National Child Welfare Outcome Indicator Matrix - 1999

Child welfare practice is at a turning point in Canada. Inquests and media interest have drawn public attention to the plight of maltreated children. With this increased attention there is a risk that the complexity inherent in helping maltreated children and their families may not be fully recognized. The proposed multi-dimensional ecological framework reflects the complex balance child welfare service providers seek to maintain between a child’s immediate need for protection, a child’s long-term needs for a nurturing and stable home, the family’s potential for growth and the community’s capacity to meet a child’s needs.