Kofi Antwi-Boasiako, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at King’s University College at Western University, Canada. His research examines how we can improve outcomes for children, youth, and families from racialized, vulnerable and marginalized communities that come into contact with the child welfare system, with a focus on Black families who experience overrepresentation and disparate outcomes. Prior to transitioning into academia, Dr. Antwi-Boasiako practised in Ontario’s child welfare system for over 15 years. He serves as a member of the board of directors of the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex. He is also an editorial board member of Child Protection and Practice.
Education
- PhD, University of Toronto
- MSW, University of Toronto
- MA, McMaster University
- BA (Hons), University of Ghana
Research
- Child maltreatment
- Child welfare
- Racial disparities
- Decision-making
- Intersectionality
- Marginalized and vulnerable populations
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., Lwin, K., & Trocmé, N. (2026). Ethno-racial identity and child welfare decisions: Using data from the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Children and Youth Services Review, 185, 108913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108913
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Sanders, J. E., Baird, S. L., Swiatek, E., Lewis, V., Knatchbull-Hugessen, M., & Taiwo, A. (2026). A scoping review of child maltreatment reporting by school personnel and police officers concerning Black families. Child Abuse & Neglect, 173, 107932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2026.107932
Boatswain-Kyte, A., Antwi-Boasiako, K., Baiden, P., Trocmé, N., Fallon, B., Esposito, T., Black, T., MacKenzie, P., & Lwin, K. (2025). Racial disparities in child welfare: A propensity score matched analysis of Black and White children in Canada. Child Abuse & Neglect, 169, 107728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107728
Allan, H., Hollinshead, D., Rockwell, K., Ender, K., Antwi-Boasiako, K., O'Leary, D., Middel, F., & Fluke, J. (2025). Illuminating the complexity of decision making in child welfare using the decision making ecology: A scoping review. Children and Youth Services Review, 169, 108121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108121
Lwin, K., Hoagland, A., Antwi-Boasiako, K., McKenzie, P., & Fallon, B. (2024). Examining the role of child welfare worker characteristics and the substantiation decision. Child Abuse & Neglect, 149, 106641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2024.106641
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocme, N., & Fluke, J. (2022). Understanding the overrepresentation of Black children in Ontario’s child welfare system: Perspectives from child welfare workers and community service providers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 123, 105425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105425
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocme, N., & Fluke, J. (2022). Addressing the overrepresentation of Black children in Ontario’s child welfare system: Insights from child welfare workers and community service providers. Child Abuse & Neglect, 123, 105423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105423
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., & Fluke, J. (2021). Examining decision-making tools and child welfare involvement among Black families in Ontario, Canada. Children and Youth Services Review, 126, 106048. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106048
Mohamud, F., Edwards, T., Antwi-Boasiako, K., William, K., King, J., Igor, E., & King, B. (2021). Racial disparity in the Ontario child welfare system: Conceptualizing policies and practices that drive involvement for Black families. Children and Youth Services Review, 120, 105711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105711
Antwi-Boasiako, K., King, B., Fallon, B., Trocmé, N., Fluke, J., Chabot, M., & Esposito, T. (2020). Differences and disparities over time: Black and White families investigated by Ontario’s child welfare system. Child Abuse & Neglect, 107, 104618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104618
Baiden, P., Antwi-Boasiako, K., & den Dunnen, W. (2019). Effects of suicidal ideation on unmet mental health needs among young adults in Canada. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 28, 436-446. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1266-2
Baiden, P., Fallon, B. & Antwi-Boasiako, K. (2017). Effect of social support and disclosure of child abuse on adult suicidal ideation: Findings from a population-based study. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 19(6), e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.4088/pcc.17m02181
King, B., Fallon, B., Boyd, R., Black, T., Antwi-Boasiako, K., & O’Connor, C. (2017). Factors associated with racial differences in child welfare investigative decision-making in Ontario, Canada. Child Abuse & Neglect, 73, 89-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.09.027
Baiden, P., Tarshis, S., Antwi-Boasiako, K., & den Dunnen, W. (2016). Examining the independent protective effect of subjective well-being on severe psychological distress among Canadian adults with a history of child maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 58, 129-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2016.06.017
Other Publications
Antwi-Boasiako, K., King, B., Black, T., Fallon, B., Trocmé, N., & Goodman, D. (2016). Ethno-racial categories and child welfare decisions: Exploring the relationship with poverty. CWRP Information Sheet #178E. Toronto, ON: Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal.
