Report on First Nations child welfare released (10/02/24)

Feb. 24, 2010

(Multimedia)

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Ombudsman and Child and Youth Advocate Bernard Richard today released a report entitled, Hand-in-Hand: A Review of First Nations Child Welfare in New Brunswick.

In his report, Richard recommends sweeping changes to the child welfare system on First Nations, reducing the number of agencies to three from the current 11.

Richard also calls for the establishment of a single First Nations Child and Family Services Office that would provide financial and administrative functions to the three agencies. Furthermore, he provides recommendations related to funding, governance, service delivery standards, training and accountability.

“My objective was to recommend changes that will reduce the duplication of administrative work being done in each community in order to maximize frontline social work services,” said Richard. “In my view, it is necessary to maintain and augment the number of social workers in each community who provide culturally based services and to give them access to the same resources employed by social workers in the rest of the province.”

Richard, in his report, also delves into the deep-seated issues affecting First Nations communities, such as poverty, drug addictions, domestic violence, and the erosion of the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet cultures and languages.

“It was essential to examine the underlying social, economic and cultural conditions for this report,” said Richard. “To simply put in place an improved child welfare system would not be enough to truly create equal opportunities for First Nations children. For real change to occur, we must address the determinants of child welfare and focus on prevention-based solutions.”

Copies of the report will be available online. To request a paper copy, call 1-888-465-1100 or e-mail, nbombud@gnb.ca.

10/02/24

EDITOR’S NOTE: Following is a backgrounder on Hand-in-Hand: A Review of First Nations Child Welfare in New Brunswick. MEDIA CONTACT: Bernard Richard, Office of the Ombudsman and Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, 506-453-2789, nbombud@gnb.ca.

Backgrounder: Hand-in-Hand: A Review of First Nations Child Welfare in New Brunswick

In May 2009, the Minister of Social Development asked the Child and Youth Advocate to review and make recommendations about the child welfare services provided in New Brunswick’s 15 First Nations communities.

Bernard Richard, the ombudsman and child and youth advocate, consulted widely and produced a report that gives voice to the concerns expressed by First Nations youth, their families, community leaders and service providers.

The report’s many recommendations are aimed at all levels of government: federal, provincial and First Nations. Beyond that, the report asks all New Brunswickers, First Nations and non-Aboriginals alike, to work together to achieve equal opportunity for all.

Part I of the report focuses on the delivery of child welfare services in First Nations communities. Richard recommends a rationalization of service delivery, reducing the number of agencies from to three from 11 and establishing a single First Nations Child and Family Services Office from which certain financial, administrative and specialized child welfare services would be offered.

In Richard’s view, the strengths of the current service delivery model (such as Head Start programs for young children, community-based service delivery, social work outreach to the child’s family and community, and the active offer of culturally based child welfare practices) must be retained and strengthened.

Richard recommends that the entire reform process be guided by the Touchstone Principles of First Nations child welfare: self-determination, non-discrimination, holistic and structural interventions and respect for culture and language.

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) is committed to moving to a more prevention-based service delivery model, but more funding from INAC and other federal agencies will be required for the prevention-based model to succeed.

Richard said the provincial government must also support service delivery by sharing its information management and case management tools; by supporting the roll-out and maintenance of payroll services and information systems to the new First Nations Child and Family Services Office and its agencies; and by helping regional Department of Social Development offices and First Nations agencies to work collaboratively, share training events and benefit from new initiatives such as family group conferencing.

According to Richard, chiefs and councils will have to shoulder collectively the task of governing the First Nations Child and Family Services Office and agencies while maintaining and improving investments in their own communities to ensure that children come first.

Beyond this reform of service delivery, Richard, in his report, calls for bold action to address the root causes of the disadvantages faced by First Nations children.

Part II analyzes the situation of children in First Nations communities. Richard noted that First Nations children in New Brunswick are six times more likely than other children to be taken from their homes and placed in foster care; four to five times more likely to be charged as young offenders; and may be at greater risk for health issues such as obesity and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Moreover, Richard noted that the Mi’kmaq and Maliseet languages are dying and may not survive past the next generation unless immediate measures are taken.

Richard invited all New Brunswickers and all levels of government to take new approaches to housing, job creation, economic development, drug monitoring and treatment and law enforcement.

