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Recommendation 1:
MCFD to conduct a systemic needs analysis of cultural and family support resources required to ensure that social workers are better supported to promote a sense of belonging and identity for First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Urban Indigenous children and youth in care in relation to their families, culture and cultural community over time and at different stages in their lives and identity development. This review will inform the development of a longer-term resourcing and implementation plan. However, given the urgent need to address the significant over-involvement of the child welfare system in the lives of Indigenous children and families and poor outcomes for Indigenous children in the child welfare system, a substantive investment of new resources should be made immediately that can be considered a down payment on the resources identified for the longer-term plan.
Funding for immediate and substantive new resources to be secured and implementation to begin no later than April 1, 2022.
Needs analysis and resourcing plan to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022 with longer-term, sustained funding secured and implementation of new resources beginning by April 1, 2023.
The needs analysis of cultural support resources must be informed by meaningful consultation and collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit entities in accordance with obligations under DRIPA and recognizing that Indigenous people hold the expertise, and inherent right of responsibility, over their children. Without limiting the foregoing, the ministry should consider enhancing social workers’ capacity to do the required work; Roots workers/Family Finders; working with communities to create cultural support circles, matriarchal circles or other circles deemed appropriate by individual communities; cultural reconnection and reunification actions such as visits to home communities and places of connection; support for case re-assessments and family/community reconnection; support to family member visitations regardless of where the child lives; participation in cultural activities; and children in care being supported to visit their traditional territories for significant family or milestone ceremonies and at minimum twice a year.
Funding for immediate and substantive new resources to be secured and implementation to begin no later than April 1, 2022.
Needs analysis and resourcing plan to be completed by Sept. 30, 2022 with longer-term, sustained funding secured and implementation of new resources beginning by April 1, 2023.
The needs analysis of cultural support resources must be informed by meaningful consultation and collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit entities in accordance with obligations under DRIPA and recognizing that Indigenous people hold the expertise, and inherent right of responsibility, over their children. Without limiting the foregoing, the ministry should consider enhancing social workers’ capacity to do the required work; Roots workers/Family Finders; working with communities to create cultural support circles, matriarchal circles or other circles deemed appropriate by individual communities; cultural reconnection and reunification actions such as visits to home communities and places of connection; support for case re-assessments and family/community reconnection; support to family member visitations regardless of where the child lives; participation in cultural activities; and children in care being supported to visit their traditional territories for significant family or milestone ceremonies and at minimum twice a year.
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Recommendation 4:
As a first step toward realizing fundamental changes in practice that address racism, stigma and bias, MCFD, in collaboration with DAAs, community service agencies and caregivers, to conduct a review of existing FASD awareness training and the training needs of all front-line staff working with children and youth with FASD. MCFD, working with DAAs, to use this review to support the development of evidence-based, culturally attuned and regularly updated training materials that ground a required training program for current staff across the range of MCFD service lines and, in particular, CYMH, CYSN, child welfare and youth justice. This awareness training should then be incorporated into basic entry training for newly hired staff and made accessible to community service agencies and caregivers. MCFD to complete the reviews and curriculum development and begin training by March 31, 2022 and complete training of all relevant ministry and agency staff by March 31, 2023.
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Recommendation 1:
That the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) fully fund and implement a CYSN service framework and plan, fully inclusive of children and youth with FASD. The formation of the service framework and plan must extensively engage Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs) and all appropriate partners. This framework must articulate a comprehensive and accessible array of CYSN services, delivered based on both an assessment of functional needs and diagnosis and, therefore, fully including children and youth affected by FASD. MCFD to begin implementation by Sept. 30, 2021 and complete full implementation of the
CYSN service framework and plan over a three-year period ending March 31, 2024.
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Recommendation 8:
MCFD should, in consultation with Indigenous communities and Nations, amend legislated timelines to allow for an opportunity to develop creative family plans.
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Recommendation 26:
MCFD should work with community-based organizations to assess creative ways that social workers could be placed directly within community including mechanisms that would need to be put in place to ensure this does not undermine the relationship of trust between community and families (i.e this may include frontline workers focusing only on prevention and no apprehension).
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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.
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Recommendation 29:
MCFD should work collaboratively with Indigenous communities to develop training and tools to support Indigenous peoples and communities to understand their rights regarding child welfare.
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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.
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Recommendation 4:
MCFD should undertake a comprehensive legislative review of the CFCSA in order to bring the provincial child welfare standards in line with the federal minimum standards. It is essential that Indigenous communities and Nations are adequately consulted in the review process.
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Recommendation 9:
MCFD should review the legislation to assess how the legislation could support a more accountable and robust legal framework for prevention-based supports including by:
- Adding a comprehensive list of functions for MCFD at the beginning of the legislation which includes:
- working with community and social services to alleviate and remedy the socio-economic conditions that place families at risk;
- developing and providing services and supports before and after intervention;
- proactively identifying groups of children the recognition and realization of whose rights may require MCFD to undertake special measures and develop special programming
- Replace the reference of prevention services in section 2(c) of the CFCSA, with a legislative provision that places a binding and measurable obligation on the Ministry to provide supports to keep families together who are at risk of having their children apprehended. The provision should place a positive obligation on the Ministry to take active efforts to provide remedial services and rehabilitative programs designed to prevent the breakup of the child’s family. The courts must then be satisfied that these active efforts proved unsuccessful in keeping the family together.
- Expand the list of supports under section 5 to include:
- improving the family’s financial situation;
- improving the family’s housing situation;
- improving parenting skills;
- improving child-care and child-rearing capabilities;
- improving homemaking skills;
- drug or alcohol treatment and rehabilitation;
- providing child care;
- mediation of disputes;
- self-help and empowerment of parents whose children have been, are or may be in need of protective services; and,
- transition supports for families who have just had a child apprehended or returned.
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