The World Gets Closer: Families Across International Borders

Service in a Time of Global Mobility

The Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) plays a vital role in supporting child welfare professionals in cases with international-related complexities. As families increasingly move across borders, child welfare work often intersects international law, cross-border service coordination, including immigration processes and initiating child welfare services. During the first few years of CWICE operations, we received consultation requests from within Ontario. Over the last three years, 8-12% of our referrals are related to international situations or issues abroad.

International child welfare cases involve reunification across countries, international kinship placements, and repatriation planning. This work requires expertise and innovation, as we’re navigating complex systems. Within CWICE, our staff promote thoughtful and careful consideration of legal frameworks, identities, cultural context, permanency, and assessments for determinations of the best interests of children and youth.

The consultative work, and recommendations offered, is important because children and families do not experience their lives within the limits of one system or one country. We know immigration status, migration history, and transnational family connections can significantly affect safety, permanency, and well-being. Our approach continues to be to help professionals, and their clients, bridge systems, reduce barriers, and promote equitable outcomes across borders.

The children, youth, and families referred to CWICE reflect remarkable diversity. Today there are 195 nations recognized worldwide; and we’ve provided service to individuals connected to 126 countries around the world.

In terms of our impact, between 2018-2025, CWICE received:

- 4029 referrals

- 5466 individuals received services

- Clients connected to 126 countries, across 6 continents (map below)

Our clients are connected to diverse countries and even within their country of origin, they enjoy diverse languages, cultures, traditions, identities, and experiences. These combine in different ways and shape their identities as well as strengths. Most of our clients are refugees and immigrants, and this includes those with temporary residency. A good deal of our work is ensuring clients have immigration pathways, plans, and are connected to legal representatives. Complicating factors include the international geo-political landscape, changing immigration policies and legislation, various frameworks and laws in each country (which can vary drastically), families having mixed-immigration status, and individuals living with precarious immigration status.

Recognizing and honouring diversity is central to CWICE’s work and successes. Our teams work to ensure services are culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and respectful of each family’s unique story. As well, we uplift the voice of children and uphold the rights of children, while we continue to understand the international intersections within our work.

By strengthening our knowledge, and building partnerships beyond Canada’s borders, CWICE helps ensure that decisions effecting children are informed, culturally responsive, and grounded in child welfare principles as well as international obligations.

*This content is adapted from recent CWICE research findings and presentation at Pathways to Prosperity Conference 2025.

About the Authors:

Celistine Frampton is a Registered Social Worker and Immigration Specialist at Peel Children’s Aid Society’s Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE). She plays an integral role in ensuring that children, youth, and families with immigration or citizenship-related needs are connected to the appropriate support and services. Celistine is dedicated to advancing equitable outcomes within the child welfare sector.

Danielle Ungara (she/her) is a Registered Social Worker and a dedicated leader known for her creativity, and commitment to excellence and equity in practice. As CWICE Manager, Danielle has brought innovative thinking and strategic leadership to the Centre of Excellence operations since its inception.