Interim Emergency Child First Initiative (CFI) Support Has Now Reached Capacity; IRC promises more measures will be announced for Inuvialuit.

Press Release

April 2, 2020- Inuvialuit Regional Corporation has had their Health & Wellness Division staff working steadily, at all possible hours, to apply an existing Inuit Child First Initiative, allocated by Canada through work of Inuit Crown Partnership Committee and ITK, to the current situation with COVID-19 and in thinking of the immediate needs of children and families.

This initiative was applied by IRC to support Inuvialuit families in and outside the Region as an interim emergency response funding one-time bulk food order purchases specifically to endure needs while practicing self-isolation in relation to and prevention of COVID-19.

We are grateful to Canada that the flexibility and generosity built into this program in order to broadly cover needs of Inuvialuit children allowed IRC to provide these supports as an interim emergency measure, until more long-term planning could take place. IRC has provided $448,000 to local stores for 320 families with children 18 and under, to purchase a quantity of food for their households and allow families to stock up on cleaning supplies.

IRC needed to pause the program on March 26 to allow stores to re-stock but continued working on processing applications they had received. At this time, IRC regrets to inform beneficiaries that this funding has been used to its maximum extent. Canada’s emergency investment in CFI for COVID-19 that was allocated within this specific Initiative has been fully distributed as supports to families in need.

IRC would like to inform beneficiary families that CFI applications will no longer be accepted. COVID-19 funding is now promised under different terms and program agreements that IRC is negotiating and in process of planning for all beneficiaries.

Regular CFI operations will resume later this month.

• If you have already been approved for CFI, this benefit remains as initially approved.
• If you have applied and not been notified, you may receive news in the next few days.
• If you have children and needed the support but missed out on CFI emergency funding, more support is coming and IRC understands we have individuals and families living in poverty and in need.

Inuit CFI was intended to provide benefits for children recognized under all Inuit Land Claims Organizations by allowing for financial access to the health, social and educational products, services and supports they need and for which government is responsible. Canada intended to ensure, by this means, that Inuit children would get access to equipment and services and programs which would not have been provided properly by Territorial or Provincial governments. Regular CFI support will continue for Inuvialuit children in some form after COVID-19 and IRC will be informing beneficiaries of details when this is available.

IRC is planning for the duration and wants to assure beneficiaries that more announcements will be made.

Patience will be required. Stay healthy and follow all recommended precautions. Inuvialuit can prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their homes and communities.

IHT5