A Mother’s Lens: Envisioning a Supportive Approach to Child Welfare Law

This project,  “A Mother’s Lens,” connected with women with lived experience of both the criminal justice and child protection systems and asked them to take pictures that represented their experience with both systems. The Photovoice method was used for its ability to allow participants to capture and reflect upon their daily lives using photography and to illuminate the complex experience of dealing with child protection involvement. Participants were asked to take pictures that would convey how they felt about their experience in these systems – either in a literal or abstract sense, and then asked them to prepare a final presentation on their photos and join in a discussion of the projects with all participants.

The resulting report outlines common themes emerging from the project, and in particular the concern that participant mothers had for the best interests of their children. Participants additionally shared their ideas for change within the child protection and larger justice system. The report concludes by highlighting the need for a more supportive child welfare system and examining what legislation providing for a supportive approach to child and family wellbeing might look like.

Read the full report here, and scroll down to view a sample of the photos and stories captured by participant mothers.