“Pathways in a Forest: Indigenous guidance on prevention-based child welfare” is a law reform report developed collaboratively by West Coast LEAF and the families, Elders and staff at Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Lii Michif Otipemisiwak and the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association. The report highlights efforts by Indigenous families, communities and Nations to revitalize Indigenous approaches to child welfare, develop comprehensive community-based supports and fight for self-determination.
47 search results
for
Indigenous Peoples
Recommendations for improving financial supports
Recommendation 18: MCFD should undertake a legislative review and financial policy review to ensure that all kinship caregivers are receiving the Child Tax Benefit and other benefits for each dependent in their care.-
Category and theme:
- Access to justice ,
- Accessibility ,
- Accessible services and technology ,
- Classism ,
- Decolonization and Indigenous rights ,
- Disability and parenting ,
- Discrimination and hate ,
- Economic inequality ,
- Health, wellness and services ,
- Human rights system ,
- Income insecurity and benefits ,
- Indigenous children and youth in care ,
- Poverty and economic inequality ,
- Public services
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
A pathway forward
JURISDICTIONAL SHORTFALLS: THE LIMITS OF MODERN TREATIES AND BILL C-92
Recommendation 18: BC government and MCFD to ensure that children are provided with services while the family navigates the process and develop a consistent mechanism for repaying costs for services provided in the interim-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 19: The BC government and MCFD should increase preventative program funding to Indigenous communities for existing or new promising practices. Funding must be equitable, sustained and long-term, and cover the delivery of holistic services as identified by communities. Funding should cover services such as:- Human resource needs of community-based groups including issues with retention, burn out, inequity in pay scales etc.
- In-home support
- Pregnancy support and baby welcoming programs
- Transition support programming for families after children have been removed or upon being returned home
- Supports for parents whose children are in care
- Provide in-home support immediately as a tool to prevent removal
- Funding for cultural programming that is consistent and frequent
-
Category and theme:
- Accessibility ,
- Accessible services and technology ,
- Classism ,
- Culture and language ,
- Decolonization and Indigenous rights ,
- Disability and parenting ,
- Discrimination and hate ,
- Economic inequality ,
- Education and employment ,
- Health, wellness and services ,
- Income insecurity and benefits ,
- Indigenous children and youth in care ,
- Poverty ,
- Poverty and economic inequality ,
- Public services ,
- Racism ,
- Sexism ,
- Workers’ rights
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
A pathway forward
THE SHORTFALLS WITH FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL FUNDING OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES FOR INDIGENOUS FAMILIES
Recommendation 19: MCFD must continue to work with communities to ensure that they are being adequately funded to provide child welfare services.-
Category and theme:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 20: The BC government and MCFD must fund and resource supportive housing alternatives where parents and children who are at risk of harm can live. These homes should be specifically qualified to address complex family circumstances. Creative housing solutions where caregivers and children can stay together while receiving wrap-around support are especially needed in remote areas.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 21: The BC government and MCFD should work with Indigenous communities to fund and develop comprehensive services for families that are experiencing violence including services for abusive men and services for the entire family. These services should address intersecting needs including historical trauma, parenting skills, and substance use.-
Category and theme:
- Accessibility ,
- Accessible services and technology ,
- Decolonization and Indigenous rights ,
- Disability and parenting ,
- Discrimination and hate ,
- Gender-based violence ,
- Health ,
- Health, wellness and services ,
- Housing and homelessness ,
- Indigenous children and youth in care ,
- Poverty and economic inequality ,
- Public services ,
- Substance use
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 22: MCFD should work with community-based groups to develop safety and risk assessment tools that are adapted in order to recognize the unique cultures and ways of life of Indigenous communities across BC.-
Category and theme:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 23: For expecting parents, it is important to have an advocate or family support worker do initial visits to enhance the chances for engagement with services prior to birth. MCFD must work with community-based organizations that have developed best practices in engaging expectant parents to assess how the Ministry can develop a pathway whereby expectant parents could voluntarily seek prevention supports prior to their child’s birth.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 24: Frequent family visits and family reunification must always be the top priority and never delayed due to shortages in MCFD resources. MCFD should ensure that staff understand the need to prioritize frequent family visits and, where feasible, work with community-based organizations that are supporting the parent to ease access.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation:
Recommendations for improving prevention-based efforts
Recommendation 25: Children in temporary care must be kept within an accessible distance to the parent with due consideration to the parents’ circumstances (financial etc). Where a child needs to be close to their home nation, parents must be given financial supports to ensure that there is adequate access to maintain family connection.-
Category and theme:
Audience:
Groups affected:
Location of recommendation: