The Importance of Disaggregated Data

child & youth health

THE IMPORTANCE OF DISAGGREGATED DATA

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Incidence Study on Reported Child Abuse have been critical in shaping child welfare Indigenous Issues (2003) has repeatedly and Neglect (CIS) (Trocme, Knoke, policy respecting these distinct cultural called for the collection of disaggregated Shangreaux, Fallon & MacLaurin 2005) groups. data that describes the distinct experiences and the study on youth suicide in First of Indigenous peoples. The United Nations Nations communities by Chandler and The importance of disaggregated data International Children’s Fund (2003) Lalonde (1998.) collection within the major cultural groups has affirmed the need for disaggregated is underscored by Chandler and Lalonde data respecting Indigenous children As the CIS collected data by cultural (1998). These researchers were interested and young people. As Rae and the Sub group, the study was able to identify in understanding the factors contributing Group on Indigenous Children and very important differences both between to high youth suicide rates amongst Youth (2006) found that the number of Aboriginal1 and non-Aboriginal children the First Nations in British Columbia. countries collecting disaggregated data coming to the attention of child welfare Among the 197 First Nations in British on Indigenous children continues to be and between cultural groups of Aboriginal Columbia, Chandler and Lalonde (1998) nominal even amongst the wealthiest children as well. For example, Aboriginal nations of the world. children are more likely to be reported to child welfare authorities for neglect, fueled 1 ‘Aboriginal’ in this fact sheet refers to First Nations, The importance of collecting disaggregated by poverty, poor housing and substance Métis and Inuit peoples. First Nations will sometimes data on the distinct experiences of First misuse, than non-Aboriginal children. be subdivided by Indian Act status (status/non-status) or by residence on/off reserve. Comparisons in this Nations, Métis and Inuit children is First Nations children are over represented information sheet are usually between Aboriginal and underscored by the findings of two amongst Aboriginal children reported to non-Aboriginal, but some are between First Nations important studies – the Canadian child welfare authorities. These differences and non-Aboriginals or among Aboriginal groups.

sharing knowledge · making a difference partager les connaissances · faire une difference found that the rates of youth suicide varied What Is Aggregate and Disaggregated Data? significantly between communities. In fact, a detailed analysis of the incidence In order to understand the importance of the Canadian Census and the Canadian of youth suicide in each community disaggregate data, it is important to first Incidence Study on Reported Child Abuse and found that over 90% of the suicides were understand exactly what is “aggregate Neglect). happening in 10% of the First Nations. In data” versus “disaggregated data.” There Disaggregated Data is no one definitive source that speaks to exploring what factors differentiated the Disaggregated data is data that has been these distinctions, however, the following suicide rates amongst First Nations, the extrapolated (taken) from aggregated data researchers determined that the higher the definitions, collected from a multitude of and divided and broken down into smaller sources, provides a simplified overview of information units. Disaggregating data is degree of self determination, the lower the aggregate versus disaggregated data. another critical step to gaining increased suicide rate. Aggregate Data knowledge from collective or aggregated Aggregate data is data that has been information. Disaggregating data involves Currently, there is no national child collected from two or more sources. To delving more deeply into a set of results to welfare data collection system in Canada. aggregate data means to gather separate highlight issues that pertain to individual Data respecting Aboriginal children is only sets of data and present it as a whole. subsets of results and/or outcomes of available through the provinces, which do Data aggregation is any process in which aggregated data. Collective or aggregate not collect data according to a uniform information is gathered and expressed in a data can be broken down or disaggregated, process, making cross regional comparisons collective or summary form, for purposes such for instance, by: gender, urban/ rural location, as statistical analysis. In statistics, aggregate income, socio-cultural or ethnic background, difficult. The types of data collected for the data describes data combined from several language, geographical location, political/ federal government (Department of Indian measurements. A common aggregation administrative units, or age groups. Fully and Northern Affairs Development), purpose is to get more information about disaggregating data helps to expose hidden for child and family purposes, include: particular groups based on specific variables trends, it can enable the identification of (1) monthly financial reports (to request such as age, profession, or income where vulnerable populations for instance, or it can reimbursement for services provided), and; the data is aggregated to preserve the help establish the scope of the problem and (2) non-financial reports (these include confidentiality of individuals (examples of can make vulnerable groups more visible to (a) monthly reports on information aggregated data collection systems include policy makers. about children placed under protection in alternative care facilities; (b) monthly requests for special needs funding for children in care, and (c) reports on operational expenditures regarding the agency’s prevention and protection services provided twice yearly) (Auditor General of Canada, 2002; Loo, 2005).

The data that First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies (FNCFSAs) are required to forward to the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Development as required by their respective funding agreements are collected without any analysis by the federal government as to what this data may reveal locally, regionally and/or nationally about current trends in First Nations child welfare.

In many cases, the data that is being collected is flawed or not being processed or analyzed in ways that can inform decision making (Bennett & Shangreaux, 2005). What the collected data doesn’t say is how FNCFSAs differ from one another or about their specific achievements, challenges, needs and/or service trends. In other cases, the complete or the right data is simply not being collected (Loo, 2005).

