Grant: Operating Grant

This study focuses on the health and social service needs of some of the most vulnerable members of Canadian society: young parents living in extreme poverty (either homeless or marginally housed) and their children. The delivery of perinatal care to such young parents is complex, with many families facing an array of health and social concerns. For various reasons, some youth are at risk of losing custody of their babies to child welfare authorities. Using participatory qualitative photo voice methods (including data from participants' interviews and photographs taken by them), this project will examine the impact that experienced child custody loss (or experiences of being 'at risk' of having one's child apprehended) has on families living in poverty, and on the children's aid workers and perinatal healthcare practitioners (HCPs) who care for them. The health and social service delivery implications of such experiences will be explored, and barriers to care identified. The advent of two new programs employing alternative models of foster care provides an important context for this research. The study will explore these new models in comparison with the 'usual standard' of foster care in terms of their relative impact on perinatal care. The study adopts an innovative knowledge translation strategy, culminating in an exhibition of photographs taken by participants. The goal of the exhibit is to promote greater understanding between the three stakeholder groups and to share their experiences with a broader range of stakeholders, including the public and policy makers. This study fosters a unique partnership between health researchers, clinicians, children's aid workers, young parents and other community members, and artists.