection Mediations are typically conducted between the parents from whom the children have been removed and the removing agency. Although the legislation is guided in part by the principle that “the child’s views should be taken into account when decisions relating to a child are made” and further contemplates that children themselves may well participate in a Mediation depending on their age, desire and level of cognitive development, in practice this does not appear to be occurring as frequently as one might have anticipated. Some of the actual and probable reasons for the absence of children at the table are explored in this paper/workshop, as well as the affect on the outcome from their presence or absence.

In this presentation, three members of the Family Development Response Committee will offer insights and lessons learned from the perspectives of government, a community-based family service agency and action-oriented academic research, including: creating an integrated child welfare service delivery model that focuses on building relationships within the family; between the family and their support services; and between the service providers themselves; building a trusting committee environment to share ideas, information and resources; developing practical government, community and university collaborations to document, study and support multi-organizational working partnerships.

Fathering and Child Welfare is a Canadian research project that set out to assess the current state of child welfare policy, practice and discourse with fathers whose children come to the attention of child welfare authorities. We found that child welfare often fails to engage purposefully with men, either as risks or as assets. In this panel, we explore how and why this is so, and what might be done about it, by reporting on the results of our recent research into various aspects of fathering and child welfare. Participants will learn about current Canadian child welfare policies and practices with fathers and how they might be strengthened.

Participants in this session will have the opportunity to learn about two international initiatives; the Guidelines for Children Without Parental Care that are being developed for the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, and the Quality 4 Children Project which is focused on developing quality standards for out-of-home child care in Europe.

The Child Protection Team at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital provides multidisciplinary assessments on the most complex cases of abuse and neglect from the entire province. The team has evolved over 30 years and now sees between 500 and 600 children annually. During this presentation, which will be given by the team physician and social worker, case examples will be used to illustrate how situations are handled and what the different team members do. As well, a ten-year review of substantiated cases of child neglect will be discussed. New multidisciplinary guidelines for the evaluation and management of child neglect will be presented.

Rights 2 Success is a project that supports the mandate to educate children and youth in care and at risk by those serving children and youth within the child welfare system and advances the rights of children and youth. This presentation will provide an overview of the project with an emphasis on the development, piloting and evaluation of the workshop(s). The strengths and challenges associated with the project will be highlighted in conjunction with a review of workshop(s) content, a hands-on demonstration of key components of each of the workshops and future directions of this initiative.

This paper discusses the history of child welfare in South Asia, the present scenario, future directions and prospects. India’s concern is proclaimed in its National Policy on Children, 1974 and the Integrated Child Development Services, 1975. This paper emphasizes that child rights are indivisible, interdependent and all stakeholders share this responsibility. The future lies in providing more resources and ensuring quality of service delivery, so that every cent reaches the child. This paper includes a case story of Deepalaya, an NGO in India, its efforts and the difference it has made to child welfare.

How can social workers best cope with the inevitable stresses of the job? One of the secrets to a sustainable career in child protection is to maximize stress resilience and build upon one's inherent strengths. The first half of this highly participatory presentation will address some of general stressors and stressors particular to child protection work. The second half of the presentation will include some research-based, practical skills, social workers can adopt to help mitigate the negative stresses of the job and maximize their opportunities for developing stress resilience. Participants will receive a copy of the Guide to Maximizing Stress Resilience produced by the BC Disaster Worker Care Committee.

Learn about a variety of creative and innovative programs in Alberta that have emanated from a groundbreaking youth engagement process targeted primarily at youth receiving intervention services. Youth will discuss their hopes and dreams, and how their voices have had and continue to have a measurable impact on creating and evolving public policy. Meaningful engagement helps create more empowered young people, leading to a generation of youth who transition more successfully to adulthood.

1. George Muswaggon / Awasis Agency, University of Manitoba and the Office of the Children?s Advocate / Factors that Contribute to Positive Outcomes in the Awasis Pimicikamak Cree Nation Kinship Care Program

2. Guy Massart / Plan International / Uses and Abuses of Girls? Bodies in West Africa. Self respect and Power.

3. Jagannath Pati / Dept of Social Work-Cal State University of Long Beach, CA / Accountability Framework for Recognized Indian Placement Agencies as Visualized Under Guidelines on Inter-Country Adoption-2006 (India)

4. James Kakonya / Elim Pentecostal Temples of the Lord Ministries-EPTM / NGO Challenges: Children in Poverty

5. Jane Matheson / Wood?s Home / Making Sense of Partnerships in Non-profit Organizations in Child and Family Serving Organizations in Calgary

6. Jerry McHale / Ministry of Attorney General, Government of BC / The Culture of Child Welfare: Introducing Collaborative Dispute Resolution Processes

7. Jessica McFarlane / National Youth in Care / Sharing Our Stories to Make a Difference (Research/Stories in Youth in Care Issues)

8. Jodi Nelson / Ranch Ehrlo Society / A Journey to Family Focused Residential Care

9. Juliet Adamma Nwagwu / Department of Virology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State / Meeting the Needs of Challenges of HIV/AIDS Orphaned Children in Two Impoverished Nigerian Communities

11. Muhammad Wasim / AMAL / Violence Against Young Girls and Women

12. Richard Klarberg / Council on Accreditation (COA) / COA?s Contextual Accreditation and the Hague Intercountry Adoption Accreditation: A Model for Promoting Appropriate International Best Practice

Many young people in care are diagnosed with mental health issues and / or disabilities. Too often, these special needs are under serviced. In this session, participants will discuss those labels, their special needs and their suggestions for improving the way mental health and disabilities are addressed by child welfare.

