Enfants à protéger, des parents à aider : deux univers à rapprocher

Chapitre 14_Evaluating the family group conferencing approach in a first nations context: Some initial findings

C H A P I T R E 14 EVALUATING THE FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCING APPROACH IN A FIRST NATIONS CONTEXT Some Initial Findings Joan Glode Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services Fred Wien Professor, School of Social Work, Dalhousie University1 1. We acknowledge the contribution of other members of our research team. They include Kevin MacDougall, at the time, Supervisor, Protection Services and Susan Cameron, Protection Worker, who had early experience with family group conferencing and who became mentors for the research team. The latter also included the Director of Child Welfare, Arlene Johnson, Supervisors Lesley McKee and Donald Gloade, and Social Workers Sandy MacIntosh, Ann Sylliboy, Lenora Paul and Leeann Higgins. These individuals in turn became mentors for other staff as well as research assistants, scribes, interviewers , storytellers, supporters and advocates for family group conferencing. Their participation was invaluable. 264 DES ENFANTS À PROTÉGER – DES PARENTS À AIDER ABSTRACT Family group conferencing is an approach to dealing with child welfare cases that is attractive to First Nations because it seems to be more congruent with Aboriginal cultures. In Nova Scotia, Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services has begun to apply this approach on a trial basis. We describe a research project which uses qualitative methodology to compare the experience of Mi’kmaq families and communities with the family group conferencing approach on the one hand (14 cases) and the mainstream provincial approach on the other (also 14 cases). In early results, we have been impressed by the level of interest and appreciation for this approach, including its cultural elements. Family group conferencing encourages the agency to have a broader view of who its clients are and to see this intervention as part of a larger process that begins when a particular situation first comes to the attention of the agency. It also supports a more holistic approach to addressing the issues faced by client families because it brings together at the same table persons who can contribute a variety of perspectives and supports. It is less oppositional in nature, and requires a different orientation and role on the part of professional staff. Most importantly, it encourages Mi’kmaq families and communities to regain control over the welfare of their children. RÉSUMÉ Les Premières Nations trouvent prometteuse l’approche qui, dans le cadre de l’intervention pour le bien-être des enfants, consiste à organiser des rencontres de groupe pour familles, car elle semble mieux coïncider avec les cultures autochtones. En Nouvelle-Écosse, les Services aux familles et aux enfants micmacs ont commencé à mettre cette approche en pratique dans le but de l’éprouver. Nous décrivons un projet de recherche qui emploie une méthodologie qualitative pour comparer, d’une part, l’expérience des familles et des communautés micmaques avec l’approche des rencontres de groupes pour famille (14 cas), et, d’autre part, leur expérience avec l’approche habituelle de la province (14 cas aussi). Les premiers résultats nous ont impressionnés, car ils ont permis de révéler l’intérêt et l’appréciation que suscite cette approche et ses composantes culturelles. Les rencontres de groupe pour familles encouragent l’agence à mieux connaître ses clients, et à percevoir cette intervention comme faisant partie d’un processus plus important qui se met en œuvre dès l’instant où une situation particulière retient l’attention de l’agence. Pour traiter les problèmes auxquels doivent faire face les familles clientes, une approche plus holistique est ainsi favorisée, car elle rassemble autour d’une même table les personnes qui seront à même de partager des perspectives variées et d’apporter du soutien. Par nature, cette approche est EVALUATING THE FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCING APPROACH IN A FIRST NATIONS CONTEXT 265 moins oppositionnelle et requiert de la part du personnel professionnel une orientation et un rôle différent. Mieux encore, elle encourage les familles et les communautés micmaques à reprendre en main le bien-être de leurs enfants. 1. THE CONTEXT Historically, First Nations were autonomous, self-governing entities who organized their affairs in the context of family, community and nation. Self-determination continued in the early decades after the arrival of European and American settlers, but it became compromised gradually in three major respects. First, the undermining of traditional economies and the ravages of disease and hunger led to social disorganization...