Bridging Borders and Barriers: Advancing Equitable Child Welfare through Immigration-Informed and Anti-Racist Practice
In October, CWICE Managers Liz Okai and Danielle Ungara had the privilege of presenting at the international virtual conference, A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare. Hosted annually by the Kempe Foundation in the United States of America, this conference brings together child welfare leaders and practitioners from around the world. In addition to CWICE’s presentation with OACAS (Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies), several Peel CAS colleagues also presented.
This opportunity highlighted the innovative and exceptional work being done across the organization, with several Peel CAS staff joined by academic partners. The combined presentations included:
• Strengthening Families & Rethinking Systems: Impact of Early Help in Peel’s Child Welfare Approach
Presenters: Sylvia Kolitsopoulos, Jennifer Lyttle, Alyssa Burch, Jolanta Rasteniene and Brenda Moody
• Integrating Research and Clinical Practice in Addressing Intimate Partner Violence
Presenters: Charlene Randall, Maresa Gervais, Maria Macias, Alyssa Burch, Jolanta Rasteniene and U of T representatives
• Ethnocultural Program Evaluation Framework: A Tool Used to Assess Program Effectiveness
Presenters: Emmanuel Ansah, Andrea Stewart, Alyssa Burch, Jolanta Rasteniene and Brenda Moody
• Reducing the Care Population Strategy Session
Presenters: Prasad Nair along with panelists from South Australia, UK and USA
Alongside OACAS leaders, CWICE Managers also offered a strategy session on Monday, October 6th, titled Bridging Borders and Barriers: Advancing Equitable Child Welfare Through Immigration-Informed and Anti-Racist Practice.
As child welfare systems increasingly encounter children and families impacted by unresolved or precarious immigration status, systemic racism, and structural inequities, the Bridging Borders and Barriers session provided an overview of today’s global migration context. The presentation showcased unique approaches and recommendations from Ontario and Canada. Using interdisciplinary frameworks, the session offered solutions for working with refugee and immigrant families, with the goal of encouraging understanding of how sector-wide equity leadership in Ontario can work in tandem to shift equitable outcomes for families, and how these approaches could be expanded and applied in other regions.
Reflecting on the conference, Kristin Roe shared:
“Our presentation provided an opportunity for us to share our joint approach to the intersection of immigration and child welfare service and advocacy in Ontario. Together with joint principles of anti-racism, trauma-informed practices and collective advocacy we were able to share wisdom, lessons learned and recommendations for practices in child welfare that involve immigration among children, youth and families. It is always a joy to share our partnership with peers from across the world”
— Kristin Roe, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, OACAS
The conference offered daily strategy sessions, including the joint presentation, creating opportunities to foster collaborative practices focused on anti-oppressive approaches and system transformation. To ensure staff across Ontario had access to the content, presenters delivered a follow-up webinar in early December. Now archived on the OACAS member login site, the CWICE Issues and Trends webinar series event was co-hosted by OACAS and Peel CAS’ CWICE on December 3, 2025.
Dr. Vania Patrick-Drakes, co-presenter and One Vision One Voice Manager (OACAS), shared:
"At One Vision One Voice, we recognize that equitable outcomes for Black children, youth and families depend on addressing multiple intersections, including those of race, migration, and systemic barriers. Collaborations like this between OACAS and CWICE reflect the kind of cross-sector leadership our province needs - grounded in data, community, and shared accountability. It was a privilege to contribute to a dialogue that moves us from awareness to coordinated, equity-driven action”
— Dr. Vania Patrick-Drakes
Ultimately, presenters elevated cross-sector dialogue through exploration of equity, demographics, data, policy, practice, and system-level recommendations. Discussions emphasized the importance of values and principles that inform practice, including centring community voices and lived experience, while amplifying both challenges and evidence-informed solutions. Presenters also shared how this approach has been shaping national discussions and coordination in Canada since 2020, and why this work remains especially timely. Together, we will continue to align and collaborate across borders to enhance, promote, and support the welfare of children and their families.
Related links:
Home - 2025 Virtual Call to Action to Change Child Welfare Conference
About the Presenters:
Dr. Vania Patrick-Drakes
Dr. Vania Patrick-Drakes is a mental health professional, social science researcher and equity, diversity, inclusion and wellness consultant. She has over 10 years of direct service, research and consultancy experience with diverse clients and organizations across the Caribbean and Ontario, advocating for individual and organizational wellness, and equitable, inclusive policies and practices. Vania finds purpose – both personally and professionally – in helping people and organizations enhance their knowledge and understanding of discrimination, racism and oppression, and their capacity to engage in anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices. She currently serves as Manager for the OVOV program at OACAS.
Kristin Roe
Kristin Roe is a passionate educator, consultant, and leader who is guided by the mission of equitable outcomes for children, youth, families and communities. Kristin has extensive experience moving organizations and systems through equity integration using her clinical knowledge, subject matter expertise and emotional intelligence to drive change. In her over 18 years of experience in both the health and child welfare sectors, Kristin has held equity-focused, family-centered and project management roles that have helped drive system change. Currently, Kristin is the Equity lead at the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS) and oversees the first-ever provincially funded project dedicated to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (SOGIE) equity for children and youth. Kristin has earned graduate degrees in Adult Education and Social Work.
Liz Okai
Liz Okai, RSW. Liz has a BSW from McMaster University and an MSW from the University of Toronto. She is a dedicated child welfare professional and leader with nearly 20 years of experience. Liz currently co-manages the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence, overseeing its operations and strategic vision, and significantly advancing knowledge and understanding of the intersection of child welfare and immigration. Liz promotes equity in practice through research, education, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships. She strongly advocates for including migration histories and stories in child welfare assessments to ensure timely and successful resolutions of immigration status, settlement, and integration challenges for children, youth, and families. Additionally, Liz is a part-time faculty at Sheridan College, where she teaches Migration and Settlement Studies.
Danielle Ungara
Danielle’s (she/her, grateful to be on Treaty 13 land, RSW) professional experience spans two decades and includes social work, leadership, and program management. Danielle currently co-leads the Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE). CWICE offers services, training and research across Canada, and operates an international consultation centre. Danielle’s portfolio encompasses strategy and operations related to service, capacity building, communications, data, research, and partnership development. Danielle has consulted widely on policy and legislative changes, and she has been invited to speak about the rights of children/youth and system innovation. Danielle currently sits on a number of multi-year advisory panels including equity integration for the profession of social work with the Ontario Association of Social Workers in Canada. She also sits as a Canadian representative with the Immigration & Child Welfare Practice Network, operated by University of California Berkeley School of Social Welfare
