Here's an important new report from the BC office of the Canadian Centre
for Policy Alternatives.
The Road to Aboriginal Authority Over Child and Family Services: Considerations for an Effective Transition
CCPA-BC is pleased to announce the release of a new report by Kelly A MacDonald, lawyer and expert in the area of Aboriginal family law. The report, entitled The Road to Aboriginal Authority Over Child and Family Services: Considerations for an Effective Transition, takes a look at the process of establishing Regional Aboriginal Authorities (RAAs). The process, begun in 2001, was part of a general move towards decentralization on the part of the BC government. The report examines the process to date, raises important questions and concerns, and makes recommendations for a more effective transition to Aboriginal authority. Download or order the report here.
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Executive Summary:
Report of the Gove Inquiry into Child Protectionin British Columbia
A Commission of Inquiry into the adequacy of the services, policies and
practices of the Ministry of Social Services as they relate to the
apparent neglect, abuse and death of Matthew John Vaudreuil.
The Honourable Judge Thomas J. Gove, Commissioner
November 1995.
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An Independent Review of BC's Child Protection System.
Ted Hughes. April 7 2006.
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Ministry of Children & Family Development:
Aboriginal Transformation Updates
MCFD staff, along with representatives from Aboriginal leadership and our many partners, have been working diligently to implement the initial phases of the ministry's transformation and a significant amount of progress has already been made in creating a solid foundation upon which we can build. In the coming months, there will be continued opportunities to participate and provide feedback at both provincial and regional levels.
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2007 Progress Report on the Implementation of the
Recommendations of the BC Children and Youth Review
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative of Children & Youth.
November 26, 2007.
The first in a series of annual reports covering the actual, on-the-ground implementation of the 62 recommendations of the April 2006 BC Children and Youth Review (the "Hughes Review").
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Management of Aboriginal Child Protection Services: Ministry of Children and Family Development
Auditor General of BC.
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First Nations Director's Forum
Position Papers/Briefing Notes
Forum Questions Regionalization: Letter to Minister Tom Christensen
September 19th 2007
Position Paper on Regionalization Process September 19, 2007
News Release October 24, 2007 - Regionalization Process
FIRST NATIONS CHILD WELFARE SERVICE PROVIDERS
QUESTION MCFD’S REGIONALIZATION PROCESS
The Forum stresses that MCFD, having expended in excess of $10 million in planning for regional Aboriginal authorities since 2002, has neither a governance structure that better serves First Nations people nor a reduction in the number of First Nations children in care to show for their efforts. This commitment to regional Aboriginal authorities by MCFD, the Forum argues, is a single item agenda at the expense of other options that would better improve outcomes and better serve First Nations children, families and communities.
Since 2000, the Forum has submitted four different proposals for a First Nations Director for First Nations child and family services to the Ministry and made the pitch one more time. The Ministry has a responsibility to hear the concerns from First Nations and this is an opportunity to create meaningful change for First Nations child and family services.
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Ministry's Service Plan for 2008/09 to 2010/11
MCFD Resource Summary for 2008/09 to 2010/11
Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Performance Measures
Goal 1: To identify and strengthen, or develop, effective child, youth and family development services in B.C. within a strengths-based, developmental approach
Goal 2: To support Aboriginal peoples to achieve their vision and goals with regard to delivery of services to their children, youth, families and communities
Goal 3: To transform the Ministry of Children and Family Development as an organization, to support Goals 1 and 2
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Assembly of First Nations (BC Region)
First Nations Summit
First Nations Summit Media Release: First Nations Respond to
Startling BC and Canada Auditor General Reports on Aboriginal
Child Protection Services
Metis Provincial Council of BC
Union of BC Indian Chiefs
United Native Nations Society
Media
Redwire Native Youth Media
Extraordinary Links
Turtle Island Native Network
