Vandna Sinha is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at McGill University and a William Dawson Scholar. Her research focuses on the impact of social policies on children's access to services, and on the abilities of marginalized families and communities to care for children. Vandna’s current research projects focus on Indigenous child welfare and service disparities for First Nations children. They address policy issues that have been repeatedly identified as being among the most pressing social justice concerns in Canada. These projects are undertaken in full partnership with community, public service, and political/advocacy organizations in order to maximize the potential for direct impact on social policy. She is the principal investigator for the First Nations Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (FNIS 2018, FNCIS-2008), the Jordan’s Principle Working Group, and several other projects conducted in partnership with organizations working at the national, regional, and local levels.
Vandna has a PhD in Human Development in Social Policy from Northwestern University. She takes a mixed methods interdisciplinary, and community engaged approach to exploring questions that are of interest to child welfare, health, social service, and child/youth advocacy organizations. This approach prioritizes:
- Information sharing, collective learning, and the development of shared understanding amongst project partners,
- Participatory data analysis and interpretation,
- Sociohistorical contextualization of research findings, and
- Direct dissemination of research results to stakeholders.
Education
PhD (Human Development and Social Policy) Northwestern University (2006)
M. A. (Human Development and Social Policy) Northwestern University (2004)
B.A. (Economics) University of Utah (1997)
B.A (Community Action) University of Utah (1997)
Research
Areas of Interest
- Communal efforts to support families and children
- Social policy
- Service disparities
- Indigenous child welfare
- Mixed methods research
- Participatory/community engaged research
Current projects include: The First Nations Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (FNIS 2018), The Jordan’s Principle Working Group, a study of On Reserve Services for Children with Special Needs, The KSCS Data Support Project, and a study of the Child Welfare Trajectories of First Nations Children in Quebec.
For more information about Vandna’s research projects and funding, see http://csprg.research.mcgill.ca.
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Ives, N. & Sinha, V. (In Press). Exploring the intersection of education and Indigenous status from a social determinants of health perspective. International Indigenous Policy Journal to be published in a special edition on the social determinants of Indigenous health in fall 2016.
Fallon, B., Trocmé, N., Fluke, J., Van Wert, M., MacLaurin, B., Sinha, V. & Hélie, S. (2015). Provincial Comparisons in the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect – 2008: Context for variation in findings. International Journal of Child and Youth Resilience, 3125-142.
Fallon, B., Chabot, M., Fluke, J., Blackstock, C., Sinha, V., Allan, K., & MacLaurin, B. (2015). Exploring alternate specifications to explain agency-level effects in placement decisions regarding Aboriginal children: Further analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect part C. Child Abuse & Neglect, 49: 97-106.
Sinha, V. & Wong, S. (2015). Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle: The time to act is now. Paediatrics & Child Health, 20(2):62-4.
Blumenthal, A. & Sinha, V. (2015). No Jordan’s Principle cases in Canada? A review of the administrative response to Jordan’s Principle. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 6(1).
Sinha, V. & Blumenthal, A. (2014). From the House of Commons resolution to Pictou Landing Band Council and Maurina Beadle v. Canada: An update on the implementation of Jordan’s Principle. First People’s Review, 9(1): 80-91.
Trocmé, N. Kyte, A., Sinha, V. & Fallon, B. (2014). Urgent protection versus chronic need: Clarifying the dual mandate of child welfare services across Canada. Social Sciences; 3, 483-498.
MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N. Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Enns, R., Feehan, R., Yoo, H., & DeMone, M. (2014). The Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect: Select findings. Journal for Services to Children and Families, 7, 31-41.
Esposito, T., Trocmé, N., Chabot, M., Schlonsky, A., Collin-Vezina, D. & Sinha, V. (2014). Family reunification for placed children in Québec, Canada: A longitudinal study. Children and Youth Services Review, 44, 278-287.
Esposito, T., Trocmé, N., Chabot, M., Schlonsky, A., Collin-Vezina, D. & Sinha, V. (2014). The stability of child protection placements in Quebec. Children and Youth Services Review, 42, 10-19.
Esposito, T., Trocmé, N., Chabot, M., Schlonsky, A., Collin-Vezina, D., Sinha, V. (2013). Placement of children in out-of-home care in Québec, Canada: When and for whom initial out-of-home placement is most likely to occur. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(12), 2031-2035.
Sinha, V., Ellenbogen, S. & Trocmé, N. (2013). Substantiating neglect of First Nations and non-Aboriginal children, Children & Youth Services Review, 35(12), 2080-2090.
Sinha, V., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B. & MacLaurin, B. (2013). Understanding the investigation-stage overrepresentation of First Nations children in the child welfare system: An analysis of the First Nations component of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008. Child Abuse and Neglect, 37(10): 821-831.
Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Van Wert, M., Kozlowski, A. & MacLaurin, B. (2013). Differentiating between child protection and family support in the Canadian child welfare system’s response to intimate partner violence, corporal punishment, and child neglect. International Journal of Psychology, 48(2): 128-40.
Sinha, V. & Kozlowski, A. (2013). The structure of Aboriginal child welfare in Canada. The International Indigenous Policy Journal, 4(2).
Fallon, B., Trocmé, N., Fluke, J., Van Wert, M., MacLaurin, B., Sinha, V., Hélie, S. & Turcotte, D. (2012). Responding to child maltreatment in Canada: context for international comparisons. Advances in Mental Health, 11(1):76-86.
Ives, N., Sinha, V., Leman, D., Goren, A., Levy-Powell, R. & Thomson, W. (2012). Exploring the intersection of culture and education in Nunavik. Journal of Comparative Social Work, 1:2-18.
Fallon, B., Trocmé, N. MacLaurin, B., Sinha, V. & Black, T. (2011). Untangling risk of maltreatment from events of maltreatment: An analysis of the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2008). International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 9: 460-479.
Peer Reviewed, Book/Published Report Chapters
Sinha, V. & Carter, V. (In Press). Child Protective Services. In Ned, J.D. & Frost, C.J. (Eds.) Contemporary Issues in Child Welfare: American Indian and Canadian Aboriginal Contexts. Vernon, B.C.: J Charlton Publishing.
Locklear, A.K., Trocmé, N. & Sinha, V. (In Press). Foster Care. In Ned, J.D. & Frost, C.J. (Eds.) Contemporary Issues in Child Welfare: American Indian and Canadian Aboriginal Contexts. Vernon, B.C.: J Charlton Publishing.
Sinha, V., Trocmé, N., Blackstock, C., MacLaurin, B. & Fallon, B. (2011). Understanding the over-representation of First Nations children in Canada’s child welfare system. In Kufeldt, K. and Mackenzie, B. Child Welfare: Connecting Research, Policy and Practice, Second Edition. Waterloo: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Cook, T. D. & Sinha, V. (2005). Randomized experiments in educational research. In Green, J. L., Camilli, G., and Elmore, P. (Eds.) Complementary Methods for Research in Education (3rd edition). Washington D.C: American Educational Research Association.
Fast, E., Sinha, V. & Trocmé, N. (2012).The health and well-being of First Nations youth: Household environment. In The First Nations Information Governance Centre (Ed), First Nations Regional Health Survey (RHS) Phase 2 (2008/10) National report for adults, youth and children living in First Nations communities (pp. 241-247). Ottawa: The First Nations Information Governance Centre.
Peer Reviewed, Published Reports
The collaborative process for producing these reports involved peer review by highly trained experts, including community partner boards of directors policy analysists and expert panels.
Sablonnière-Griffin, M., Sinha, V., Esposito, T., Chabot, M., Trocmé, N. (In press). Analyzing the Trajectories of First Nations youths subject to the Youth Protection Act: Analysis of mainstream youth protection agencies administrative data. First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission. FNQLHSSC release of this report is planned for September 2016.
Jordan’s Principle Working Group (2015). Without denial, delay, or disruption: Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations.
Sinha, V., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., MacLaurin, Fast, E. Prokop, S.T. et al. (2011). Kiskisik Awasisak: Remember the children. Understanding the overrepresentation of First Nations children in the child welfare system. Ontario: Assembly of First Nations.
Published Reports
Fallon, B., Van Wert, M., Trocmé, N., MacLaurin, B., Sinha, V. . . et al. (2015). Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2013. Child Welfare Research Portal.
Fallon, B., Trocmé, N., MacLaurin, B., Sinha, V., Black, T., Felstiner, C. et al. (2012). Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008: Major findings. Child Welfare Research Portal.
MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Feehan, R., Enns, R., et al. (2012). Alberta Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008: Major Findings. Child Welfare Research Portal.
MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Douglas, J., Barker, A., et al. (2012). British Columbia Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008: Major findings. Child Welfare Research Portal.
MacLaurin, B., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Sinha, V., Enns, R., Feehan, R., et al. (2012). Saskatchewan Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008: Major findings. Child Welfare Research Portal.