Furthermore, he said, it is essential that new investments be made in early childhood development, youth sports and recreation, and cultural and linguistic preservation and promotion, in order to build resiliency and strong identities and to reinforce the strong attachment to community and family among First Nations children.

“When all New Brunswickers work together toward this goal, we will make swift progress and become, at long last, the living example of equal opportunity that we can aspire to be,” Richard said.

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NB 252

Feb. 19, 2010

FREDERICTON (CNB) – Legislation introduced today will implement the province’s poverty reduction plan and ensure the delivery of poverty initiatives at the community level.

Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock introduced the Economic and Social Inclusion Act in the legislative assembly.

“While government plays an important role in helping lift New Brunswickers out of poverty, we cannot do it alone,” said Lamrock. “With the introduction of this act, we are formalizing the partnership among government, business and communities in the fight to reduce poverty in our province.”

The Economic and Social Inclusion Act will serve as the legislative framework to implement

Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan. It will create a structure to ensure and facilitate on-going engagement and partnership of residents and all sectors of society. Specifically, the act will:

• establish the New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation, a Part 1 corporation under the Public Service Labour Relations Act;
• provide for the establishment of community inclusion networks; and
• provide for the establishment of a co-ordination unit to provide support for the board and the community inclusion networks.

The board of directors of the corporation will be composed of 22 members representing government; business; community non-profit organizations; and persons having experienced poverty. Four vice-chairpersons, representative of each of these sectors, will be appointed and will take turns in assuming the position of chair for a one-year term.

The act fulfils a commitment made by the provincial government under the economic and social inclusion plan, adopted in November 2009 by the 50 members of the Final Forum representing government, the business and community sectors, and residents who have experienced living in poverty.

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“Over the past few months, one of government’s major priorities has been to support the smooth transfer of kindergarten to the public education system. Now that most of this planning is in place, we want to turn our attention to early childhood,” said the minister. “Building a stronger and more sustainable early childhood sector in our One Island Community is a major priority of this government. We want to ensure that every child has a good start in life and that every family has good access to high quality child care.”

Kathleen Flanagan has been contracted by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to facilitate the development of a vision for the early childhood sector and a five-year plan to renew the sector after kindergarten is transferred to the school system. A resident of Prince Edward Island, Ms. Flanagan is recognized across the country for her expertise in early childhood development. She is now researching initiatives in other jurisdictions, conducting key informant interviews with early childhood educators and holding focus groups with parents across the Island.

An online survey has been established to gather input from caregivers of pre-school children; parents expecting their first child; grandparents, aunts, uncles and others who are involved in the lives of pre-school children. The survey respondents are being asked what they think is important for children in their pre-school years. The survey is open until February 19 at www.gov.pe.ca/go/earlychildhoodsurvey.

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The report contains 33 recommendations proposing, among other things:

• that an interdepartmental homelessness policy and plan be adopted as soon as possible;
• that particular attention be paid to social housing, having the public and community networks work together, and training social workers;
• that a program with sufficient, recurring funding be created for organizations working with the homeless;
• that there be a better balance between court action and social mediation.

For more information, read the related press release. (In French only)

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Corporations Canada is seeking comments on the fees proposed under the Canada Not-for-Profit Act (Bill C-4) and the associated service standards.

Bill C-4 received Royal Assent on June 23, 2009. Before the Act can come into force, the fees and related service standards must first be established in accordance with the User Fees Act process, which is as follows:

1. Public consultation on the proposed fees and related service standards;
2. Publication in the Canada Gazette of a notice setting out the proposed fees and related service standards which provides a timeframe for clients to submit complaints. This notice is published after the public consultation period;
3. Creation of an independent complaint review panel, if complaints received cannot be resolved;
4. Tabling of the proposal in each of the House of Commons and Senate for 20 sitting days for review.

Once the User Fees Act process is complete, the proposed regulations which include the fees, will then need to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I before final approval can be obtained from Treasury Board.

You can obtain the consultation paper on the proposed fees and related service standards:

• at Corporations Canada’s Website under the heading “What’s New” in the left-hand menu;
• by contacting Corporations Canada directly at 1-866-333-5556 to obtain a copy by mail.

Comments on the proposed fees or service standards may be submitted to Corporations Canada by February 5, 2010. For further information, call 1-866-333-5556 or send an e-mail to corporationscanada@ic.gc.ca.

