Ministry of Children
and Family Development
Strong,
Safe
Supported
AND
A COMMITMENT TO
B.C.’s CHILDREN AND YOUTH
The Best Place on Earth
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Ministry of Children
and Family Development
The Five Pillars:
A Commitment to B.C. Children and Youth
A Message from the Minister
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Resilience and Strength
A Message from the Deputy Minister
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The Ministry’s Guiding Principles
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Prevention
The First Pillar
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Early Intervention
The Second Pillar
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Intervention and Support
The Third Pillar
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The Aboriginal Approach
The Fourth Pillar
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Quality Assurance
The Fifth Pillar
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The Five Pillars
A COMMITMENT TO B.C.’S CHILDREN AND YOUTH
On behalf of government and the Ministry
of Children and Family Development (MCFD),
province. The Framework will also explain
how we plan to achieve them and the steps we
I am pleased to present Strong, Safe and
Supported, A Commitment to BC’s Children
and Youth. Healthy developmental outcomes
will take on an ongoing basis to measure our
success.
Enhanced co-ordination and cross-
for children and youth are an obligation for all
of government, and many ministries and
agencies contribute the elements that provide
the foundations for long term success. Our
combined and collaborative work to improve
outcomes
for our province’s children is reflected in
a common vision: BC Children and Youth
are strong, safe and supported to reach
their full potential.
To meet this commitment to
B.C.’s children and youth,
government is developing a
province-wide Integrated Framework
for Children and Youth. The
Framework outlines the
expectations we set as
ministry work is a primary characteristic
of this long-term initiative. Ministries
will identify strategies and outcomes that
contribute to the vision of Strong, Safe and
Supported children and youth in B.C.
Together, we will ensure effective coordination and focus efforts to provide the
best opportunity for healthy development for
B.C.’s children and youth for years to come.
government for outcomes
and opportunities for
children and youth in our
MINISTER CHRISTENSEN, PREMIER CAMPBELL,
MINISTER BOND,
MINISTER ABBOTT
“Our combined and collaborative work to improve outcomes for our
province’s children is reflected in a common vision: B.C. children and youth
are strong, safe and supported to reach their full potential.”
THE FIVE PILLARS
Five pillars, supported by principles, form
the key elements of an effective child, youth
and family development service system:
1. Prevention: Government will place a
primary focus on preventing vulnerability
in children and youth by providing strong
supports for individuals, families
and communities.
2. Early Intervention: Government
will provide early intervention services to
vulnerable children and youth within their
families and communities.
3. Intervention and Support: Government
will provide intervention services and
supports based on the assessment of
individual needs.
4. The Aboriginal Approach: Aboriginal
people will be supported to exercise
jurisdiction in delivering child
and family services.
5. Quality Assurance: Child, youth and
family development services will be based
Hughes Review, the achievements of the past
years and our promise to build on those
achievements over the next five years.
The Ministry of Children and Family
Development is committed to providing
services in a manner that consistently and
effectively meet the basic and developmental
needs of children and youth while focusing
particularly on the needs of vulnerable
children and youth. We are committed to
developing a service delivery system informed
by research and supported by standards that
provide services according to international,
national and local good practice.
Our goal, as a Ministry and as
government, is to protect those who are
vulnerable, to recognize and build on the
strengths inherent in all children, youth and
families, to understand their challenges and to
support them in their healthy development.
on evidence gathered through a strong
quality assurance system.
The overall strategic direction for the
Ministry of Children and Family Development
reflects the transformation work being done
in the Ministry, the commitment to the
Minister Reid
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䡲 The Children’s Education Fund where,
beginning in 2007, $1,000 invested for each
child born or adopted in British Columbia is
intended to help the province's young people
meet their post-secondary and learning needs
Initiatives targeting effective services
and healthy developmental outcomes for
children and youth cross many ministries.
Several important initiatives are well known
and have already been started. Others are
relatively new and are lesser known, such as
Jordan’s Principle (see page 30). Examples of
government initiatives involving the Ministry
of Children and Family Development and
other ministries include:
䡲 The Early Childhood Screening Program for
vision and hearing abilities, dental health and
evaluation of overall development, as well as
assessment of immunization status.
in the future.
