Ten recommendations from Hand-in-Hand report to be implemented
Social Development
NB 875
June 2, 2010
MONCTON (CNB) – Details of the 10 actions the provincial government will undertake in response to Hand-in-Hand: A Review of First Nations Child Welfare in New Brunswick were outlined today by Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock.
The report, released in February by New Brunswick’s Child and Youth Advocate Bernard Richard, contained 93 recommendations aimed at all levels of government. It was prepared in response to a May 2009 request from the minister of Social Development to review and make recommendations about the child welfare services provided in 15 First Nations communities in New Brunswick.Lamrock said the report provided a clear picture of the state of child welfare services in First Nations communities and included 10 recommendations that the Department of Social Development can put into action unilaterally.
“We recognize that First Nations children benefit most from culturally sensitive services provided with their communities,” he said. “The recommendations we are implementing will better support First Nations child welfare workers in their efforts to improve the lives of young people and their families.”
Lamrock spoke at the First Nations National Child Welfare Conference in Moncton.
The recommendations being implemented include:
> recognizing indigenous roots of the Family Group Conferencing; and developing communications tools to further raise the profile to increase uptake of the service in First Nations;
> promoting and accelerating the adoption of Family Group Conferencing to First Nations social workers by increasing linkages and providing cultural sensitivity training for departmental Family Group Conferencing co-ordinators;
> updating operational protocols between the First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies and the Department of Social Development within the next three months and reviewing them every three years or sooner, if needed;
> continuing standard compliance reviews on a three-year schedule by the Department of Social Development and also beginning clinical audits once a clinical auditor is hired with this responsibility, which is planned for November 2010;
conducting program reviews in First Nations Child and Family Services offices by departmental staff to measure compliance to both child welfare standards and the approval process for foster homes. Reporting the findings to the minister, the chief and council and supporting agencies in correcting any problems;
> continuing this process until the department’s First Nations office is created, at which time staff will work jointly on this. Clinical audits will start once a program consultant and clinical auditor are hired;
> hiring three new First Nations staff within the child welfare and youth Support unit in the Department of Social Development;
> establishing a committee of First Nations and social workers to blend First Nations Child and Family Services and provincial child welfare standards; and evaluating and improving the core training of social workers to ensure it is more culturally appropriate in conjunction with the implementation of the revised program standards; and
> conducting a demonstration project of the Department of Social Development’s case management system at St. Mary’s Child and Family Services in fall 2010 prior to roll-out to all First Nations child and family services agencies in 2011.
Lamrock said the department of was moving ahead with the changes while negotiations between provincial, federal and First Nations governments to reach a new, tripartite agreement for First Nations child welfare got underway.
“We support making significant changes to the First Nations child welfare system in New Brunswick if the result is a better, prevention-focused service that also addresses the underlying causes that contribute to poor child welfare outcomes,” he said. “However, we believe these changes will only be successful if the process is embraced by First Nations.”
An agreement on Jordan’s Principle will be part of the tripartite talks. In April, the province named Robert Stanton to represent the province in the negotiations.
“Reaching a tripartite agreement on these issues will take time,” said Lamrock. “While discussions are taking place, I am pleased that we will be moving forward to better support First Nations child welfare workers.”
LINK:
Office of the Ombudsman: www.gnb.ca/ombudsman
10/06/02
MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Connor, communications, Department of Social Development, 506-444-3730.
10/06/02