The Aboriginal Chairs Caucus consists of the five Chairs for the BC regional Aboriginal planning teams. These teams are creating the regional plans for taking over responsibility for child and family services to the Aboriginal community. The panel will cover the unique opportunities that surround a move like this. Transfer to community-based Authorities covers the entire range of services currently being provided by the provincial government's Ministry of Children and Family Development, which entails everything from Youth Justice and Early Childhood Development to Protection services. Planning must also take into consideration the entire Aboriginal population, which includes First Nations living on reserve, the Urban Aboriginal population, and the Métis, all of which are unique and have their various cultures and traditions. This move takes place in the broader context of a changing government to government relationship between the Aboriginal leadership and the provincial and federal government. This is one of the many initiatives in this changing environment, that are interconnected, and that seek partnerships and new directions for the benefit of Aboriginal communities, with children and families at the forefront. The most profound opportunity entails being able to create a service system that reflects the individual community needs, involves community and regional partnerships, is rooted in culture and helps to create safer and healthier Aboriginal communities and families.

The Youth in Care Newsletter Project is an innovative community-based program that gives youth in care a voice, while furthering self-advocacy, positive peer-group dynamics, social skill development, literacy/educational support, and employability skills development. The Newsletter Project's success will be explored through stories and anecdotes highlighting the achievements of youth participants. The director/curriculum developer, a senior youth, and a social worker will share a panel presentation on the program's critical success factors.

This paper will present an innovative quantitative research study on the utilization of an agency information system by generic and child welfare social workers in Israel. A model was developed and empirically tested to predict advanced use of the information system. The model stipulates that personal characteristics of users, social influences in the work place, and administration support have direct effects on advanced use, as well as effects mediated by the users perceived usefulness of the system and their attitudes toward the specific system. Results of structural equation modeling on a sample of 235 social workers showed statistically significant support for the research model. In this session, the research model and the factors found pertinent to successful and advanced use of the information system will be presented. Ramifications for child welfare managers and administrators will be discussed.

Over the last decade, British Columbia has seen major changes in the rate and number of children in care of the state. This paper will examine the ecological, demographic and policy effects on trends for aboriginal and non-aboriginal children in care, the implications for policy, practice and, most importantly, children’s outcomes.

The US and Somalia are the only countries that have not ratified the the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Participants will learn what the status of the CRC is in the US, what the objections have been to ratification, and about the movement in the US to promote ratification. Main bullet points are: 1) Status of the CRC in the US; 2) Why the CRC to date has gone nowhere in the US; 3) How American children would benefit from ratification; and 4) Actions underway to raise American consciousness about the CRC and to promote ratification.

The presentation will describe the work of the United Nations (UN) in its pursuit to improve the standard of living and quality of life for children and families globally. It will look at specific ways in which the UN works to prevent the abuse, exploitation, and neglect of children via the creation and implementation of resolutions and campaigns specific to youth. The presentation will also describe IFCW's involvement in the UN, what we have been able to accomplish, and where we are heading.

The project was a BC study designed to examine what happens to youth following their exit from foster care at age 19. The overall goal was to better understand the processes, supports and resources that make a positive difference to youth and that help to lead to successful transitions from care. In this presentation, we will share findings regarding the developmental trajectories of our study participants following their ‘ageing out’ of care, particularly in relation to social/family relationships, physical and mental health, involvement with the legal system, education and employment. Discussion will highlight the factors that support youth during this transition, in order to promote evidence-based practice, program and policy development.

This presentation will share findings from the research into outcomes for young people who have left state care and the long term economic costs to the state of not providing adequate support to young people who transition from state care into adult lives. The presentation will also briefly describe the wrap-around model of leaving care support services developed by this research based on input from young people, identify the costs of providing these wrap-around services and discuss some of the critical elements of such a service model.

The emergence of marijuana grow-operations in British Columbia over the past decade has resulted in multiple responses by the systems impacted by this phenomenon. Of concern to child welfare practitioners are the children living in these hazardous and often toxic environments. What are the risks, how are we responding, and is it working? This presentation will examine the problems marijuana grow-ops present for child welfare systems and look for strategies to enhance our approach to this 21st century problem.