Since 2006, the B.C. government and this
Ministry have not shied away from the need
for systemic change but rather have chosen to
tackle it head on with our partners. The steps
we have taken in this journey are significant
and include increased regional autonomy and
decision-making targeted to local priorities
and needs.
Throughout our transformation
work thus far I want to highlight the fact
that Ministry staff and our service delivery
partners continue to provide high quality
services. I am extraordinarily proud of their
efforts. I look forward to our continued
journey together to improve outcomes
for B.C.’s children, youth and families.
䡲 Literacy and numeracy strategies, learning,
and investments in early years education, and
StrongStart centres in more than 80
communities.
䡲 The Children and Youth with Special Needs
Framework for Action to provide easier access
to supports and services for parents of
children and youth with special needs.
Tom Christensen
Minister,
Children and Family Development
Resilience and Strength
A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY MINISTER
I am excited to be able to table this Ministry
for Children and Family Development action
an unprecedented scope of change in the way
we do business. Change is difficult, and
plan of Strong, Safe and Supported,
A Commitment for B.C.s’ Children and Youth.
This is our foundational document. The plan
challenging, yet necessary. I want to
acknowledge the resilience, strength and
professionalism of Ministry staff, stakeholders
is transformative in its vision and principles
for delivery. It is however, a natural evolution
as we build on and are informed by:
1. Good practices already existing
on March 31, 2006.
2. Recommendations in the
2006 Hughes Review.
3. Significant consultations with staff,
stakeholders and partners since 2006.
4. International good practice.
MCFD is a ministry with responsibility
for many different components of the child
and family service system, managing funding
and services in:
䡲 Child Care and Early Childhood
Development
䡲 Children and Youth with Special Needs
and our partners in engaging in this process
while continuing to deliver high quality services.
The provision of services to support the
healthy development of children and youth
and protect those who are most vulnerable
is a critically important role for government and
communities. It is the subject of continuing
examination in most
countries as
governments, together
with academics,
practitioners and
communities,
seek to apply the
ever-growing body
of knowledge on
what works for
䡲 Youth Justice
䡲 Child Protection including adoption
and foster care
children and youth
within diverse
communities.
䡲 Child and Youth Mental Health
䡲 Services for youth at risk
While continuous improvement has
been ongoing for many years in the Ministry,
over the past few years we have embarked on
Lesley du Toit
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“Together, I believe we can truly make a difference
in the lives of the children and youth we serve.”
Evidence from around the world speaks to the
fact that children and youth should not be
to their children, youth and families. We will
continue to support the preservation of First
viewed as helpless recipients of services, but as
citizens with strengths and a capacity to
overcome challenges when provided
Nations and Métis languages and cultures and
the opportunities for every child in the care of
the Ministry to be connected to their
the necessary supports.
International good practice highlights
the implementation of the UN Convention
community and culture.
Consistent with the Hughes Review, we
will continue to work hard to provide services
on the Rights of the Child and the use of a
strengths-based approach when working
with vulnerable children and youth. There is
sufficient evidence that the key elements of an
effective service system for children and youth
include addressing risk factors and root causes;
investment in the early years; early
intervention; meeting the universal needs of
children and youth, building resilience within a
family context; and maintaining healthy, strong
communities around the child.
Furthermore, we know that children,
youth and families are best served when they
are active participants in decisions which affect
their present and future and to that end we
to vulnerable children and families while
building a ‘state of the art’ integrated quality
assurance system focused on monitoring our
services for effectiveness, resolving concerns
when they arise, and thoughtful examination
of practice to inform policy and future services.
The work we have embarked upon
supports international good practice and as
we go forward in the coming months and years
we will strengthen our knowledge and skill,
taking all necessary steps to continuously
improve and maintain a system of child
and family development services which meets
the needs of children and youth in B.C.
Together, I believe we can truly make
continue to strengthen the work in regions
a difference in the lives of the children and
and communities, shifting decisions about
services closer to communities, and creating
partnerships with communities and those
youth we serve.
individuals we serve.
Children and youth have a fundamental
need and right to be rooted in their culture and
traditions. Our work will therefore ensure that
Aboriginal people increasingly deliver services
Lesley du Toit
Deputy Minister,
Children and Family Development
The Ministry’s Guiding Principles
B.C.’s commitment to children and youth
is guided by the following principles:
STRENGTHS BASED
All children, youth and families have inherent
strengths which should be identified and
supported to build capacity and resiliency.
