Child Welfare in Canada.

The paper begins with a description of the socio-cultural heterogeneity of Canada and of its population, with particular reference to children. The role of federal-provincial government relations within the social service and child welfare systems is discussed, as well as the specific responsibilities and contributions of each level of government. The structure of provincial child welfare systems, the principles and procedures which guide them, and a number of their programs (adoption, foster care, residential or institutional care, and permanency planning) are then described. The organization of services in the province of Quebec, child abuse, and Native children are treated as special cases within this framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]