DECA was proclaimed to come into effect on November 1, 2006. It clearly identifies that children exposed to situations where drugs are being made and sold are victims of abuse. The approach to protection of children in these situations is meant to be multi-disciplinary and to that end, protocols are being established among health professionals, police and child welfare case workers. The relationship between DECA and the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act will be explained.

Family group conferencing (FGC) is an approach to resolving child welfare issues that is particularly appropriate within Aboriginal communities. In our conference presentation, we will explain how the FGC approach is applied within a First Nations agency context; summarize the findings of the research project comparing the two approaches; indicate how FGC may need to be adapted in this context, and explain the implications of making more widespread use of the FGC approach, including its implications for professionals working in the field and the education of students in social work and related fields.

The paper will address the need for a paradigm shift in our approach to child welfare and youth justice issues. It is intended to serve as a basis for discussion and knowledge transfer among all key stakeholders in child welfare and youth justice systems. Included is an international overview of progressive court alternative approaches based on New Zealand’s Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act in child welfare; detailed examples of specific programs and outcomes; and theoretical differences between traditional state intervention approaches and approaches modelled on the New Zealand approach in child welfare and youth justice.

Vancouver Island has done a one-year longitudinal study of the outcomes for 45 children in 24 families that were the subjects of a child protection report. These 45 children will be profiled including gender, cultural background, age, family composition and presenting risk issues. The resultant family plans created by the children's family circle at their individual Family Group Conferences were analyzed for successful outcomes including further child protection reports received, continuation of the planned placement and continuance of planned supports for the child/children and other output measures.

We will provide a brief overview of the family group decision making process. The FGDM process is grounded in the values of sharing decision making power and the honouring of knowledge families bring to the process. This presentation will explore some of the challenges and opportunities that this process provides to the work of child protection through the use of experiential interviewing. Our intent is to create an opportunity for learning through the exploration of different perspectives & insights that participants have gained from the FGDM process.

This presentation has been cancelled

The presentation will review of the challenges and successes of the BC Interior Region Supervision Group (IRSG), explaining how it developed supervision guidelines based on a range of current international models; planned and hosted two successful forums for supervisors dedicated to the development of effective supervision; created a regional training plan, including the drafting of a facilitators guide and enlisting an in-house regional training team; and engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the region’s supervisors, consultants and managers. Following the presentation will be an interactive workshop to explore the basis and benefits of effective supervision.

Children who witness family violence as a form of maltreatment are at risk for a wide range of internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems as well as being at higher risk of perpetrating violence in their adult relationships. While behaviours including violence and aggression, criminal charges, school breakdown, home/foster home breakdown, drug and alcohol abuse are commonly reported, the experience of witnessing domestic violence has rarely been described as a primary or even secondary presenting concern when these youth are referred for treatment. The central idea of the Habitat Program treatment model is to adapt and utilize interventions developed from services for adult batterers. The program also addresses behavioural issues and simultaneously works with the boys and their families to resolve the underlying domestic violence and abuse trauma.

Children in violent households are at increased risk of physical abuse and often experience heightened levels of depression, anxiety and aggression. Some child welfare experts are considering whether to treat exposure to domestic violence as child maltreatment and to require that such exposure be reported to and investigated by child welfare authorities. Some domestic violence experts have criticized this approach as unnecessary and counterproductive. This presentation reviews what U.S. states have done, summarizes the arguments for and against this new and controversial strategy, briefly reviews some alternative policy approaches to the problem, and identifies some key issues for child welfare organizations.

Using a participatory action framework, 70 participants from various service sectors and child welfare service recipients from a large urban centre in Canada, were interviewed individually and in focus groups about legislation impact in cases of children exposed to domestic violence (DV). Through this policy evaluation the study data revealed intended and unintended consequences suggesting both negative and positive outcomes for families affected by DV. The urgency and necessity of assessing impacts and on-going evaluation of child welfare policies are discussed.

For two decades, the Acholi people of Northern Uganda have been caught in a civil war between a rebel group whose main objective is inhumane terror and a government whose military response has often increased misery and suffering. Over one and a half million people have been displaced into camps and over 25,000 children have been abducted to be used as soldiers and sex slaves. And yet through it all, every day across Acholi-land something remarkable happens. Against a backdrop of dismal statistics, miniscule opportunity and unpredictable terror, in a part of Uganda forgotten by the world, children who have never known peace, face the day as if to live this way is normal, as if they still believe in the future. These children are the embodiment of resilience and hope. This film is the story of Uganda, her stolen children, and the fight to be free. There will be a panel discussion following the film with the producers of Uganda Rising.

The Broadway Youth Resource Centre (BYRC) is a partnership with over 8 non-profit societies and three levels of government to deliver integrated youth social services. In addition to traditional social services (medical clinic, schooling and counselling), the centre offers walk-in services with free supported access to computers for job and housing searches, access to nutrition, arts and culture based programming, and an art gallery to showcase up-and-coming young artists. The presentation will describe the engagement strategy used to fully involve youth and partner agencies in the development and maintanence of the centre.