RIGHTS BASED
The rights of children, as established in the
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
(UNCRC), ratified by Canada and endorsed
by the Province of British Columbia,
will be upheld.
HOLISTIC AND NEEDS BASED
A continuum of integrated supports and
services will be available and accessible to
vulnerable children, youth and families
based on need.
CHILD FOCUSED - FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY CENTRED
The Ministry will prioritize services based on
the need for children to remain within their
family and community context. Where this is
not possible, planning for each child will
include opportunities for lifelong connection
to family and community appropriate to their
culture and traditions.
If children, by necessity, are placed in
care, the plan will provide for the return to
their family, or a permanent placement where
family placement is not an option, in the
shortest period possible.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
To the extent that it is possible within law,
government and partners will be fully
transparent with regard to plans, funding,
and achievement of goals.
Everyone who delivers supports and
services on behalf of government is accountable
to the children, youth, families and communities
of British Columbia.
The United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
was adopted by the General Assembly of the
United Nations in 1989, and has since been
ratified by Canada and endorsed by the
Government of British Columbia.
The convention explains the fundamental
human rights of all children including the
right to life and survival, non-discrimination,
development, and protection. It also recognizes
that children have the right to express their own
opinions in all matters that affect them and to
participate fully in family, cultural and social life.
As well, it acknowledges that, while parents have
the primary responsibility for the development
of their children, governments and
communities have an important
role to play in supporting and
protecting children.
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The Ministry’s Guiding Principles
The CRC provides governments across the
globe with a comprehensive international
example, attachment and belonging,
competence, independence, and generosity are
standard for children’s rights. To date, nearly
200 countries have ratified the Convention. By
ratifying the Convention, a country assumes a
all universal needs that children and youth
require as they grow. These universal needs are
interconnected and dependent on one another.
legal obligation to recognize the rights
identified in the Convention and ensure that
these rights are reflected in actions, policies
For instance, research tells us that a sense of
attachment to family, friends and community
is fundamental to meeting
and programs. These countries are also
accountable for this commitment before the
international community, and must submit
regular progress reports to the United Nations
Committee on the Rights of the Child about
how they are implementing, promoting and
advancing children’s rights.
British Columbia is committed to child
rights and ensuring that the best interests
of children and youth are considered in all
actions that affect their well-being and
healthy development.
other needs.
When basic and universal needs are met
children and youth experience positive
psychological, social, emotional, spiritual,
cognitive and physical outcomes. In turn,
young people develop resiliency because
they are better able to cope effectively when
they can draw on inner strength and
external supports.
When these needs are not met, vulnerability
is created and the healthy development and
well-being of children and youth is affected.
It is essential that government ministries work
closely together to prevent vulnerability. By
helping children and youth recognize and
Basic and Universal Needs
All children and youth have the same basic
and universal needs.
Basic needs include those first-priority
needs that are necessary for life and survival
such as shelter and clothing; food; safety
(social, emotional, cultural and physical
safety); and health.
In addition to basic needs, human beings
also have universal needs that are vital to
healthy development and well-being. For
build on their strengths, government can
better support them in meeting their needs
and can help to create stronger, healthier, and
more resilient children and youth within
strong families and inclusive communities.
THE MINISTRY
OF CHILDREN AND
FAMILY DEVELOPMENT’S
Five
Pillars
OF STRENGTH, SAFETY
AND SUPPORT
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An Explanation of Key Concepts
PREVENTION
CONTINUUM OF SERVICES
These are programs or actions that strengthen
communities, families and young people
This is a range of prevention, early
intervention and other more intrusive but
enabling them to meet their needs and cope
effectively with challenges and barriers,
thereby increasing resilience. The programs
necessary services to which children, youth
and families have access. The idea of a
continuum is to ensure that, based on an
decrease the chance of vulnerability and
increase the chances of well-being and healthy
development. Examples might be (a)
programs for youth that teach personal and
leadership skills, (b) early childhood
development, and (c) participation in culture
and traditions that strengthen young people’s
development.
effective assessment, children and youth are
provided with and can access the services that
best meet their individual needs. Decisions
with regard to service must allow for the
potential to consistently consider the least
intrusive services as a priority if these can meet
needs at that time or at a future time.
