Category: Uncategorized

biwitched:

In the leftist communities we talk about alternatives to police a lot but something often forgotten and just as important is alternatives to child welfare services.

Children’s safety and well-being is so important (obviously) and so it’s vital to have access to services in cases of abuse or neglect. However, so often these services destroy families rather than providing support to get them on track (like removing children from loving families because parents can’t afford food instead of providing financial aid or food), place children in unsafe environments (abuse in the foster system is rampant), remove them from their community, and further traumatize kids who need help.

For people of colour, and especially in Canada, First Nations folks, children’s welfare agencies have been long a tool of colonization and assimilation.

I’m not really sure what would be good alternatives. I suppose community counselling and parenting classes, support networks for overwhelmed parents, designated carers in the community who can step in when needed. Idk

I just think it’s a conversation we’ve got to start having. You better believe removal and apprehension of children has and will be used as a tool against political dissension and against resistance.