Tue 26 Jul 2022

Request for Expressions of Interest - GBA+

Posted by mbcstaff

MBC’s project plan includes a needs assessment to identify/clarify main barriers, needs and priorities in delivering client services.  This needs assessment must include a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) analyzing the diverse and intersectional needs of populations to be served, impacts the project will have on these groups, and key considerations for the development and implementation of project activities.

Background

This project seeks to address the need for process information and guidance amongst families engaged in child protection matters in BC in order to make informed decisions regarding effective use of collaborative decision-making processes. The project has two parts: (i) development of written and video resources, and (ii) process navigation services for families and professionals seeking to better understand collaborative process options.

There are over 6,000 BC children in care. Families engaged in child protection matters experience traumatic and disempowering encounters with the legal system. The removal (or threat of removal) of children and youth from families creates an overwhelming power imbalance.

The child welfare system poses even greater potential for trauma and disempowerment where racialized families are concerned. Indigenous families are both grossly over-represented in and disproportionately impacted by interactions with social workers and the legal system as a result of historic abuses specifically affecting children (including residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and continuing removals and placements outside communities). 

Immigrant and refugee families may also be disproportionately impacted by interactions with the child protection system due to lack of process knowledge, difficulty accessing support and advice due to language and cultural barriers, and cultural biases held by individual justice system actors and embedded in Canadian child protection systems. 

Families engaged in the child protection system are often better served when they engage in Collaborative Decision-Making (CDM) processes, including mediation. Such processes are designed specifically to increase active participation and voice in decision-making at all stages of child protection. While the inherent power imbalance between government authorities and individuals cannot be removed, studies have demonstrated that CDM processes give families greater voice in decision-making, improve relationships with social workers making ongoing planning more effective, and can lead to better outcomes. 

However, lack of CDM process information reduces families’ ability to make requests for services like mediation which can reduce the impacts of power imbalances or for traditional decision-making processes which may be culturally appropriate and empowering. 

As Indigenous governing bodies in BC take on jurisdiction for children and family services under An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, the range of potential CDM processes and their interactions with legal processes will expand for Indigenous families. Inevitably, even greater gaps in information and advice regarding process selection will arise. 

Researcher Qualifications

• Experience in Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+)
• Knowledge/understanding of child welfare
• Knowledge and understanding of the historic and ongoing legacies of colonization especially in the child welfare context
• Demonstrated ability to engage in relational research with racialized communities
• Demonstrated skill in summarizing and writing up research findings for community partners’ needs

Interest in/availability for the role of Evaluator for the project may be taken into consideration in evaluating expressions of interest.

Submission of Expression of Interest

Prospective researchers are invited to submit a brief Expression of Interest by August 15, 2022 to sharon.sutherland@mediatebc.com.  Expressions of Interest should be under two pages in length and should clearly identify the researcher’s knowledge and experience as it relates to the proposed research and the identified Researcher Qualifications.

MBC will invite up to three applicants to a 30-minute videoconference conversation regarding the project and researcher’s proposed approach. Following those conversations, MBC will invite one researcher to contract to conduct the needs assessment.

Fees and Deliverables

A maximum of $7,500 is available towards the Needs Assessment.

Final deliverable is a written needs assessment with GBA+ (details to be determined with researcher input at time of contract). This project must be completed by October 31, 2022.

For questions or any additional information, please email sharon.sutherland@mediatebc.com.