Conference Presentations
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., Lwin, K., & Trocmé, N. (2026, January). Ethno-racial identity and child welfare decisions: Using data from the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Poster presented at The Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Washington, DC., United States.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., Lwin, K., & Trocmé, N. (2025, September). Ethno-racial identity and child welfare decisions: Using data from the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Paper presented at The European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Zagreb, Croatia.
Allan, H., Hollinshead, D., Rockwell, K., Ender, K., Antwi-Boasiako, K., O'Leary, D., Middel, F., & Fluke, J. (2024, October). Illuminating the complexity of decision making in child welfare using the decision making ecology. Paper presented at A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare International Virtual Conference.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., & Fluke, J. (2024, June). Child welfare workers and community service providers’ viewpoints on Black children’s overrepresentation in the child welfare system of Ontario, Canada. Paper presented as part of multi-country symposium on lesson from the child protection workforce: studies of the role of attitudes, beliefs, stereotypes and bias in decision making. Decisions, Assessment, Risk, and Evidence in Social Work (DARE) Conference, Zurich, Switzerland.
Lwin, K., Hoagland, A., Antwi-Boasiako, K., MacKenzie, P., & Fallon, B. (2024, June). Examining the relationship between child welfare worker characteristics and the substantiation decision. Paper presented at Decisions, Assessment, Risk, and Evidence in Social Work (DARE) Conference, Zurich, Switzerland.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Sanders, J., Baird, S. L., Swiatek, E., Lewis, T., & Hugessen, M. (2023, September). A scoping review of racial disproportionality and disparity in child maltreatment reporting by school personnel and police officers. Poster presented at The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., & Fluke, J. (2023, September). Examining the impact of child welfare decision-making tools on Black families in Ontario, Canada. Paper presented as part of multi-country symposium on equity in child protection systems. The European Scientific Association on Residential and Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF) International Child Welfare Conference, Brighton, England.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., Fluke, J., Chabot, M., & Esposito, T. (2023, February). Disparities involving Black children in Ontario’s Child Welfare System: Results from the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. Paper presented at the 2nd National Child Welfare Data Exchange Meeting. McGill Faculty Club, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., King, B., Trocmé, N., & Fluke, J. (2022, October). Child welfare workers and community service providers’ viewpoints on Black children’s overrepresentation in the child welfare system of Ontario, Canada. Paper presented at The Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) Annual Virtual Conference.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Fallon, B., Fluke, J., King, B., Trocmé, N., Chabot, M., & Esposito, T. (2020, October). Child maltreatment-related investigations involving Black and White families in Ontario, Canada. Paper presented as part of multi-country studies of disparities in child welfare at Kempe Center International Virtual Conference.
King, B., Fallon, B., Boyd, R., Black, T., Antwi-Boasiako, K., & O’Connor, C. (2018, January). Racial differences and the contribution of child, caregiver, and socioeconomic risk factors to child welfare investigative decision-making in Ontario. Paper presented at The Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Washington, DC., United States.
Tarshis, S., Baiden, P., Antwi-Boasiako, K., & den Dunnen, W. (2018, January). Examining the independent protective effect of subjective well-being on severe psychological distress among Canadian adults with a history of child maltreatment. Paper presented at The Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), Washington, DC., United States.
Antwi-Boasiako, K., Goodman, D. & Fallon, B. (2016, October). Poverty and over-representation of Black and Indigenous children and families involved in Ontario child welfare. Paper presented at Re-imagining Child Welfare Systems in Canada. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.