The CFS Unit ensures there is a unified political approach in advocating on behalf of Manitoba’s First Nation children, families and communities at risk due to government policies, practices, interpretations and approaches.

Primary functions also include providing advice and recommendations to the Grand Chief, AMC Chiefs-in-Assembly, AMC Executive Council, FNCFS agencies and other child related program experts in pursuing fairness, parity and justice for First Nation children, families and communities.

KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES

First Nations work within an environment that is facing major changes in the way the federal government will address First Nation/Aboriginal policies, authorities and funding. These aspects will largely impact on the day to day lives our children, families and communities. It is critical that the CFS unit continuously be informed of First Nation and government program issues, government agendas, societal trends and political climate in order to accurately forecast long and short-term implications and/or successes to child well-being, family support, family preservation and community ownership.

Sadly our children face so many more challenges in this day and age that require different program sectors to work together to address multi-faceted problem areas, such as suicide, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and drug/solvent addictions.

LINKAGE TO FIRST NATION COMMUNITIES

• On-going communication, information sharing and coordination with the thirteen FNCFS Agencies and other programs.
• Continued negotiations regarding government funding, policies and legislation that will ensure support and protect First Nation children’s and family programs.
• Continued promotion of child well being through safety and prevention to ensure seamless continuum of care for children and their families. Education required promoting program integration through multi-sector program approaches.
• Advocacy for First Nation individuals in crisis. Example: international adoption.
• Written and verbal communication through various media outlets.
• Public education to external organizations on First Nation issues, needs and challenges.

STATUS OF ACTIVITIES

Aboriginal Justice Inquiry – Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI)

This precedent-setting major system overhaul has accomplished all milestones set out in Phase 4 of the AJI-CWI. First Nations have recently dismantled the Winnipeg Child and Family Services Agency. All of the agencies have a province-wide mandate, most of the cases have been transferred from the non-aboriginal agencies to First Nation agencies, agency capacity has been secured either through secondments or direct hires, First Nations have begun to transform the workforce and the service delivery system.

The service delivery system that is being transformed includes approximately 6000 children in care, 8500 active family files and 4000 foster families. It is forecasted alone that under the Workforce Adjustment Strategy, approximately 200+ middle income jobs for First Nations will be created. The Authority Determination Process (ADP) is the new intake method that allows a family to determine where they will go for service based on cultural affiliation. ADP results indicate that 82% of Aboriginal families chose to transfer to their First Nation and Métis Authority.

Next steps include the establishment of the Joint Intake Response Unit (JIRU) in the city of Winnipeg. The JIRU will be operational as of October 1, 2005 and is to be mandated by the Southern First Nations Authority. Parties to AJI-CWI will begin developing new Child and Family Services legislation focusing on more First Nation cultural components. Discussions to restructure Group 2 resources and develop a new model have begun. The AMC applauds all FNCFS and non-aboriginal CFS staff for all their hard work, patience and perseverance.

Federal Funding Issues/Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Development (DIAND) Renewal of Social Program Authorities

DIAND is currently in the process of renewing their authorities for the social development programs. The existing program authorities are due to expire March 31, 2006. Specifically DIAND is required to renew the program authorities for Social Assistance, FNCFS, Assisted Living, National Child Benefit Reinvestment and Family Violence Prevention.

As part of the federal government policy approval process, the department is required to seek Cabinet approval of the policy proposals on the social programs December 2005 and then seek Treasury Board approval for funding allocations for March 2006. DIAND has committed to work jointly with AFN and the First Nations Policy Advisory Group (FNPAG) to prepare a social development policy framework that will guide and support the renewal of program authorities in 2006 and also provide long term direction for the social development programs.

AMC is a member of FNPAG and has been active at all meetings. This joint process for policy development is in keeping with the objectives of the Canada-Aboriginal Peoples Roundtable discussions and a results-based framework with the ultimate goal of closing the gap in life conditions between First Nations and other Canadians. In addition various research projects under the National Policy Review are either completed or still underway. Findings from these research projects will be used to support the development of a new funding model for FNCFS that will lead to increased resources and will be incorporated in the Social Development policy framework and the DIAND cabinet submission which is due in December 2005.

First Nation Children with Complex Medical Needs/Manitoba First Nation Disability Multi- Sectoral Working Group (MFNDMWG)

AMC continues to partner with the Public Interest Law Center of Manitoba to address charter and human right violations by government towards federally responsible First Nation children with complex medical needs. Most times these children are treated differently in accessing services and approval for funding of these services due to jurisdictional issues. Legal research has been completed on Rights of the Child and other international conventions that are applicable to this issue. The Public Interest Law Center is consulting with other experts in the field, as well as, conducting interviews with health technicians, FNCFS and First Nation families with disabilities.

