Introduction to service delivery at Child and Family All Nations Coordinated Response Network

RESTRUCTURING OF MANITOBA’S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM:

The historic process of changing the child welfare system in Manitoba was led by the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry-Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI).

Brief History of the AJI-CWI: •In 1982, out of province adoptions of Aboriginal children ceased and the province of Manitoba commissioned Chief Judge Edwin Kimelman to conduct a review into the effect of the existing child welfare system on Aboriginal children •In April 13, 1988 the government of Manitoba launched a public inquiry into the administration of justice and Aboriginal people •By 1991, the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Report was completed. The Report stated the non-Aboriginal child and family services system was not adequately responsive to Aboriginal people in Manitoba and it did not serve them well.

Cont’d

In 2000 the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission (AJIC) was established to implement the findings within the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Report

In August 2000, the AJI-CWI was jointly established between the provincial government and First Nations and Métis leaders. The 4 parties involved in the development of the initiative included the:

Province of Manitoba

Manitoba Métis Federation

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin

The AJI Report Recommendations Recommended a restructuring of the Manitoba child welfare system, including:

the Government of Manitoba work with First Nations and Métis leaders, recognizing their unique status and their cultural and linguistic heritage

opening the office of the Children’s Advocate to ensure children’s best interests always come first

providing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal child and family services agencies with sufficient resources to provide a full range of services under

The Child and Family Services Act

changing laws to officially establish a new system

setting up a mandated, province wide Métis Agency

enabling existing on-reserve agencies to serve First Nation peoples living off-reserve

establishing an Aboriginal child and family services agency in Winnipeg to serve

Aboriginal children and families

Cont’d On November 24, 2003, The Authorities Act was proclaimed. This

legislation: was an essential part of the restructuring of the Manitoba’s CFS system is unprecedented in Canada created four new child and family services authorities: 3 Aboriginal and

1 General Authority:

First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority (7 agencies on reserve and urban)

First Nations of Southern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority (7 agencies on reserve and urban)

Métis Child and Family Services Authority (2 agencies )

General Child and Family Services Authority (5 agencies- rural and urban)

Current CFS System Governance Structure

First Nations Northern Child & Family Services Authority

Northern Authority

Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba

Cree Nation CFS Agency

Island Lake First Nations Family

Services

Nisichawayasihk Cree Nations Family &

Community Services

Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency

Nikan Awasisak Agency

OCN Child & Family Services

Métis Child & Family Services Authority

Métis Authority

Métis Child, Family & Community Services

Michif CFS

Child & Family Services General Authority

General Authority

Jewish CFS Winnipeg

CFS Thompson

Regional Office Eastman Region

CFS Interlake Region

CFS Western

Manitoba CFS Central

Manitoba CFS Parkland Region

CFS

Churchill Regional Health

Authority

First Nations Southern Child & Family Service Authority

Southern Authority

Anishinaabe CFS

Animikii Ozoson

Dakota Ojibway CFS

Intertribal CFS

Peguis CFS Sagkeeng

CFS Sandy Bay

CFS Southeast

CFS West Region

CFS ANCR

Designated Intake Agencies

All Nations Coordinated Response Network (ANCR)

Formerly known as the Winnipeg joint intake agency, ANCR received its mandate in

February 2007

ANCR works within a jointly coordinated child and family services system with four distinct mandates:

First Nations North

First Nations South

Métis

General – non-Aboriginal

ANCR is the first point of contact for many families who require services from the child and

family services system.

ANCR Organizational Chart

Executive Director

Director Human Resources

Director After Hours Program

Director Screening &

Special Projects

Director Intake Assessment

Program

Director Abuse Program

Early Intervention

Program Director

Executive Assistant

Chief Financial Officer

After Hours Program

Staff of 40 Operates outside of normal business hours and

on statutory holidays. Receive and respond to all after-hours

referrals on new, open and previously closed child and family service (CFS) cases.

Receive and respond to service requests from within ANCR and other CFS agencies within the jurisdiction.

Field where necessary.

Screening Intake Program Staff of 14

Responds to all dayside calls which present with an immediate child protection issue (with the exception of abuse referrals.)

Conducts the initial safety and risk assessment to determine if the children are safe or are in need of protection.

Conduct assessments and complete appropriate referrals to: EIP, Abuse Investigations, Intake, or to the appropriate CFS agency on open cases.

Intake Assessment Program Staff of 36

provides further child welfare assessment and investigation

Conducts Safety and risk assessments on all intakes where child protections concerns have been identified

Assessment and investigation of all child protections issues, including an assessment of the family/child’s needs/issues, resources and strengths

Provides emergency services to stabilize the family, with the exception of Abuse emergencies

Provides case management services on new ANCR intakes

Conducts assessments and complete referral to the ANCR Abuse Investigations Program, EIP or external CFS agencies

Abuse Investigation Program Staff of 33

The Abuse Investigation Program (AIP) investigates and assesses all allegations of child abuse on behalf of all CFS agencies in Winnipeg, Headingly, and East and West St. Paul.

The AIP is also responsible for the coordination of four Child Abuse Committees that represent the four CFS Authorities.