Eagle Moon Lodge is a residential treatment program that targets substance abuse for aboriginal youth and their families. Guiding principles are based on aboriginal teachings, best practices for treatment of substance abuse, and resiliency principles practised by the agency as a whole. A key aspect is the leadership of elders and First Nations staff members and uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators of good outcomes to evaluate and improve service delivery.

This workshop provides an overview of a current research project at the School of Child and Youth Care, UVIC. It focuses on the practice challenges of working with families mandated to receive services. During this initial phase of the research we are asking practitioners to describe how they work with these families, including the skills, values, professional orientations, and contextual influences that help and hinder the work. We hope to illuminate some of the values, knowledge, skills, and cultural resources that practitioners use to explain their choices and actions. This workshop will be of particular relevance to those who provide direct service to children and families. Opportunities for discussion will be provided in this interactive workshop. Note: this workshop is limited to 30 participants.

Kitkatla is a small first nation community, a short boat ride from Prince Rupert in northwest British Columbia. A number of the children from this community are currently in the permanent care of the province. Funding was provided to First Nations communities to allow them to host cultural camps to allow children to return to their community for a day. This film documents the visit of nineteen children, along with social workers and foster parents, to Kitkatla for a day in August, 2005. The children came from around the province; fifteen had never set foot on their traditional territory. Two brothers had never met their half sibling. One brother had no seen his sister and brother in eight years. Twelve children were not aware that they had any relatives living in Kitkatla. For two children, the impact of this day has the potential to be life changing. A relative has come forward and the ministry is in the process of assessing whether a permanent return home will be possible for them in the near future.

Vancouver Coastal Region began implementing Family Development Response (FDR), also referred to as “differential response” or “alternative response”, as an approach that allows child protective services to respond differently to accepted reports of child abuse and neglect. This workshop will provide a framework for managing risk in the community by presenting the experience of a family that has participated in this innovative use of strength based and solution focused alternatives to traditional child protection investigations. This family was reported to the ministry because of a domestic violence incident that had impacted the children. The workshop will walk the participants through the family’s experiences with a Vancouver FDR team from the initial child protection report to the closure of the case. The key points in the case will be examined including assessment, goal setting and case closure.

There is growing evidence that with innovative practices the impacts of mental illness on parenting can be reduced. Ulysses Agreements, specialized groups for parents and kids, all represent hopeful strategies for these families. A model for community development and education on which these strategies are built was implemented and tested in 10 BC cmmunities. Participants can expect to learn about the efforts in BC to improve policy, programs and practices for families affected by parental mental illness; learn about the Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness one-day education and community development forum process; learn about the research project and; learn about the implications for practice, in particular for integrated and advanced planning strategies and for community development.

Wood's Homes is a large, multi-service non-profit that provides a wide variety of services to young people and their families. Eleven different residential programs are offered for young people (ages 7-18) with very serious troubles. In 2003, Wood's Homes decided to discontinue restraint as a technique for controlling aggressive behaviour in all of these programs. This presentation will describe the processes involved in making a huge organizational shift; the results - qualitatively and quantitatively (compared with pre statistics); examples of strategies used for training, encouraging, reviewing and reinforcing change; lessons learned and; plans for the future.

The presentation will highlight best-practices and evidenced-based research on the process of reducing the use of restraint and seclusion in residential treatment centers for children and adolescence. Guided by trauma-sensitive care principles, Child Welfare League of America recommendations, current research findings and the success of other residential treatment centers’ efforts, the presentation will synthesize the most recent information on reducing restraint and seclusion in the treatment of children and adolescents. The application of this information to Ranch Ehrlo Society’s attempt to reduce restraint in their treatment facility will also be discussed.

The session would examine the evolutionary legislative, policy and practice environments in Alberta that are building toward an improved coordinated and collaborative community response to children exposed to domestic violence. Alberta’s Cross Ministry Strategy for the Prevention of Family Violence and Bullying, the learning from the World Conference on Prevention of Family Violence 2005, the recent data from the Canadian Incidence Study on Child Maltreatment and Neglect-2003 and the regional partnerships developed by the Child and Family Services Authorities and First Nation Delegated Agencies in Alberta has allowed Alberta to examine family violence, and its impacts on children, from multi-sectoral practice and evidence based perspectives. This session will include descriptions of some practical strategies that have been put in place through legislation, policy and practice to help community partners in their efforts to improve the response to children exposed to domestic violence.

Global trafficking in humans is now reported to be the third most lucrative source of income for organized crime, following guns and drug smuggling. Most trafficked persons are women and young girls, and Canada is not immune. This country has been identified as both a transit and destination point. In 1999, the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development created the Migrant Services Program in response to the arrival of 134 trafficked children and youth in dilapidated boats off BC's coast. Over the ensuing years, the program has provided care, guardianship services, access to legal counsel, and other forms of assistance to over 300 unaccompanied minors from a wide range of countries. This presentation will provide an in-depth look at this unique service.