The federal government is watching this case very closely and has since provided funding to AMC to facilitate a Federal/Provincial/Territorial/Aboriginal Workshop on First Nation Children with Special Needs. AMC hosted this workshop on January 17 & 18, 2005. We had tremendous attendance from government and program people across the country to examine ways to move beyond jurisdictional and other barriers for improved services and supports.

The MFNDMWG has taken the lead across the country to address these issues and continues to meet monthly. This working group, a first of its kind, is comprised of First Nations (AMC and Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC)), federal and provincial representatives from DIAND, Health Canada, Provincial Health, Family Services and Disabilities. AMC endeavors to secure additional funding from Health Canada to undertake an extensive strategic plan and detailed financial analysis of services and supports for families with children with disabilities and special needs. AMC would like to take this opportunity to thank the special advisor to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health Canada and all other working group members for their commitment and diligence towards the work of this critical issue.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) /Single Window Approach

The main ECD programs on reserve consist of Aboriginal Headstart On-Reserve and the First Nations and Inuit Day Care Initiative. A Memorandum to Cabinet authorizing the transfer of these programs to one single federal department was signed off by Cabinet on May 9, 2005.

Currently, Headstart falls under Health Canada through the First Nations Inuit Health Branch and Day Care under the federal department of Human Resources Skills Development (HRSD).

The federal government is planning to transfer these programs under one department in order to secure a “single window” approach to ECD programs for children on reserve. The final decision of which department will assume authority for these FN EDC programs has not been made at this time, however one of the departments of DIAND, Health Canada or HRSD will be selected. At this time DIAND has been given the lead to develop a transition plan on the “single window” model. The final decision is to be determined by December 2005.

Upstream Investments/Maternal Child Health (MCH)

The federal government has recently announced an additional $700M over five years in aboriginal health. From the $700M, $400M will go towards upstream investments including ECD, diabetes, suicide prevention and MCH. Recently, AMC attended a MCH meeting hosted by Health Canada to begin discussions on MCH. Studies and programs of “best practice” nationally and internationally have demonstrated the effectiveness of “home visiting” services as it pertains to mother’s health, pre-natal health, new baby’s health and young child’s health. (Example: Celebrating Nuu-Chah-Nulth Babies, a BC First Nation Model).

Health Canada will provide $110M over 5 years from MCH to fund pilot projects in each province and territory to establish plans for “home visiting” programs and evaluate successful programs. It is intended to have a strong evaluation component that will provide evidence-based arguments for Health Canada to central agencies in order to secure long-term funding for MCH on reserve. AMC will continue to participate on this initiative and ensure Manitoba First Nations work directly at both the regional and national levels in designing the framework overseeing MCH. To date, AMC has provided feedback on program expectations, strategic principles, home visiting principles and pilot criteria.

Children’s Inquest Review Committee (CIRC)

AMC continues to be a member on the CIRC that reviews deaths of children in Manitoba of unnatural causes as there is clear evidence that a lack of good mental health, good maternal child health, and early childhood development services contribute to fatalities. As such, AMC’s role on this committee is to educate and provide insight to the CIRC on First Nation concerns, barriers, community realities and gaps in services that leads to systemic problems that could affect the probability of fatalities.

Manitoba Children’s Agenda Leadership Council

The AMC is a member of this Council comprised of federal, provincial and Manitoba Voluntary sector organizations. The Council provides opportunities to network with organizations, such as the Business Council of Manitoba to promote First Nation economic development and support First Nation youth in education and early childhood programs necessary to promote good health, positive self-esteem and readiness for the future work force.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AMC collaborated with several federal departments on the development of a new federal Social Policy Framework that will guide and reconfigure social programs within the next 5 years. This work is being done within the First Nation/Indian Affairs Policy Advisory Group.

We were also engaged in the National Policy Review (NPR) process. Our involvement in several NPR research projects will result in a new DIAND FNCFS funding formula.

AMC was instrumental in lobbying INAC to reinstate Band Employee Benefit funding to FNCFS agencies through a Treasury Board authority submission.

We established a partnership to assist the Public Interest Law Center of Manitoba in building a case against the federal and provincial governments regarding human rights violations against First Nation children with complex medical needs. Legal research on this issue has been completed and community consultations/ academia input are being finalized.

In January 2005, AMC facilitated a regional workshop with all levels of government on the issue of First Nation children with special needs and disabilities. The objective of this workshop was to gather input on the issue, propose solutions, and to identify barriers and jurisdictional disputes faced by these children. A proposal has been submitted to Health Canada for additional dollars to develop comprehensive plan for a First Nation disability resource center.