Recommendations
R1That the Boards of directors of all Aboriginal child welfare agencies ensure that executive directors and other senior staff participate in, and complete, the competency-based training underway across the province for child protection staff.
R2That the Boards of Directors of all Aboriginal child welfare agencies ensure that the executive directors and other senior staff complete certified training in leadership skills for senior administrators.
R3That MCSS determine who will presently manage all aspects of Aboriginal child welfare training, including trainers, curriculum development, and certificates. Portions of present agency training budgets allotted to individual agencies for competency based training should be redirected to the designated organization(s).
R4That members of the Native Association for Child and Family Service determine what organization(s) that they wish to provide competency based child welfare training in the future, and to set target dates for when they believe that organization(s) should be in a position to deliver it (the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid’s Societies excepted because it is already providing the service to some Aboriginal agencies).
R5That the Boards of Directors of all Aboriginal Child and Family Service Organizations ensure that all managers and all front line workers receive the provincial competency-based protection training in order for them to deal with a range of cross-cultural issues related to child abuse to neglect.
R6That MCSS require all new managers hired after January 1, 2002 to have completed a certified management course at the post secondary level, and all present management staff complete a certificate course in management skills by January 2002.
R7That Aboriginal agencies ensure that within five years, all new Aboriginal protection workers will have post-secondary certificates and all present employees be grand fathered but strongly encouraged to acquire a post secondary certificate program by an Accredited Community College or a University dealing specifically with all aspects of child protection, counselling, community development, and leadership.
R8That the provincial and federal governments provide incentives for present Aboriginal child protection staff to upgrade their education, and for prospective Aboriginal high school graduates to enter the child welfare field in return for a two year commitment to work in an Aboriginal child welfare agency or as a family service worker in an Aboriginal community.
R9That the Ministry of Community and Social Services take the lead with Aboriginal representatives, government officials responsible for post secondary education, and Aboriginal child welfare agencies to begin negotiating with post secondary institutions in Ontario to offer more degree and certificate courses in Aboriginal child welfare. Emphasis should be placed on distance learning through the Internet by access to other computer or satellite learning programs currently serving northern First Nations communities such as those recently initiated by NAN.
R10That MCSS bring together Aboriginal representatives, social work educators, and Aboriginal child welfare agencies to review service philosophies to be taught for social work in Aboriginal communities.
R11That MCSS support the development of an Aboriginal child protection curriculum for training which will be ready for implementation by December, 2000.
R12That MCSS ensure that the Aboriginal child protection training curriculum to new workers includes strategies for working in Northern isolated communities.
R13That MCSS helps to ensure that the training for child protection workers and supervisors encompass all of the child protection competencies outlined in the provincial training program.
R14That wherever possible, training for Aboriginal front-line workers be taught by Aboriginal people who are currently involved in the child welfare profession.
R15That MCSS support the development of a ‘train the trainers’ program for up to four Aboriginal staff presently employed in each of the designated Aboriginal agencies.
R16That MCSS require the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies to include Aboriginal-specific components as a regular part of its training for non-Aboriginal agencies. This curriculum should be developed with the involvement of the members of the Native Association of Child and Family Services.
R17That each Aboriginal Child welfare agency initiates a Critical Incident Stress Management program.
R18That MCSS provide funds to Tikinagan, Payukotayno, and Wabaasamoong in order to attract and to provide additional compensation to front line workers and supervisors who provide protection services in high risk or isolated communities.
R19That MCSS provide funds to Aboriginal Child Welfare agencies in order to compensate band family service workers to the same level as protection workers when they are duly authorized and trained to carry out child abuse investigations in their communities in order to provide service within the time frames outlined in the Provincial Standards for the Investigation and Management of Abuse.
R20That the Boards of Directors of each Aboriginal Child Welfare Agency authorize the use of elders to be on-site in agency offices in order to provide support and advice.
R21That MCSS change the caseload limit for protection workers in Aboriginal children’s aid societies to 15, with the requirement that those workers also provide prevention and community development functions.
R22That the MCSS program supervisor, in co-operation with the executive director, ensures that case loads are tabulated in a manner which meets the MCSS provincial definitions for what constitutes a protection case as identified by the Intervention Spectrum. This should include referrals where the child was helped to remain at home.
R23That MCSS approve the inclusion of cases served by the band family service worker as being eligible for inclusion in the yearly protection case count submitted by the agency for protection funding when the case meets the minimum risk level eligible under the Intervention Spectrum and is documented as such.
