New research that for the first time calculates disparity in Ontario's child protection system has found that aboriginal and black kids are far more likely to be investigated and taken into care than white children.

The figures are especially stunning for aboriginal children. They are 130 per cent more likely to be investigated as possible victims of child abuse or neglect than white children, and 15 per cent more likely to have maltreatment confirmed.

Aboriginal children are also 168 per cent more likely to be taken from their homes and placed into care.

The huge disparity is "symptomatic of the system that's failing our kids," says Steven Vanloffeld, executive director of the Association of Native Child and Family Service Agencies of Ontario.

The study also found that black children are 40 per cent more likely to be investigated for abuse or neglect than white children, and 18 per cent more likely to have maltreatment confirmed. But the likelihood of going into care is lower. Black children are 13 per cent more likely to be taken from their homes and placed with foster parents or in group homes.

Margaret Parsons, executive director of the African Canadian Legal Clinic, blames the disparity on the "harsher lens" children's aid societies use when investigating black families.

"What they might not consider abuse or neglect within a white or non-African Canadian family, they will consider abuse or neglect in one of our families," she says. "This is not a matter of erring on the side of caution. We feel it is punitive."

The provincial government, which regulates the child protection system, must make the development of an African Canadian child welfare strategy a priority, she adds.

The estimates were extracted from the government-funded Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, compiled in 2013. A team of researchers, led by University of Toronto Prof. Barbara Fallon, examined a representative sample of 4,961 child protection investigations conducted by 17 children's aid societies. The cases involved children up to age 14.

Of the dozen specific ethnic and racial categories examined, only black and aboriginal children were taken into care at rates higher than white kids.

The study was presented to more than 70 senior children's aid society officials at a June 7 meeting in Toronto.

The disparity study calculated the relative likelihood of certain groups being involved with the child protection system. It differs from the study on disproportionate representation revealed by an ongoing Toronto Star investigation, which found that on a September day in 2013, 42 per cent of kids in the care of the Children's Aid Society of Toronto had at least one parent who is black. Only 8 per cent of the city's under-18 population is black.

The disparity results coincide with mounting outrage about the disproportionate number of aboriginal and black children in care. Parents and leaders in these communities have for years blamed discrimination and a lack of services for struggling families.

Kenn Richard, executive director of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, says more than 90 per cent of the families his agency works with are poor. Children are placed at risk as families struggle with a lack of food, clothing and affordable housing, and often with addictions and mental health problems, Richard adds.

"The disconnect between child welfare and the broad issues of poverty and marginalization is remarkable," Richard says in an interview. "It's part of a pattern where the state intervenes on behaviour associated with poverty but never gets to the poverty itself."

"I am sorry child welfare does not speak out on these issues," Richard adds, referring to Ontario's 47 children's aid societies. "I think we have a moral responsibility to say, 'Hey, wait a minute. All these kids are poor!'"

Societies have so far shied away from demanding dramatic political solutions and a radical reform of child welfare, he says.

"The questions are too bold and too threatening," Richard says. "So let's pick on the single mother who doesn't have milk in her fridge but is smoking. So we say, 'You're smoking but you don't have milk so you're maltreating your children.'"

Aboriginal families — First Nations, Inuit and Métis — also struggle with a history of trauma and forced assimilation. The Ontario government has so far set up nine aboriginal children's aid societies. But those in northern Ontario have few services, forcing many First Nations children to be placed with foster parents or group homes far from their communities.

Vanloffeld, whose association represents 10 aboriginal family service agencies, wants universities to form social workers sensitive to the history of aboriginal people by incorporating it in their curriculums.

He also calls for a "multi-service model" of child welfare."Not just, 'We're here to take your kids.' It's, 'How can we help and work with you while ensuring the safety of the kid?'" Vanloffeld says.

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Ontario's children's aid societies are privately run but funded by the province, receiving $1.5 billion in 2015.

On average, 15,625 Ontario children were in foster or group-home care in 2014-15. The latest figures indicate that only 2 per cent of children are removed from their home due to sexual abuse and 13 per cent for physical abuse. The rest are removed because of neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to violence between their parents or caregivers.

By the numbers

42% of children in the care of the Children's Aid Society of Toronto in 2013 were black or had one black parent.

8% of people under 18 in Toronto are black.

23% of Ontario children in care are First Nations.

2.5% of people under 18 in Ontario are First Nations.

2.3% of Ontario children in care are Métis — 3.4 times their share of the under-18 population.

0.47% of Ontario children in care are Inuit — 11.3 times their share of the under-18 population.

54 per 1,000 children: the rate at which white children are investigated

75 per 1,000 children: the rate at which black children are investigated

126 per 1,000 children: the rate at which aboriginal children are investigated

Sources: Children's Aid Society of Toronto, OnLAC annual survey, Barbara Fallon et al