This presentation is based on Jaqueline McAdam-Crisp's PhD research on the effects of war on children in zones of conflict in Africa. The study utilizes the retrospective narratives of nine young adults, who were children in the face of conflict in Africa, and examines the factors that enhanced coping and adaptation. Drawing upon theories of resilience, policies, and practices that can address the needs of this population in Canada and abroad are proposed

In this interactive session about engaging and involving at-risk / high-risk young people in meaningful ways, participants will watch a short video about the roles supportive adults can play and learn helpful tips about recruiting, supporting and assisting young people to participate in a variety of initiatives and at various levels of decision-making.

In this presentation, members of an Aboriginal research team discuss key findings from a participatory community-based research study entitled NONG SILA: Working from Community Knowledge: Developing Urban Aboriginal Adoption Strategies. The study drew on community consultations to identify systemic, structural and policy gaps, with the goal of building culturally-appropriate capacity for supporting urban Aboriginal children and caregivers. Although off-reserve urban Aboriginal children are drastically over-represented in the foster care and adoption system, there is a dearth of research addressing their specific needs and experiences with off-reserve urban social services. Our research team will present an emerging model for understanding the ethical complexity of service provision in urban contexts, where delegated agencies must work within and across multiple and sometimes competing policy and institutional mandates, cultural traditions related to caregiving, fostering and adoptions, as well as Aboriginal territories and jurisdictions.

2. Estelle Simard / Weechi-It-Te-Win Family Services / Promising Practices in First Nations Child Welfare Management and Governance- Designing a Community Governed Aboriginal Child Welfare System

3. Kate Langen / Ranch Ehrlo Society / Ranch Ehrlo Society: Celebrating 40 years of Excellence in Residential Care and Treatment

4. Lise Beauchesne / School of Social Work, UBC Okanagan / ?I Can Still Be A Mom?: A Model for Practice Involving Parents with Intellectual Disabilities

5. Marie-Franc Blais / Institut de recherche pour le d?loppement social des jeunes / Predicting Length of Intervention and Measuring Relational Discontinuity in Service Delivery: Two Fruitful Analysis of Administrative Data Sets

6. Michael Egilson / Child and Youth Office for BC / Linking Government Data to Describe Outcomes for Children and Youth in Care

7. Muhammad Wasim / AMAL / Identifying Challenges and Advantages of Peer Educational in STIs and HIV Prevention Education with High Risk Youth in Pakistan

8. Nawaf Al-Maskati / Bahrain Child Society / Children?s Empowering in the Society

9. Ramklass Niresh / Cape Town Child Welfare / Evidence-based Responses to a National Crisis: Cape Town Child Welfare and Children Orphaned by AIDS

11. Sara Kendall / Society for Children and Youth of BC / A People?s Project: Engaging Youth in Rights-Based Monitoring

12. Victor J. Gladish / School District #33, Chilliwack / Integrated Case Management: What Helps and What Hinders: The Parent Perspective

13. Jacqueline Marshall/BC Ministry of Children and Family Development/ Raising Relatives Children: A Handbook for Care Providers

In many countries, Hepatitis, HIV / AIDS and other sexual health problems are reaching epidemic levels. These diseases are affecting families and forcing many children and youth into the child welfare system. In addition, poor connectedness to family and community and low self-esteem make young people involved in the child welfare system particularly vulnerable to being sexually exploited. In this session, participants will discuss sexual health issues, discrimination and resources for protecting young people from sexual exploitation.

The picking of coffee beans for industrial processing is a once-a-year opportunity and labour-intensive activity that requires large numbers of rural workers, including children, to earn cash income. It becomes a prioritary activity, often in detriment of school attendance and health needs. The project Erradication of Child Labor in Coffee Plantantions aims at creating awareness among these actors of the need to protect children.

A new wave of child exploitation and abuse has emerged in Nigeria, designated in this study as “househelpism.” It is the practice of giving out young children of socio-economically disadvantaged rural relatives or non relatives, to live with well-to-do working individuals/family members in towns and cities as domestic servants or house helps. What is noticeably new with the practice are the physical, economic, social and emotional exploitation and abuse that those children suffer. The study employed group and confidential interview and questionnaire techniques to investigate the phenomenon of househelpism and the problems and challenges the phenomenon is creating in the society. The study suggests behavioural, socio-economic, and legislative ways of dealing with the syndrome in Nigeria and other developing societies.

Sharon is an aboriginal mother who has been involved with the child welfare system since the birth of her first child. Some of her children are in care and some are at home with her. Sharon participated in mediation instead of going to court in 2005. This experience profoundly changed her life and she now talks about 'having the whole world in my hands'. This presentation will include interviews with Sharon, all the lawyers involved and MCFD staff about their experience at Sharon's mediation. The taped interviews will place Sharon's voice and experience at the centre of the mediation process. Sharon will explain how she experienced mediation and what she learned from this process. The interview includes messages from Sharon to social workers and other families involved child protection court processes. The presentation will include an introduction to the Vancouver\Coastal mediation project, a video tape of Sharon's storey and time for questions and answers.