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(Yellowknife, NT) January 11, 2010 – The Standing Committee on Social Programs has begun its review of the Child and Family Services Act as defined by the Terms of Reference adopted by the Legislative Assembly on October 22, 2009. A Report is expected to be tabled in the Legislative Assembly during the fall 2010 session.

“The Northwest Territories must ensure that child protection legislation keeps pace with our constantly evolving society,” says Mr. Tom Beaulieu, Chair of the Standing Committee. “We in the North are only too aware that the well-being of our children is vital for a strong and vibrant future.”

The Committee appreciates the ongoing cooperation of the Department of Health and Social Services in the conduct of the review and recognizes this collaborative approach as an opportunity to work within the consensus government framework for the benefit of children and families of the Northwest Territories.

The review will consist of several components including an examination of child protection legislation in other jurisdictions. The Committee will coordinate several contractor-facilitated meetings and interviews which will take place in January and February 2010 with various stakeholder groups and will include parents and youth who receive child and family services. The Committee will be releasing a public discussion paper in newspapers throughout the NWT in late January 2010. The discussion paper will include information on the current Act, the review process, the opportunities that will be available for the public to participate, a schedule of the community meetings that will take place throughout the Northwest Territories in April 2010, and suggested discussion questions to promote public dialogue on this important issue. The public can expect a press conference announcing the release of the discussion paper in January.

“The Committee is eager to hear from as many individuals and organizations as possible on this important issue. We are committed to working with stakeholders, clients of the child protection system, the public and the Department of Health and Social Services in order to undertake a thorough and responsive review of the Act,” says Mr. Glen Abernethy, Deputy Chair of the Committee. In addition to the scheduled public meetings in April 2010, the Committee would be pleased to receive written or emailed submissions at any time.

The Terms of Reference can be found on the Assembly website at www.assembly.gov.nt.ca.  on the Home Page.

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Ontario has selected a group of highly experienced and committed community leaders to help shape a review of the social assistance system and suggest ways to better support vulnerable Ontarians transition to greater independence.

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The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is seeking applications for the position of Child and
Youth Advocate.

The Child and Youth Advocate is mandated through the Child and Youth Advocate Act to: ensure the
rights and interests of children and youth are protected and advanced and their views are heard
and considered; ensure that children and youth have access to services and that their complaints
relating to the provision of those services receive appropriate attention; provide information and
advice to government and communities about the availability, effectiveness, responsiveness
and relevance of services to children and youth; and generally act as an advocate for the rights
and interests of children and youth. While the Advocate’s primary responsibility is to provide
advocacy services, the Advocate may conduct an investigation should mediation not resolve the
situation or if the nature of the matter requires such action. Responsibility also includes managing
the staff and processes that are required to fulfill the mandate of the office, operating within the
administrative requirements as set out in the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and
Administration Act.

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The Department of Education has released its updated Positive Learning Environment Policy. The new policy, called the Positive Learning and Working Environment, specifically includes teachers. Updating the policy was a commitment under the department’s When kids come first plan.

“I am pleased that today, as anti-bullying Blue Day is being recognized in schools across the province, that I can release this updated policy in support of the elimination of all types of bullying in our schools,” said Education Minister Roland Haché. “Including teachers and support staff in this policy is important to ensure that they, too, have a safe and healthy working environment and are treated with the respect that they deserve.”

In addition to expanding the policy to teachers, the updated policy adds bullying and cyber-bullying under the “serious misconduct” section. A new section on conflict resolution and prevention of inappropriate behaviour by parents has been added.

“This updated policy is sorely needed to create a balance in schools,” said Noreen Bonnell, co-president, New Brunswick Teacher’s (NBTF). “Just as students need a safe environment for learning, teachers and other staff need a workplace that is free from threats, harassment and intimidation.”

“Any form of bullying is unacceptable,” said Monique Caissie, co-president, NBTF.

“We are delighted to see that schools will now be better equipped to manage this kind of problem and to promote an attitude of non-tolerance toward bullying.

Department of Education policies are available online.

09/12/17

MEDIA CONTACTS: Valerie Kilfoil, communications, Department of Education, 506-444-4919; Blake Robichaud, communications, New Brunswick Teachers’ Association, 506-506-452-1833; Rob Frenette, anti-bullying day organizer, 506-549-0367.

09/12/17

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