Information Sheets and Professional Publications
Churchill, M. & Sinha, V. (2016). Ministerial mandate letters: Relevance to Indigenous child welfare and well-being. CWRP Information Sheet #168. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Jones, A., Sinha, V. & Trocmé, N. (2015). Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care in the Canadian Provinces. CWRP Information Sheet #167E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.c
Wray, M. & Sinha, V. (2015). Foster Care Disparity for Aboriginal Children in 2011. CWRP Information Sheet #165E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families. c
Jones, A. & Sinha, V. (2015) Long-term trends in out of home care for on-reserve First Nations children. CWRP Information Sheet #164E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Churchill, M. & Sinha, V. (2015). What does the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report summary say about the Indian Residential School (IRS) system and child welfare? CWRP Information Sheet #163E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Sinha, V., & Wray, M. (2015). Foster Care Disparity for First Nations Children in 2011. CWRP Information Sheet #166E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015a). What is the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations Child Welfare? CWRP Information Sheet #146E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015b). What is the history of the government’s provision of child welfare services to First Nations? CWRP Information Sheet #147E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015c). What are the government’s current policies and programs in First Nations child welfare? CWRP Information Sheet #148E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015d). What are Canada’s legal obligations to protect First Nations children? CWRP Information Sheet #149E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015e). How is Jordan’s Principle related to the Tribunal? CWRP Information Sheet #150E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015f). What are the main arguments before the Tribunal? Summary Sheet. CWRP Information Sheet #151E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015g). What are the Complainants’ main arguments before the Tribunal? CWRP Information Sheet #152E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015h). What are the federal government’s main arguments before the Tribunal? CWRP Information Sheet #153E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015i). What are the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s main arguments before the Tribunal? CWRP Information Sheet #154E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Currie, V. & Sinha, V. (2015j). What remedies have been suggested to the Tribunal and what are the arguments against them? CWRP Information Sheet #155E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Sinha, V. (2015). Without denial, delay, or disruption: Ensuring First Nations children’s access to equitable services through Jordan’s Principle. Canadian Child Welfare Research Information Sheet #143E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Kozlowski, A., Milne, L. & Sinha, V. (2014). British Columbia’s child welfare system. CWRP Information Sheet #139E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Nutton, J., Fast, E. & Sinha, V. (2014). Nova Scotia’s child welfare system. CWRP Information Sheet #124E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Milne, L., Kozlowski, A. & Sinha, V. (2014). Manitoba’s Child Welfare System. CWRP Information Sheet #126E. Montreal, QC: McGill University, Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Blumenthal, A., & Sinha, V. (2014). Newfoundland and Labrador’s child welfare system. CWRP Information Sheet #130E. Montreal, QC: Centre for Research on Children and Families.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V. & McHugh, R. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in Alberta. CWRP Information Sheet #99E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V., Hartsook, G., Thomas, S. & Montgomery, H.M. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in Saskatchewan. CWRP Information Sheet #101E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V., Glode, J. & MacDonald, N. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in Nova Scotia. CWRP Information Sheet #100E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V., Petti, T. & Flette, E. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in Manitoba. CWRP Information Sheet #97E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V. & Richard, K. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in Ontario. CWRP Information Sheet #102E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V., Hoey, S. & Lucas, L. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in British Columbia. CWRP Information Sheet #98E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Kozlowski, A., Sinha, V. & Levi, J. (2012). The structure of First Nations child welfare in New Brunswick. CWRP Information Sheet #96E. Montreal: Centre for Research on Children and Families, McGill University.
Sinha, V. Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., MacLaurin, Fast, E. Prokop, S.T. et al. (2011). Frequently asked questions about Kiskisik Awasisak: Remember the children. Understanding the overrepresentation of First Nations children in the child welfare system. Child Welfare Research Portal.
Trocmé, N. Fallon, B., MacLaurin, B. & Sinha, V. (2011). The changing nature of substantiated maltreatment in Canada. Canada’s Children, 18(1), 18-20.
Unpublished Reports
Sinha, V. & Orav-Lakaski, B. (2015). Maltreatment prevention indicators: A literature review. Preliminary report prepared for the Association of Native Child and Family Service Agencies of Ontario.
Sinha, V. & Trocmé, N. (2013). Child maltreatment related investigations involving First Nations children living on and off reserve: An analysis of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2008. Report commissioned by the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Kyte, A., Sinha, V. & Trocmé, N. (2012). Final report phase II – Strengthening Families Program evaluation. Submitted to the African Canadian Development Prevention Network and the Public Health Agency of Canada; Montreal, QC.
Sinha, V., Ives, N., Leman, D., Goren, A. & Thomson, W. (2011). Through the lens of family: A summary of project findings on social change and challenge in Nunavik. Issue brief for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project.
Sinha, V., Ives, N., Leman, D., Goren, A. & Thomson, W. (2011). A focus on regional governance: A summary of project findings on social change and challenge in Nunavik. Issue brief for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project.
Ives, N., Sinha, V., Leman, D., Goren, A. & Thomson, W. (2011). Major research themes and findings for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project. Issue brief for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project.
Ives, N., Sinha, V., Leman, D., Goren, A. & Thomson, W. (2011). A focus on education: A summary of project findings on social change and challenge in Nunavik. Issue brief for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project.
Ives, N., Sinha, V., Leman, D., Goren, A. & Thomson, W. (2011). Through the lens of culture: A summary of project findings on social change and challenge in Nunavik. Issue brief for the Community Capability and Development in Nunavik Project.
For a full list of Vandna’s publications, see Publications. Many of her articles, reports, and information sheets are available for download at http://csprg.research.mcgill.ca