A fork in the road: redefining and counting the well-being of Indigenous children in foster care

Abstract

In child protection, indicators for children in care typically describe the reasons for coming into care, length of time in care, racial identity and whether specific bureaucratic milestones have been reached. This approach serves administrative decision-making and not the needs of Indigenous children. We propose different criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of foster care for Indigenous children that considers their well-being within Indigenous frameworks of family, economic, social and cultural relations. We see this criteria as what counts. This places Indigenous foster care within a model of Indigenous strengths/assets rather than within the current deficit framework.