TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Intergenerational trauma: the relationship between residential schools and the child welfare system among young people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada JO - Journal of Adolescent Health A1 - Barker, Brittany A1 - Sedgemore, Kali A1 - Tourangeau, Malcolm A1 - Lagimodiere, Louise A1 - Milloy, John A1 - Dong, Huiru A1 - Hayashi, Kanna A1 - Shoveller, Jean A1 - Kerr, Thomas A1 - Debeck, Kora SP - 248 EP - 254 VL - 65 IS - 2 N2 - PURPOSE: This study investigated the relationship between familial residential school system (RSS) exposure and personal child welfare system (CWS) involvement among young people who use drugs (PWUD).

METHODS: Data were obtained from two linked cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada, and restricted to Indigenous participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between three categories of familial RSS exposure (none, grandparent, and parent) and CWS involvement. A secondary analysis assessed the likelihood of CWS involvement between non-Indigenous and Indigenous PWUD with no familial RSS exposure.

RESULTS: Between December 2011 and May 2016, 675 PWUD (aged <35 years) were included in this study, 40% identified as Indigenous. In multivariable analyses, compared with Indigenous participants with no RSS exposure (reference), those with a grandparent in the RSS had a higher likelihood of having been in CWS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]:.67-2.71), as did those with a parent exposed to RSS (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.03-3.99). In secondary analysis, the odds of CWS involvement was not significantly different between non-Indigenous and Indigenous PWUD with no familial RSS exposure (AOR =.63, 95% CI:.38-1.06).

CONCLUSIONS: We observed a dose-response-type trend between familial RSS exposure and personal CWS involvement and a nonsignificant difference in the likelihood of CWS involvement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous PWUD when controlling for RSS exposure. These data demonstrate the intergenerational impact of the RSS on the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in the CWS.

FINDINGS have critical implications for public policy and practice including reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples.

Copyright © 2019 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1054-139X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.01.022 ID - ref1 ER -