EIP - STAFFING

4-Administrative Assistants 4 -Supervisors 6- Resource Centre Workers 13-Family Service Workers

2 -Traditional Helpers 2- Cultural Advisors 1-Program Director 1-Wichihiwewin Support Worker

Coordinator

The Early Intervention Program consists of 33 staff including:

Abuse

Investigation

Program (AIP)

Emergency

Placement

Resource (EPR)

Intake/Screening

Assessment

Program

After Hours

Program (AHP)

Ex

tern

al R

efe

rra

l

All Nations

Family

Resource Centre

(MGA)

Snowbird Lodge

Family Resource

Centre (FNRC)

Aboriginal

Service

Team

GA/Metis

Services

Team

Early

Intervention

Referral

Committee

Early Intervention Program Services ANCR and external agencies that refer through ANCR.

Emphasizes prevention and early intervention:

o Strength Based approach

o Supports families to care for their children at home

o Promotes healthier family relationships.

EIP is an intensive short-term intervention program offered by ANCR that works with families from 90-120 days and carry a caseload of up to 20 families each.

Early Intervention Strategy is to bridge supportive programs and services to families and children in order to ensure the safety of children.

Address problems before they develop into crises and assist in preventing families from going further into the CFS system.

Early Intervention Program They provide intensive, primary issue/solution focused, and culturally

relevant services with the goal of supporting families to prevent them from developing further child protection issues and moving, potentially, towards apprehension.

Offers services to families on a continuum which includes two Services Teams & two Family Resource Centres

We begin the process with the Structured Decision Making model assessment tool which assists to determine the families strengths and needs and together we will help develop a strength based case plan.

Services Key Activities The EIP program delivers service through two sub-

service groups:

The case management teams (service workers) of EIP work in partnership with families to develop and implement a case plan within 120 working days.

The two family resource centres provide a range of child and family focused programs and services to collateral agencies and self referrals.

EIP Service Team KEY ACTIVITIES Receive and assess referrals for EIP services

Implement a strength based case plan.

Introduce families to the resource centres

Provide resource centre services

Deliver culturally appropriate service based on the needs identified by families

Develop strategic relationships with community partners

EIP – KEY ACTIVITIES FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRES

Snowbird Lodge & All Nations Family Resource Centre provides programming to families

The centres deliver, and facilitate individual and group programs that are culturally appropriate

Community based activities and partnerships.

The resource centre teams work with families and individuals.

Work together with service teams to identify and build upon families’ strengths.

Snowbird Lodge Family Resource Centre (591 Sherbrook)

Indigenous Cultural Programs

• Traditional Parenting Dealing with Trauma & Historical Trauma Drum Teachings Pipe Ceremonies

• Women’s Skirt Making Medicine Picking/Bundling International Sundance Gathering

• Traditional Educational Movies Makoose Kawin/Vision Quest Waa Wi Yekidewan Program (Children’s program)

• Eastern Doorway Teachings Sweat Lodge Ceremonies

• Culture Camp Re- building Sweat Lodge Honoring of the Seasons Feasts

• Full Moon Ceremony Sharing Circles Mino Pimatiziwin

• Grief & Loss Arts & Crafts Pow Wow Teachings

Programs

• Family Harmony for Women Managing your Anger Parent/Youth Program

• Positive Discipline Triple P Triple P Teens

• Women’s Wellness

Workshops

& Other Activities

•Income Tax Resources Parents with CIC

•Impacts of Family Violence Teenage Brain Development

•BBQ in the Park Addiction and Effects on the Brain

All Nations Family Resource Centre

Programs

•Nobody’s Perfect Positive Discipline Triple P Teens

•Healthy Relationships for Women (DV) Managing Your Anger Stress and Coping/Stress Management

•Healthy Relationships for Men(DV) Positive Parenting Program (Triple P)

•Self Care/Self Worth for Women Self Care/Self Esteem for Women Healthy Relationship for Women Series

•Family Harmony for Women Girls Summer Program

•Circle of Security Parenting

Workshops

• Parenting 101 Self Care for Women Stress & Coping

• Budgeting Managing your Emotions for Youth

Other activities

• Picnic in the Park for families

• Tinker town Family Outing

• Xmas Family Fun

EIP – KEY ACTIVITIES REFERRAL COMMITTEE

reviews all referrals

meets two times a week to ensure continuity of service.

assesses, assigns and makes recommendations on referrals received through internal ANCR and self-referrals.

committee consists of members from the Early Intervention Program (supervisors) and referring program supervisors, (abuse & intake on rotation)

EIP Referral Criteria Low-High Risk Duration of 90 -120 days Willingness to Participate Complex Medical needs Mental Health Mandated Service: Family must be advised that this service falls under the Manitoba child welfare mandate therefore all areas under the act and standards are adhered to. The purpose of the EIP is to prevent families from going further into the child welfare system. Repeat Referrals: The Early Intervention Program will accept REPEAT intakes based on the following considerations: All referrals are reviewed on an individual basis and the criterion is meant to be flexible.

Phonetically pronounced “We Ji Way Win” is Ojicree word for “helping others”. • The Wichihiwewin Program is an internal service of ANCR which assists Agency workers in providing a wide range of service Helpers to families and children in their own homes or any such place as may be required. • Wichihiwewin has a range of in-home and resource centre child- minding service criteria which reflects the following:

oChild-minding oRespite oRecreational/Activities oParent Education & One on One

WICHIHIWEWIN SUPPORT PROGRAM

835 Portage Ave Office: (204)944-4200 Fax: (204)944-250 Snowbird Lodge 591 Sherbrook Office: (204)944-4100 Fax: (204)944-4138 All Nations Family Resource Centre 1008 Wall Street Office: (204)944-4268 Fax: (204)944-2057

Where we can be reached at

Thank you Miigwetch

Ekosi