Furthermore, the technological needs of FNCFSAs to collect, record and produce agency information reports for provincial, territorial and federal governments, particularly for remote and geographically disbursed agencies, is great as many FNCFSAs lack access to sophisticated computer equipment, updated software and hardware, and collaborative computerized database systems, including IT expertise and/or researchers and appropriate infrastructures, along with adequate funds to support updated computerized information systems it must also be useful to those who are are particularly relevant for Aboriginal (Bennett & Shangreaux, 2005; Loo, responsible for determining the role of the peoples given their high level of over- 2005). Child Welfare administrators and data, reporting of the results, as well as the representation in the child welfare systems researchers are increasingly recognizing interpretation and use of such information of Canada (Kong & Beattie, 2005). the need and value of disaggregating according to OCAP (Ownership, Control, data respecting Aboriginal children and Access and Production) principles over The traditional approaches to studying youth. Disaggregating data is an important research by Aboriginal peoples (Schnarch, FNCFSAs (and Aboriginal peoples analytical process. Disaggregating data 2004). generally) as a single entity tend to is about measuring unique bits of data hide important intra- and -inter agency separately from collective data. Improving data collection and analysis differences among FNCFSAs and benefits governments in many additional Aboriginal populations across Canada. Disaggregated data can play a critical role ways too. For example, with better Aboriginal peoples and FNCFSAs as a in helping FNCFSAs understand how information, governments can focus whole are not all the same, and there is effective they are in meeting the needs of their response on the best way to fund a need to look at the outcomes for the the children, families and communities and assist FNCFSAs and help reduce children and families serviced by these that received their services. Collecting the overrepresentation of Aboriginal agencies separately as well as comparatively. more and richer information on the children in the child welfare system. New challenges as well as the achievements policies or programs can be piloted; policy Until the federal, provincial/territorial of FNCFSAs would help policy makers makers can build support and capacity governments and FNCFSAs are able understand the scope of the response that in FNCFSAs. Governments can show to collaboratively collect, disaggregate is needed to create effective policies and bilateral and multilateral partners the and analyze the aggregated data that programs from a culturally congruent issues that they are concerned about and exists, child welfare reform initiatives by point of view. When researchers analyze ask for help based on better information. FNCFSAs, including non-Aboriginal and disaggregate child welfare outcome The act of improving data collection and agencies, will not be as effective as they data, for instance, they can pinpoint analysis helps to fulfill the goals and targets can and should be. Aboriginal children the effectiveness of services and modify that governments have agreed to, as well in care, their families and communities services based on the trends reported from as enable governments to demonstrate will continue to suffer and grow apart disaggregated data. they have met their obligations (ILO, from each other because of the lack of 2004). Furthermore, disaggregated data appropriate disaggregated data collection Disaggregating collective data on is essential for responding to issues of on the distinct experiences of First Aboriginal children is necessary so that transparency, accessibility, fairness and Nations, Métis and Inuit children with the it will be useful and illuminating, but equity in the child welfare system, and child welfare systems in Canada. References

Auditor General of Canada. (2002). Streamlining Loo, S. (2005). Management Information Systems International Labour Office (ILO). (2004) Manual First Nations Reporting to Federal Organizations. (Ch.5). In Wen:De: We are coming to the light of for child labour data analysis and statistical reports: Canada. Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http:// day. Ottawa, ON: First Nations Child and Family Statistical Information and Monitoring Programme www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/ Caring Society of Canada, 146-177. Retrieved on Child Labour (SIMPOC). International 20021201ce.html#ch1hd4a March 28, 2007 from http://www.fncfcs.com/docs/ Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. WendeReport.pdf Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http://www.ilo.org/ Bennett, M. & Shangreaux, C. (2005). Applying public/english/standards/ ipec/publ/download/ Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory to the research needs Schnarch, B. (2004). Ownership, control, access, and manual_data_analysis_en_2004.pdf of FNCFS agencies participating in cycle II of the possession (OCAP) of self-determination applied to Canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and research. Journal of Aboriginal Health, 1(1): 80-95. Rae, J. and the Sub Group on Indigenous Children neglect. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 2(1), Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http://www.naho.ca/ and Youth (2006). Rights and reality: a report 89-116 english/pdf/journal_p80-95.pdf on indigenous children and the United Nations convention on the rights of the child. Ottawa: First Chandler, M., Lalonde, C. (1998). Cultural Trocmé, Knoke, Shangreaux, Fallon & MacLaurin Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada continuity as a hedge against suicide in Canada’s First (2005). The experience of First Nations children Nations. Transcultural Psychiatry, 35(2): 191-219 coming into contact with the child welfare system in United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2003). Canada: The Canadian incidence study on reported Innocenti Digest No.11: Ensuring the Rights of Kong, R. & Beattie, K. (2005). Collecting data on abuse and neglect. In Wen:de: we are coming to the Indigenous Children. Florence: Innocenti Research Aboriginal people in the criminal justice system: light of day, pp. 60-86. Ottawa: First Nations Child Centre & UNICEF Methods and challenges. Ottawa, ON: Canadian and Family Caring Society of Canada Centre for Justice Statistics, Statistics Canada. United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Retrieved March 28, 2007 from http://dsp-psd. Issues (2003). Chairpersons summary of the high communication.gc.ca/Collection/Statcan/85-564- level panel and dialogue on Indigenous children and X/85-564-XIE2005001.pdf youth. New York: United Nations Economic and Social Council

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©2009-2010 National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health. Production of this document has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.