Connecting Child Welfare and Immigration Systems: The Role of CWICE

The report outlines how the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) bridges the gap between child welfare and immigration by supporting children, youth, and families with immigration issues. Through participatory systems mapping (PSM), we gained insights from workers’ perspectives on how CWICE interacts with both child welfare and immigration systems. The systems map (see Appendix 2) visually represents the support systems for child welfare considerations at entry ports, highlighting CWICE's role in connecting these systems to build holistic support and safety for families and communities.

The challenges and benefits of CWICE's involvement are explored through worker interviews. Participants acknowledged the expertise of CWICE workers in navigating the complex immigration process, while indicating that challenges like worker turnover and the lack of clarity in designated representatives can complicate circumstances for families. The report emphasizes collaboration and training as factors leading to more effective services, as well as the need for greater awareness of CWICE's services among settlement agencies to provide comprehensive support. Lastly, we recommend future research initiatives to better understand unaccompanied children's experiences in various child welfare systems across Canada. The report concludes by encouraging continued innovation and proactive collaboration in the child welfare sector to increase the safety and well-being of families and children dealing with immigration issues.