R24That MCSS help ensure that in order for cases handled by band family service workers to qualify for calculation in the provincial funding formula, the band family service workers should required to receive training through the child welfare agency in respect to the child protection modules, the provincial risk assessment tool and the intervention spectrum.
R25That the MCSS program supervisor, in co-ordination with the Executive Director, helps to ensure that case load listings are up to date as of December 31, 1998 and that all inactive cases are closed, and off the open case listings for individual workers, (after a final risk assessment) in order to provide an accurate, current caseload count.
R26That MCSS apply the provincial child welfare eligibility tool to all Aboriginal communities in which the Aboriginal child welfare agencies indicated on their Community Information Forms that there were significant risk factors in the respective communities.
R27That MCSS in consultation with the Federal Government and Aboriginal Leaders, consider planning for additional child welfare and family support services to those communities where it would be reasonable to conclude that the majority of children living in the community are at a risk level which would justify protection services using the Intervention Spectrum..
R28That MCSS coordinate and connect the provision of Aboriginal child welfare service provision with services provided under the MCSS Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy.
R29That the federal and provincial governments recognize the direct correlation between the lack of adequate housing and infrastructure and the welfare of children, and provide additional funding to bring the standard of living in Aboriginal communities to a level comparable to other communities in the province.
R30That where there is a demonstrated willingness and internal mechanisms in place, the Ministry of the Attorney General support communities to initiate an Aboriginal Justice systemfor situations involving crimes against children.
R31That the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services make the immediate adjustments required to ensure there is sufficient and timely police protection for children and families in Aboriginal communities.
R32That MCSS initiate a task force comprised of provincial ministries, federal departments and Aboriginal representatives to determine how the schools, police and medical professionals can fulfil their responsibilities to children and families and contribute to the enhancement of a community’s ability to protect its children from abuse and neglect.
R33That the Association of Native Child and Family Service Agencies in Ontario, in partnership with individual agencies, Elders and Aboriginal leaders, formulate a philosophical base for Aboriginal child welfare in Ontario that will, at a minimum:
a)promote the best interests, protection and well-being of children as a paramount objective;
b)recognize that while parents often need help in caring for their children, that help should give support to the autonomy and integrity of the family unit and, wherever possible, be provided on the basis of mutual consent;
c)recognize that the least restrictive or disruptive course of action that is available and is appropriate in a particular case to help a child or family should be followed;
d)incorporate the following principles:
-child safety is always a pre-requisite in any child welfare intervention strategy; and
-all Aboriginal children, regardless of the conditions prevalent in their communities, deserve the same level of safety as any other children in Ontario. Providing this safety will require specific, comprehensive strategies.
R34That Aboriginal agencies use this philosophical base in their day to day practice and ensure services they provide:
-recognize that Aboriginal children and families are seen as individuals, although they may have common problems and issues;
-address the complexity of child’s/family’s problems and not just deal with the identified crisis which brings child safety to the attention of the Aboriginal child welfare agency;
-include the child and his/her family is a major resource and an active participant in the service process whenever possible;
-flow from a comprehensive assessment, develop a realistic case plan, and work towards identified goals;
-emphasize the strengths, capacities and assets of individuals, families and communities rather than focus on their deficits;
-ensure ownership and responsibility rest with the families and communities themselves. Until there is a demonstrated ability to assume this responsibility, safeguards designed to protect the best interests of children must remain the shared responsibility of both the government and Aboriginal leadership;
-recognize Aboriginal child welfare agencies for what they achieve, not just for what services they provide;
-are holistic based on community-defined models of practice;
-adopt a contextual perspective in order for service delivery to be effective on both an individual and community level. This includes social, economic, historical, political and cultural realities;
-adopt an integrated approach, addressing cognitive, emotional, spiritual, and physical development, and exploration of creative approaches to service delivery;
-allow for power sharing and collaborative decision-making with families. The opinions of all children, parents, relatives agency staff, foster parents, and community professionals are to be considered in the service to clients. As such they are vital adjuncts to the concept of team and should be actively involved in the decision-making process as it relates to their specific roles in the delivery of service; and hold those Aboriginal children, families, and communities who are identified to be at the greatest risk as identified by provincial risk assessment tools as priorities in the delivery of the services required to decrease that risk.
R35Agency management should accentuate a collaborative, learning environment rather deploying a centralized, power and control approach to ensure the growth of a responsive Aboriginal child welfare agency. This should be highlighted by supportive environments that encourage collaborative planning, clarity, shared responsibility and accountability with First Nations.
R36That MCSS ensures sufficient resources are available to the agencies to allow them to carry out the recommendations listed above, thereby ensuring that the most effective strategies are deployed in order to help Aboriginal children and their families at risk.
