Federal government transfers funds to province for aboriginal child and family services in First Nations
Province gets $10.2M for aboriginal services - Federal funds to go toward child welfare
PAUL MCLEOD - July 23, 2008
Nova Scotia is getting $10.2 million over five years from the federal government to provide better community services to First Nations communities.
The hope is to solve domestic problems before they reach the point where children need to be removed from the family home.
“This funding will help to identify children at risk and provide support to their family before they reach a crisis,” said South Shore MP Gerald Keddy.
The government hasn’t set specific goals, but hopes the new funding will bring down the number of children removed from homes.
Child welfare on First Nations reserves is handled by First Nations Child and Family Services agencies, which are funded by the federal government.
Chief Lawrence Paul, president of the Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia, said the funding will give them stability.
“It was kind of difficult to plan in the future when you have year-by-year funding,” said Paul.
“So I’m quite pleased we got a multi-year agreement and I’m quite pleased we have more money for the agency.”
Paul said the Indian Brook First Nation would be building a new headquarters, as their old one had become rundown and decrepit.
He said employees of First Nations transitions houses, which had been paid less than similar jobs elsewhere in the province, will also be brought up to parity.
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Notes for an Address by The Honourable Chuck Strahl, MP Announcing a Framework for First Nations Child and Family Services in Saskatchewan
It’s a real pleasure for me to be here today — with our partners in Saskatchewan — to take an important step towards developing an enhanced prevention-based approach to child welfare in First Nation communities.
I'm pleased to be joined by Vice-Chief Guy Lonechild, of the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations, and the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Saskatchewan Minister of Social Services. This event is another example of what our Conservative Government has said over and over again – if we as willing partners work together, we can achieve real results for First Nation families in Canada.
The framework we're announcing today is going to help First Nations and governments to work together more effectively to build a brighter future for all children. The overall goal is clear and compelling: long-term stability for the child. We know that intervening early – before families reach a crisis – can result in a much better outcome for children.
Our government is committing an additional $104.8 million over five years to support this approach here in Saskatchewan. This funding will help agencies to provide a range of prevention services. And child welfare agencies will work to strengthen partnerships with other community services to meet the real needs of First Nations children and families.
This new approach is similar to the approach our Conservative Government has already taken in Alberta. The tripartite agreement we signed in Alberta last year provides First Nations agencies with new resources that identify a family’s need before a child is removed from the family home.
The agreement we are signing here today will help to develop more ways of supporting children in the home and protecting their welfare, without having to place them into care. For example, that could mean greater use of respite care so that a struggling parent can get a break, and get their family back on track.
I'm confident that together we can make this child-centered approach a great success in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan is a growing, thriving province. This framework will help ensure that children can benefit from this progress, and contribute to this prosperity. Because we all know that stability in the early years can mean a lifetime of success.
So, thank you for working with our government – and with each other – to provide high-quality services. Thank you for providing a caring environment that reflects the values of First Nation families.
By improving services for children and their families, we're letting them know that we see their potential. We believe in their dreams. And we're counting on them to build a good life for themselves and for their communities.
Thank you.