User‐Centred Design in Child Welfare: Importance of an Anti‐Racism Lens

ABSTRACT Meaningful engagement of marginalised individuals and communities in formulating government decisions impacting them is beneficial for the whole society. This is especially important for government decisions impacting the child welfare system in Ontario, where Black children and youth are at a higher risk of poor outcomes. However, existing public engagement practices, including user‐centred design initiatives, present significant challenges for Black individuals and communities to influence government decision‐making due to the government's strive for ‘colour‐blind’ solutions. This paper highlights the importance of focusing on Black voices and allies to inform government decision‐making in child welfare and the need for an a priori anti‐racism analysis for user‐centred design initiatives.