Asian-Canadian children and families involved or at risk of involvement in the child welfare system present with distinct needs, characteristics, circumstances, and capacities. This pen-and-ink illustration commissioned by the Asian Child Welfare Research Project led by Professor Barbara Lee captures the coming together of people from different generations and walks of life to support children and families navigating waters. Water is a main theme of this image as it represents life with its ebbs and flows, as well it is flexible, adaptive, and capable of unifying wisdoms and actions for the well-being of children and families. Walking hand-in-hand is another main theme, as the research has informed us the barriers and facilitators for Asian-Canadian children and families that require collaborative best practices to guide prevention and interventions in the child welfare system. Objects in this image carry symbolic meaning awaiting for the viewers to discover, for example, a windmill signifies hope and resilience; bamboo represents strength and flexibility; sprouting leaves signify renewal and growth; and honeycomb is a symbol for unity, kindness and warmth. Children and female figures are highlighted as leading the way in this image, as a reminder that their resilience and strengths be respected in the child welfare journey.
Social worker, educator, and artist, Sherlyn Hu, describes the commissioned illustration and her work
Sherlyn Hu (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian social worker, educator and artist of immigrant background currently residing in Toronto. She’s passionate about enabling people to discover our strengths (“we are good enough!”), embrace our flaws (“we are naturally imperfect!”), and connect with each other in a nurturing way (“we make things whole!”). She has published books, book chapters, journal articles and presentations on topics of health, mental health, relationships, learning and more. Sherlyn is the co-founder of BETWEEN Arts and Human Services (www.betweenarts.com), a non-profit Canadian organization dedicated to making art inclusive and realizing the transformative potential of art in the service of human needs and aims. Her artwork has been featured in different media, including at the University of Toronto, the Toronto Transit Commission vehicles, and products in Canadian grocery stores. She’s currently working on a children’s book. Sherlyn often works with basic materials, just a pen and a paper, as art shall be accessible to all.
Connecting with Sherlyn:
Instagram: @sherlynhu
Website: www.sherlynhu.com