The adoption of Aboriginal Children by non-Aboriginal families continues to be a highly contentious issue within child welfare. This interactive presentation will offer an innovative-learning approach that tells the story of one such adoption of an Aboriginal child by a non-aboriginal family and the process of an informal openness agreement; discusses how to develop collaborative relationships that encourage open communication, mutual respect and equity among adoption partners; promotes permanency and aboriginal-racial literacy through “adoption orders and openness agreements” as proposed by the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services and amended through Bill 210; examines this legislative amendment, and the implications of its implementation; demonstrates the importance of working together towards improved outcomes for adopted Aboriginal children and their non-Aboriginal adoptive families.

The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect is the second nation-wide study to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and characteristics of the children and families investigated by Canadian child welfare services. In all jurisdictions, excluding Quebec, child welfare workers completed a three-page standardized data collection form; in Quebec information was extracted directly from an administrative information system. The rate of substantiated maltreatment in Canada, excluding of Quebec, has increased 125%, from 9.64 substantiated cases per thousand children in 1998 to 21.71 in 2003. This increase in documented maltreatment may be explained by improved and expanded reporting and investigation procedures such as (1) changes in case substantiation practices, (2) more systematic identification of victimized siblings, and (3) greater awareness of emotional maltreatment and exposure to domestic violence.

We can observe that the risk factors of the maltreatment are similar to those of the youth violence outside of family context. But their relations appear to be different. We notice that the negligence is more frequent than the physical abuse affected by alcoholism and drug addiction in family. The analysis concerning the various forms of maltreatment and the maintained services led to a reflection on the relative gravity of the various forms of maltreatment. The seriousness of the negligence led to a theoretical reflection on relative seriousness of the different forms of maltreatments in family. And empirical observations of the frequency of the negligence comparatively to the physical abuse confirm this reflection.

Disclosure, purposeful or accidental, is a critical component in secondary prevention to decrease associated negative long-term consequences of child maltreatment. The process of disclosure and the critical factors that influence and impede disclosure in childhood are still under empirical debate and speculation. Particularly noteworthy in its absence is any theoretical or empirical literature examining disclosure for physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, or exposure to domestic violence among adolescents. This exploratory study examining the disclosure process and the barriers and facilitators of disclosure among male and female adolescents with documented histories of multiple forms of victimization.

Incorporating the perspectives of child protective service recipients is one piece of data that is critical for assessing the match with service provider information, as well as long-term outcomes for clients. The Maltreatment and Adolescent Pathways (MAP) Project is unique in that youth are randomly selected from the active caseload of an urban child welfare area, and are invited to participate in a multiple assessment study on their health risk behaviours that spans a period of 2 years. The MAP study allows for a comparison of worker information to youth self-reported information on lifetime maltreatment experiences, global functioning, mental health, substance use, and risky sexual practices.

The B.C. Child Protection Mediation (CPM) Program was developed through a partnership between the Ministries of Children and Family Development and the Attorney General. Early legislative provisions, pilots in two communities, and an evaluation demonstrating the successful use of mediation in child protection, all formed the foundation. To be successful, CPM promotion and education must be community-based. In addition, an increasing supply of mediators must keep pace with referrals and be trained in a child protection specialty. A panel will address questions and discuss the elements of the CPM Program.

Systems youths are brought into a resource-depleted system that in many ways is not able to offer adequate supports such as counselling and treatment. Some youths lash out; their reactive behaviours may lead to chemical restraints and/or pharmaceuticals being used. By investing time and resources into the examination of pharmaceutical and chemical management strategies and their impacts on systems youth, we can explore the various ways in which these strategies unfold, how the young people respond and the implications of this punitive response on the young person, both immediately and in the long term. We can also explore how workers across systems perceive this phenomenon, what they feel to be barriers in assisting youths under their care, and how to better the system so it is less punitive and exclusionary.

At-risk young people living in the system live a ‘documented life’. Their identity, memories and history is authored by a long list of professionals, all kept in a series of confidential binders which for many, become the sum total of the narrative of their childhood and formative years. Reclaiming Our Stories will involve peer education and awareness to help at-risk youth take control of the care and quality of their lives. This workshop will focus on talking about the themes of living in the system, the power of reclaiming and documenting one’s story in terms of personal emotional healing and in terms of community enhancement, the process for sharing your story safely and confidently in your own way, and how sharing these stories can improve the lives of youth.

The growing number of street children in the urban cities has been a consequence of migration. Beyond poverty, the breakdown of traditional family values contributed in the persistence of the phenomena. This study examines the characteristics of street children (10-17 years of age), their reasons for living in the street and their identity claims that explained their continuous coping and survival in the streets. This study likewise brings into focus the challenge for policy makers on how to address the plight of street children who are fast becoming a significant element of the urban landscape.

