Expanding the Reach of Gladue: Exploring the Use of Gladue Reports in Child Protection

• Author: Romi Laskin
• Position: Holds a Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College and is currently in her third year of the JD program at the University of Victoria
• Pages: 25-50

APPEAL VOLUME 26  25

ARTICLE

EXPANDING THE REACH OF GLADUE:

EXPLORING THE USE OF GLADUE REPORTS

IN CHILD PROTECTION

Romi Laskin *

CITED: (2021) 26 Appeal 25

ABSTRACT

is paper explores the potential of the legislature or courts usingGladue-like reports in

British Columbia's child protection laws and policies. It rst lays out the current provincial

legal frameworks and illustrates its shortcomings by comparing them with Indigenous legal

orders; to argue that the Indigenous communities should control their child protection

systems. Drawing parallels between sentencing and child protection cases, this paper

explores a proposed restructuring of the child protection system focusing on the potential

of implementing Gladue-like reports. e paper nds that this restructuring would have

lasting and positive impacts on Indigenous children, their families, and communities. It

identies avenues for legal reform that would mandateGladue-like reports in child protection.

* Romi Laskin holds a Bachelor of Arts from Haverford College and is currently in her third year of the

JD program at the University of Victoria. In September 2021, she will begin clerking for the British

Columbia Court of Appeal. Romi sincerely thanks Frances Rosner for sharing her idea and time, and

Catherine Laerty and the whole Appeal team for their assistance throughout the publication process.

APPEAL VOLUME 26  26

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. REVIEW OF ISSU ES IN CHILD PROTECTION ............................................................................ 28

II. CURRENT LEGAL FR AMEWORK IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ..................................................... 31

A. ISSUES WITH IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................... 31

B. STRUCTURAL AND CONCEPTUAL LIMITATIONS ........................................................... 31

III. GLADUE DECISION AND PARALL ELS WITH CHILD PROTECT ION ..................................34

IV. GLADUELIKE RE PORTS IN CHILD WELFARE ........................................................................... 35

A. CONTENT OF THE REPORTS ..................................................................................................35

I. CONTEXTUAL HISTORY ......................................................................................................35

II. RECORD OF SERVICE PROVISION ..................................................................................36

III. HEALING PLAN .................................................................................................................... 36

B. PRAC TICAL ASPECTS OF THE R EPORTS ...........................................................................38

I. ENTITLEMENT TO REPORTS ..............................................................................................38

II. REPORT WRITERS ................................................................................................................. 38

III. FOSTERING TRUS T OF COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES........................................ 39

IV. ADMISSIBILITY OF THE REPORTS ................................................................................ 39

C. LESSONS LE ARNED FROM GLADUE REPORTS ..............................................................40

V. THE POW ER OF GLADUELIKE REPORT S IN CHILD PROTECTION .................................. 42

A. EDUCATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND JUDGES ........................................................42

B. SHIF TING THE FOCUS TO THE BEST IN TERESTS OF THE FAMILY ........................... 43

C. ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES OF CAREGIVERS’ DANGEROUS ACTIONS ...................... 43

D. PREVENTING CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS .........................................................44

E. I NCREASING INVEST MENT IN PREVENTATIVE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE

PROGRAMMING .........................................................................................................................44

F. PILO T PROJECT............................................................................................................................ 44

VI. LEGAL FRA MEWORK TO MANDATE GLADUELIKE REPORTS ..........................................45

A. AMENDING THE CFCSA ..........................................................................................................45

B. EXPANSION OF GLADUE REPORTS ......................................................................................46

VII. POTENTIAL CRITICISMS O F USING GLADUELIKE REPORT S IN

CHILD PROTECT ION .........................................................................................................................47

A. UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ............................................................................................................ 47

B. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD ..........................48

VIII. POTENTIA L CRITICISMS OF USING GLADU ELIKE REPORTS IN

CHILD PROTECT ION ..................................................................................................................49

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................... 50