First Nation Child and Family Services Program

The First Nations Child & Family Services (FNCFS) Program assists First Nations in providing access to culturally sensitive child and family services in their communities, and ensures that the services provided to First Nations children and their families on-reserve are comparable to those available to other provincial residents in similar circumstances.

To this end, the program funds and promotes the development and expansion of child and family services agencies designed, managed and controlled by First Nations. Since child and family services is an area of provincial jurisdiction, these First Nation agencies receive their mandate and authorities from provincial or territorial governments and function in a manner consistent with existing provincial or territorial child and family services legislation. In areas where First Nations Child & Family Services agencies do not exist, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) funds services provided by provincial or territorial organizations or departments.

Background

The First Nations Child & Family Services Program is one of AANDC's social programs, which include Income Assistance, Assisted Living, Children's Programs, Family Violence Prevention and other social services that address individual and family well-being.

Several Cabinet and Treasury Board decisions since the 1960's have granted AANDC approval and funding to enter into agreements with provinces, territories and First Nations organizations for the delivery of child welfare services for on-reserve First Nations children and their families.

AANDC expenditures for child and family services on reserve increased more than 61% from 1992 to 1999. Much of the increase was due to the establishment of FNCFS agencies in jurisdictions where previously the provinces had been providing only minimal services on-reserve.

Eligibility

The First Nations Child & Family Services Program provides services, where authorized, to registered First Nations individuals living on-reserve. First Nations Child & Family Services agencies are administered by First Nations, in co-operation with provincial or territorial authorities.

Tripartite Accountability Frameworks

The announcement of tripartite accountability frameworks in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba means that the new enhanced prevention focused approach model is now being implemented in First Nation communities in six provinces, covering about 68 percent of all First Nation children ordinarily resident on reserve across Canada.

Alberta

• Announcement: Canada's New Government, Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 First Nations and Alberta Embark on New Approach to Child Welfare on Reserve
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Alberta - Treaty 6, 7 & 8 First Nations Child & Family Services Agencies (FNCFSA) Enhancement Framework - April 2007

Saskatchewan

• Announcement: Canada, Saskatchewan and First Nations in Saskatchewan Sign Historic Child Welfare Framework
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Saskatchewan First Nations Prevention Services Model and Accountability Framework Agreement - October 2007

Nova Scotia

• Announcement: Canada, Nova Scotia and First Nations in Nova Scotia Sign Historic Child Welfare Framework
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Nova Scotia Partnership Framework for Enhancement Focused Approach - July 2008

Quebec

• Announcement: Economic Action Plan - Canada, Quebec and First Nations in Quebec Reach an Historic Childwelfare Framework
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Quebec Partnership Framework for Enhancement Focused Approach - August 2009

Prince Edward Island

• Announcement: Economic Action Plan - Canada, Prince Edward Island and Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island Reach Child Welfare Framework
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Prince Edward Island Prevention Framework - August 2009

Manitoba

• Announcement: Canada, Manitoba and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Reach Agreement on Child Welfare Framework
• Tripartite Accountability Framework: Children and Families First: Manitoba First Nations Early Intervention and Prevention Services Enhancement Framework — July 2010

You may also be interested in:

• Better Outcomes for First Nation Children: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's Role as a Funder in First Nation Child and Family Services – Updated: May 2012
• Additional Research on Child and Family Services