Background • Who We Are • Visions & Goals
Reconciliation in child welfare is a North American movement, committed to developing a better child welfare system for Indigenous children, youth, and families.
To begin a process of reconciliation between the mainstream child welfare field and the Indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada, it is necessary to engage in dialogue. This dialogue must be characterized by respect, understanding, inclusion and truth.
This section describes the background and history of the reconciliation movement, the people and organizations who have launched it, and the vision and goals of a better child welfare system for Indigenous peoples.
It is expected that the path to reconciliation in child welfare will:
Acknowledge the mistakes of the past, and establish a child welfare profession based on non-discriminatory values, social justice, and fundamental human rights;
Set a foundation of open communication that affirms and supports Indigenous families and communities as the best caregivers for Indigenous children and youth;
Respect the intrinsic right of Indigenous children, youth, and families to define their own cultural identity;
Improve the quality of, and access to, services for all children, youth, and families to free the potential of each person;
Build a united and mutually respectful system of child welfare capable of responding to the needs of all children and youth;
Strengthen the ability of the child welfare profession to learn, ensuring past mistakes do not become tomorrow's destiny.