Hamilton Child and Family Supports works within an anti-oppressive practice and is a member of the provincial anti-oppression roundtable with the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS). There has been a lot of progress made with our understanding of anti-oppression (AO) and acknowledge that anti-oppressive practice is now understood as a framework that works towards equity (the elimination of disproportionality and disparity). It presumes that oppression is operating and that systems are not neutral. AO is action oriented, and works to undo that oppression (OACAS, 2018).  All staff and foster families are required to attend a two-day anti-oppression training curriculum in order to ensure knowledge and understanding of AO is embedded in our work with families.

To learn more about the Anti-Oppression Framework in child welfare, please read here.