Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
www.ainc-inac.gc.ca
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The First Nations Child & Family Services (FNCFS) Program assists First Nations in providing access to culturally sensitive child and family services in their communities, and ensures that the services provided to First Nations children and their families on-reserve are comparable to those available to other provincial residents in similar circumstances.
To this end, the program funds and promotes the development and expansion of child and family services agencies designed, managed and controlled by First Nations. Since child and family services is an area of provincial jurisdiction, these First Nation agencies receive their mandate and authorities from provincial or territorial governments and function in a manner consistent with existing provincial or territorial child and family services legislation. In areas where First Nations Child & Family Services agencies do not exist, INAC funds services provided by provincial or territorial organizations or departments.
Background
The INAC First Nations Child & Family Services Program is one of INAC's social programs, which include Income Assistance, Assisted Living, Children's Programs, Family Violence Prevention and other social services that address individual and family well-being.
Several Cabinet and Treasury Board decisions since the 1960's have granted INAC approval and funding to enter into agreements with provinces, territories and First Nations organizations for the delivery of child welfare services for on-reserve First Nations children and their families.
INAC expenditures for child and family services on reserve increased more than 61% from 1992 to 1999. Much of the increase was due to the establishment of FNCFS agencies in jurisdictions where previously the provinces had been providing only minimal services on-reserve.
Eligibility
The First Nations Child & Family Services Program provides services, where authorized, to registered First Nations individuals living on-reserve. First Nations Child & Family Services agencies are administered by First Nations, in co-operation with provincial or territorial authorities.
Key Initiatives
Tripartite Frameworks
The announcement of tripartite frameworks in Nova Scotia, P.E.I, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta means that the new prevention model is now being implemented in First Nations communities in five provinces, covering nearly half of the First Nations children in Canada.
- Nova Scotia Announcement:
Canada, Nova Scotia and First Nations in Nova Scotia Sign Historic Child Welfare Framework - P.E.I. Announcement:
Economic Action Plan - Canada, Prince Edward Island and Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island Reach Child Welfare Framework - Quebec Announcement:
Economic Action Plan - Canada, Quebec and First Nations in Quebec Reach an Historic Childwelfare Framework - Saskatchewan Announcement:
Canada, Saskatchewan and First Nations in Saskatchewan Sign Historic Child Welfare Framework - Alberta Announcement:
Canada's New Government, Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 First Nations and Alberta Embark on New Approach to Child Welfare on Reserve
First Nations Child & Family Services Joint National Policy Review:
INAC and First Nations jointly initiated a review of INAC's national policy with respect to First Nation Child & Family Services, to be undertaken jointly with the Assembly of First Nations. The review was undertaken consistent with Canada's commitment to work with First Nations in a spirit of partnership. The purpose of the review was to identify how the policy could be improved to better meet the objectives of assisting in the development and establishment of First Nations Child & Family Service agencies that provide culturally sensitive child and family services to First Nation people on-reserve at a level comparable to services provided in similar circumstances. It was completed in June 2000. Copies are available from the Assembly of First Nations.
Block Funding:
INAC is exploring the use of block funding. The objective of block funding is to provide First Nations Child & Family Service agencies with the flexibility to re-allocate a portion of the maintenance dollars currently restricted to providing services for children in care, according to their own priorities. This could enhance program efficiency and effectiveness if money could be re-allocated to services for children in their own homes.
Compliance Activities:
As part of INAC's effort to develop measures that ensure accountability to the Parliament of Canada and First Nation people themselves, compliance methodologies are being developed for programs which are reimbursed on the basis of actual expenditures. To this end, a compliance methodology is being considered for the maintenance component of the First Nations Child & Family Services program.
More Information
For further information on the First Nation Child and Family Services Program, consult our Frequently Asked Questions, or contact the INAC regional office nearest you.
