When home reminds me of jail: The carceral nature of out-of-home care for Black youth in Ontario’s child welfare system

Abstract

This article examines the intersections and paradoxes in out-of-home care (OOHC) for Black youth involved in Ontario’s child welfare system and the ways in which those experiences mirror treatment in the judicial system. Using an anti-carceral theory, this article weaves together the intersecting threads of anti-Black racism and carceral logic to construct Black youth’s experiences living in OOHC (non-relative foster care and group homes). Twenty-seven interviews were conducted with Black Caribbean youth from the Greater Toronto Area to understand their experiences in OOHC. In addition to exploring the ways in which OOHC is similar to carceral care, this study also describes youths’ narratives of police contact and involvement while under the care of the child welfare system. The data revealed a connection between OOHC and jail, a lack of autonomy, and policing as an intervention for Black youth. Additionally, the findings illustrated how social workers’ and child and youth workers' interactions are underpinned by carceral logic; their attempts to provide services to Black youth were often akin to policing, where surveillance, behavior management, and control were central to the ethics of care. Recommendations for policy and practice include reducing police intervention, ensuring both stability and flexibility, and discretion and honoring youth voice in applying policy and practice guidelines.