R37That MCSS look at ways for providing centralized information and advice to investigating workers in any Aboriginal agency who are conducting an investigation, managing a case, or providing in care services, when both the worker and the manager are unsure how to proceed or need professional discussion.
R38That the Aboriginal child welfare agencies ensure that models of services, resources, interventions, and roles within each of the communities it serves are flexible and geared to the communities’ capacity as well as it’s willingness and readiness for problem solving. The policies of the ministry also need to be flexible to allow the agencies to take this approach.
R39That the individual Aboriginal child welfare agencies examine their internal policies and procedures to ensure that the workers take a holistic approach to intervening with children and families.
R40That MCSS reinforce that the using a holistic approach is not only allowable but also expected in child protection cases relating to Aboriginal communities as long as the safety of the child is a paramount concern.
R41That MCSS ensure that Aboriginal child welfare agencies can apply for initiatives within the provincial child welfare funding formula whereby:
a.savings in the ‘Boarding Home’ budget line can be reapplied to ‘non care services as the numbers of children in care decrease. Specifically could mean that additional numbers of families which need to open in the community on a non-care basis could warrant additional community protection and band family workers as the children return home and require services.
b.community-based protection staff are provided with the equivalent credit of 5 protection cases for tasks which improve the capacity of the communities to prevent child abuse. This credit can be used in conjunction with actual case files to reach the provincial workload requirement (refer to section l.1. for additional information); and
- a ‘customary care subsidy’ can be requested and subsequently become annualized reflected as a ‘non-care’ budget expense allowed for under Part X of the CFSA. The reasons for the customary care should result from conditions that would meet the child protection requirements outlined in the Intervention Spectrum. Other conditions outlined in the customary care section of this report should apply.
R42That the boards of directors from each Aboriginal child welfare agency meet with representatives from each of their respective communities to ascertain that individual community values are respected in the daily work done by the agency.
R43That each of the agencies ensure that their models of service delivery support and value both traditional and Christian beliefs, and allow this as a choice to their clients.
R44That the Aboriginal Child Welfare Agency use and encourage respected Elders in the daily work of the agency.
R45That a culturally competent risk assessment model based on the eligibility spectrum criteria be adapted to use in aboriginal communities when assessing risk for individual children.
R46That the eligibility spectrum be a consideration but not a sole determinant in considering whether a child is a “child in need of protection” as defined under the CFSA.
R47That the Native Association of Family and Children’s Services with assistance from member agencies, develop a mandatory protection recording package which includes the intervention spectrum, a safety assessment, risk assessment and a case plan which could also be completed at a community family services meeting for use in all Aboriginal child welfare agencies.
R48That the Native Association of Family and Children’s Services develop a child care recording package that includes a plan of care which can be completed at a community family services meeting for use in all Aboriginal child welfare agencies.
R49That each Aboriginal child welfare agency formulate a policy on how it will deal with the issue of suicide in its communities and provide input to MCSS, and the Offices of the Grand Chiefs in order to provide input into suggestions for future intergovernmental strategies on reducing the incidence of youth suicide.
R50That MCSS initiate the formation of a Task Force to look at the issue of suicides of Aboriginal youth in isolated northern Ontario communities, based on the findings and recommendations of the NAN Youth Suicide Report. This should involve the Regional Coroners Office, the MCSS Child Advocacy Office, Aboriginal representatives nominated by the Grand Chiefs, and senior representatives from both the federal and provincial governments, and should be mandated with the authority to both formulate and initiate, remedial actions.
R51That MCSS and the federal government invite service providers who are funded under their various programs, to attend community meetings to discuss how programs may provide better co-ordination for children and families at risk.
R52That each child welfare agency negotiate with nursing clinics/stations and police to develop protocols by December 1999, which would:
include an outline of the role and responsibility of each party in the investigation and management of child at risk situations whether it be sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sexual assault or other potentially dangerous situations for children and their families;
be based on general principals approved for all police, nursing stations and child protection staff within geographic catchment areas (e.g. N.A.N, Treaty 3, etc.) and also include arrangements specific to each of the communities; and
make provision for Chiefs and/or their designates to offer advice and support on the development of the protocol, and to communicate the agreement to the community.
R53That the Federal Government and MCSS advise services which are funded by them to co-operate in the development of community and multi-service protocols.
R54That MCSS review the work completed on the Aboriginal Information System Project to date (1995), and, in consultation with the federal government, the Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies in Ontario and the Aboriginal leadership, complete the design of an Aboriginal Information System.