Relational approaches to practice emphasize a shift from a focus on individuals to a focus on individulas in relation to others and the contexts within which they are embedded. In concert with these approaches, relational or contextual ethics draws attention to both these relations and to practitioners or service providers as relational moral agents. This presentation will use the examples of family violence and culture to demonstrate how a relational approach can assist us to bring our espoused values closer to our enacted values in promoting health and wellbeing.

How does a social worker reconcile the sometimes competing interests of their employer with their ethical obligation(s) to their clients and colleagues? The narratives of workers are chronicled regarding their efforts to resolve this role conflict. Focus groups and key informant interviews are being conducted with particular emphasis placed on the potential of a professional association to serve as a vehicle for advocacy of the interests of child protection employees. Specific areas of agreement and dissonance between the literature and the experiences of child protection workers are explored.

In Northern BC, Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) has devoted considerable time to the development of the Whu'Neeh Nee' (Guiders of Our People) Family Dispute Resolution Model, which through Carrier governing systems aims to return to principles of collective responsibility and mutual obligation by facilitating a consensual, child-focused process for family dispute resolution. This presentation will describe how the community-based processes of the Whu'Neeh Nee' Family Dispute Resolution Model and the province-wide Child Protection Mediation Practicum have partnered in order to create a model developed to serve the Carrier community. Attendees will hear from one or more participants in the initial training program about their personal experiences.

In Saskatchewan, child welfare is provided by the Department of Community Resources off reserve and First Nations Child and Family Service Agencies on reserve. The mutual objective is improving the delivery and quality of child and family services. The members work together in the spirit of partnership, with mutual recognition and respect, towards an objective of developing knowledge and skills of staff to deliver child welfare services which meet the mandate of the Child and Family Services Act; working towards achievement of best practice as defined by the provincial government and individual First Nations agencies. As part of that objective, revision and enhancement of the training curriculum has occurred, as appropriate, to reflect First Nations values, beliefs and customs.

This presentation highlights an approach adopted by West Region Child and Family Services, a First Nations child welfare agency. In 1992, the agency entered into a flexible funding arrangement which allowed it to use surpluses from its child maintenance grant on an ongoing basis for alternative programs, if the needs of children requiring out of home placement were adequately met. By 2004, approximately 40% of the agency's child maintenance budget was being allocated to community-based initiatives focusing on family support, resource development and prevention. Results suggest that quality child protection service consistent with Aboriginal values and principles can be combined with new initiatives that prevent out of home care and promote child, family and community well-being.

The primary objective of this collaborative study is to determine the level of exposure, knowledge and experience of health care professionals regarding Internet facilitated child sexual exploitation. Three main areas comprise its focus: 1) incidence and prevalence rates; 2) prevention, education and awareness; and, 3) strategies of response. Discussion will be based on findings of a survey of health care providers regarding their needs and experiences in the area of Internet facilitated child sexual exploitation. Future areas of research as well as suggestions for increased integration of law enforcement and health care professionals will also be presented.

All young people in care eventually exit the child welfare system. Some graduate to the adult welfare system and some end up on the streets but there are also young people who leave the child welfare system and become healthy and successful in life. In this session, participants will discuss strategies and learn about tools and resources for increasing their chances of becoming healthy and successful after care.

Provincial After Hours social workers provide legislated and mandated services for children and families in British Columbia when local ministry offices are closed. Services provided include: child welfare services, family support, support to foster parents and children in care, the 24 hour Helpline for Children telephone service, emergency services for community living clients and emergency income assistance. Car 86, a collaborative program between Vancouver City Police and the MCFD After Hours Program, is staffed by a police officer and social worker, who respond to child protection emergencies in the Greater Vancouver area.

This site visit includes a Trolley ride from the Hotel Vancouver to Vancouver After Hours for presentations and gourmet pizza with After Hours and Car 86 staff, followed by a trolley ride to La Casa Gelato (www.lacasagelato.com ) and returning to the Hotel Vancouver.

Sunshine Coast Community Services (www.sccss.ca )provides a wide variety of services to Sunshine Coast residents, from Port Mellon up to Earls Cove. Programs have been developed through consultation with community members to identify service needs. Services are provided to new parents, families in crisis, children with special needs, and women and children who have experienced abuse, by committed citizens who want to make a difference in their community.

This site visit includes return transportation from the Hotel Vancouver to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry (www.bcferries.com ), where participants will take a ferry to Langdale and be met by Sunshine Coast Community Services staff. Participants will then be taken on a bus tour of the Sunshine Coast communities of Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Davis Bay, and Sechelt to visit the facilities and the programs provided in those communities. Lunch is included.

