Aboriginal Children, Youth and Families: Transforming Legislation and Policies

This course will examine the policy, legislation and practice standards that have led to and support the transformation of BC’s Aboriginal child, youth and family services. The course will review the imposition of colonial legislation and policies on the lives of Aboriginal children, youth and families in British Columbia and will examine the current legislative and policy context. Students who complete CFCS 2212 will not receive additional credit for CYCC 2211.

Course Content

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

• The legacy of colonial policies and legislation continues to impact Aboriginal children, youth, families and communities today.
• The knowledge of specific policies and legislation empowers practitioners to work respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal children, youth, families and communities who are involved with Aboriginal and mainstream systems.
• An exploration of current issues in child welfare, education, mental health and youth justice encourages the development of, and reflection on, personal and professional values.
• The reclaiming of Aboriginal control over services to Aboriginal children, youth and families is a historic act of justice and a necessary element in reconciliation.

Methods of Instruction

• Lecture
• Discussion
• Guest Speakers
• Collaborative Learning

Means of Assessment

This course will conform to Douglas College policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations. Typical means of evaluation could include a combination of:

• Research essays and reports
• Individual and group presentations
• Examinations or quizzes

This is a letter graded course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss current legislation, policies and standards specific to child welfare delivery in Aboriginal communities in BC
2. Identify other key pieces of legislation from systems other than child welfare that have an impact on Aboriginal children, youth, families and communities
3. Apply knowledge of specific policies and legislation to their work with Aboriginal children, youth and families
4. Develop an awareness of the issues from which to engage in professional advocacy for Aboriginal children, youth and families.  

Enrolment in Aboriginal Stream or permission of Coordinator

Below shows how this course and its credits transfer within the BC transfer system. 

A course is considered university-transferable (UT) if it transfers to at least one of the five research universities in British Columbia: University of British Columbia; University of British Columbia-Okanagan; Simon Fraser University; University of Victoria; and the University of Northern British Columbia.

For more information on transfer visit the BC Transfer Guide and BCCAT websites.

If your course prerequisites indicate that you need an assessment, please see our Assessment page for more information.