Data justice for youth in and leaving care: mapping the child welfare data landscape in Ontario

Abstract

ABSTRACT The digitization of social services provides the public sector with new tools to monitor and meet managerial and legislative objectives. But these practices re-shape service provision and the experiences of those receiving social welfare interventions. This article reports on results from phase one of an institutional ethnography of public sector policy, knowledge, and technology. We begin by describing our iterative mapping methodology. We then share preliminary results of our efforts to investigate the socio-technical processes that shape people’s experiences on the frontlines of child welfare agencies in Ontario Canada –those who are the targets and recipients of these services and those involved in service delivery and governance. Results include a map of child welfare data holdings, as well as a synthesis of key informants’ concerns about how and whether the provincial child welfare information management and policy landscape enables their legislative duty to promote the best interest, protection, and wellbeing of youth. Results suggest data holdings are compromised by methodological and infrastructural issues that undermine the utility of the Child Protection Information Network for clinical practice as well as for monitoring systemic trends.