This is an opportunity to visit Aboriginal organizations and service providers in and around the Vancouver area and Fraser Valley. These sites have a focus that includes providing a range of services extending beyond commonly thought of services for children and families, and bridges them with culture and traditions. Many of the sites offer opportunities for the community to gather, practice and learn about Aboriginal culture and traditions through activities such as traditional singing, dancing, and even drum-making or carving. A large focus encompasses health and wellness, which can be specific to males, females, entire families, or even encouraging this amongst staff. As is customary with Coast Salish events and gatherings, a meal will also be shared with participants during their visit. (www.fraa.ca )

Langley Family Services (www.langleyfamilyservices.org ) first opened its door in November of 1971with 25 volunteer coordinators who provided information and referrals. Their programs consist of: outreach family support, family place, harvest box, counselling for families referred by MCFD, supervised access, Alcohol and Drug counselling, Volunteer Community Counselling, Immigrant and Multicultural Services and Child Care Resource and Referral program. Langley Family Services respects the uniqueness of family experiences and are committed to work with individuals and families to build on their strengths and abilities.

This site visit includes a bus tour from the Hotel Vancouver to Langley Family Services for a tour of the old site, reconstruction on the new site (which was originally lost to a fire in June 2004), and then proceed to the temporary building where most of the programs are located. Following the tour, participants will transported to the Domaine de Chaberton Winery (www.domainedechaberton.com ) for a tour and gourmet lunch, then to the Glenugie Winery (www.glenugiewinery.com ) for a tour and tasting, and back to the Hotel Vancouver.

CISC (www.jibc.bc.ca/cisc ) is a unique, simulation training centre established to meet the growing training needs related to critical incident management, crisis decision-making, and public safety. CISC is wholly dedicated to simulation training; it represents the next generation of educational technology-based learning. Learning is at its best when it is goal-oriented, contextual, interesting, challenging, interactive, and immersive? CISC is all of this and more!

CISC?s aim is to be the centre of excellence for simulation training in Canada and North America. By bringing critical incident decision-making to life through realistic, immersive learning, and by acting as a learning bridge between the classroom and the workplace, CISC is able to improve individual performance and public safety during real life critical incidents. One of the latest projects in development is a technology-based simulation requiring multi-agency responses to a child welfare incident.

This site visit includes transportation from the Hotel Vancouver to the Critical Incident Simulation Centre at the Justice Institute for a presentation, followed by lunch on site, and return transportation to the Hotel Vancouver.

This site visit includes a bus tour to the School of Social Work at the University of British Columbia (www.swfs.ubc.ca ) for a presentation, followed by a visit to the UBC Museum of Anthropology (www.moa.ubc.ca ). Canada?s largest teaching museum is located in a spectacular building overlooking mountains and sea ? its collections, exhibitions and programs renowned for giving access and insight into the cultures of indigenous peoples around the world. The Museum houses some 535,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects, many of which originate from the Northwest Coast of British Columbia. Massive totem poles, carved boxes, bowls, and feast dishes are featured in the Museum?s Great Hall, while smaller (but no less magnificent) pieces in gold, silver, argillite, wood, ceramic, and other materials are exhibited elsewhere in the galleries. Lunch included at UBC.

The Broadway Youth Resource Centre (BYRC) and Surrey Youth Resource Centre (SYRC) are multi-agency organizations in which several social service agencies, a university, a college and three levels of government work together at the grassroots level to provide a seamless continuum of integrated community-based social, educational and health services to at-risk youth aged 12 to 24. These one stop shops provide youth with access to a myriad of free services including employment, education, counselling, medical services and housing support and information. Computers, phones, fax machines, workshops, arts, music, theatre, activities, special events, celebrations, cultural activities, food and refreshments and a variety of other supports, services and referral opportunities are also available. BYRC and SYRC youth are ethno-culturally diverse and more than 50 percent are of Aboriginal ancestry. (www.pcrs.ca/Content/Program%20Pages/Programs%20Home.asp#Youth )

World Forum 2006 visitors will be transported from the Hotel Vancouver to BYRC and NYRC, where they will be met and welcomed by youth who will provide them with a tour of the sites. The youth will speak to the impact BYRC and NYRC services have had on their lives. Visitors will receive some light refreshments and be able to observe a youth performance.

Covenant House Vancouver (www.covenanthousebc.org )is a crisis centre for homeless and runaway youth aged 16 – 24. It is the most recent branch of Covenant House International which has 20 sites in 6 countries. Covenant House provides essential services such as a 22-bed crisis shelter, street outreach and a daily drop-in program. Our most recently launched program, Rights of Passage (ROP) is a transitional living program where kids who are either working and/or in school can live for 6 – 24 months, supported by a 24 hr staff presence and each other.

In addition to food, shelter and clothing, Covenant House also provides counselling, medical and social service referrals, life-skills training, educational-vocational preparation and an addictions management program. Our doors are open 24 hours a day and outreach workers hit the streets four mornings and evenings/week to make contact with youth. In many cases, Covenant House will be a young person’s first positive step in the search for a healthy, happy life.

This site visit includes transportation from the Hotel Vancouver to Covenant House Vancouver for a presentation and tour of the facility. Participants will then be transported back to the Hotel Vancouver.