Research summary
In 2019, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found that the Canadian government had discriminated against Indigenous children on reserves by failing to provide funding for child and family services. This decision came on the heels of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s numerous recommendations to protect the rights, health and welfare of Indigenous children. As Canada Research Chair in First Nations Child and Family Services Implementation, Dr. Cindy Blackstock is analyzing recommendations related to structural drivers that disadvantage First Nations children and families and developing tools to implement them.
She and her research team are evaluating interventions to support the implementation of evidence-informed, decolonized and culturally appropriate services for First Nations children and families. Their aim is to support First Nations children and families, and those who provide services to them, by conducting community-based evaluations of policies and actions aimed at addressing the root causes of ongoing social issues (structural driver interventions).