EARLY INTERVENTION
Through regular internal and external
evaluation, services are measured against
principles and standards of practice to ensure
that minimum standards are met and
sustained and processes for improving practice
are implemented. Quality assurance provides
for the monitoring of the implementation of
These are programs or supports provided to
children, youth and families after
vulnerability is identified. Early intervention
seeks to prevent further deterioration,
strengthen resilience, and prevent children
and youth from being taken into care or
custody by the state. Examples might be
(a) a family group conference where the
family and community, together with the
social worker identify supports which they
or others can offer the child and family to
keep them within their community,
(b) involvement of the young person in
restorative justice programs, (c) having Elders
work with the young person in ceremonies
and on a one-to-one basis, and (d) infant
development programs.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
instruments such as the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Evaluation processes include the participation
of children, youth and families and ensures
that they receive a quality of service that meet
their needs and thus increases positive
outcomes for children and youth.
PREVENTION
Government will place a primary focus on
preventing vulnerability in children and youth
by providing strong supports for individuals,
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families and communities.
We believe that all communities, families
and young people have inherent strengths
regardless of the challenges they face. The
more families, children and youth are able
to meet their needs in positive, healthy ways,
the more strength and resilience they develop.
Ultimately, this has significant impact on the
future health of communities and families,
as well as the long-term prosperity
of the province.
A value informing our work, consistent
with the UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child, is that while parents have the
primary responsibility for the
development of
their children, governments and
communities also have an
important role to play in
supporting and
protecting children.
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PREVENTION:
Part of government’s focus is on continuing
to strengthen programs that serve to prevent
in reducing the risk of anxiety disorders and
building resilience in children. After three
vulnerability. MCFD’s prevention component
supports healthy child and family
development by supporting parents and
caregivers so that children have stable and
healthy living environments to enable them
to grow and maximize their potential. This
results in stronger families and communities,
and children and youth who have
greater resilience.
Prevention programs include early
childhood development and child care,
programs for youth that teach personal and
leadership skills, and participation in cultures
and traditions that strengthen young people’s
development and attachment to community.
MCFD serves vulnerable children and
successful years implementing the FRIENDS
Program throughout B.C., more than 50,000
Grade 4 and 5 students have participated.
The FRIENDS for Life curriculum has also
been adapted to be more culturally relevant
for Aboriginal children and is being piloted in
15 schools with Aboriginal students.
䡲 Success by 6® is a community-based
partnership of government, the United Way,
credit unions and community leaders that
supports healthy child development programs
in communities throughout the province.
Families can also access a range of basic
services, including clothing and toy
exchanges, health screenings, parenting
support and nutritional education through
Family Resource Programs in communities
across the province.
youth within the context of family and
community. Working with partner ministries,
we will work to make communities and
families stronger while focusing resources
where vulnerability to healthy development
can be addressed.
䡲 StrongStart learning centres are free,
drop-in early learning programs for
pre-school children and their caregivers.
䡲 The FRIENDS For Life Program,
The Centres promote early learning and are
scheduled to increase to 400 sites by 2010.
In addition, communities are able to access
a partnership with the Ministry of Education,
is a school-based prevention and early
intervention program, proven to be effective
research-based evidence to support early
childhood development initiatives through
the Early Development Instrument results.
SUCCESSES TO DATE:
Government’s desire is to see children, youth and families
strengthened to prevent vulnerability from occurring in the first place.
䡲 There are more than 500 Roots of Empathy
programs reaching more than 12,500 children
in the province. The program involves a
䡲 Through partnerships with the Ministries of
neighbourhood parent and their infant
and programs to help prevent Fetal Alcohol
visiting a classroom over a period of time
and is shown to reduce levels of aggression
and violence among school children and
Spectrum Disorder, and pregnant women are
supported through programs such as ActNow
BC−Healthy Choices in Pregnancy. These
increase empathy. A similar program,
Seeds of Empathy for children aged
3 to 5 years is delivered in child care
public awareness campaigns include the FASD
prevention poster and brochure initiative,
driven by the BC Liquor Distribution Branch,
centres or pre-school settings.
and distributed to an additional 8,000
Education and Health, women, youth, families
and communities have access to information
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PREVENTION:
businesses including restaurants, bars and
private liquor stores, and the distribution of
FASD prevention material to all public
schools.
OUTCOME
We will see an increase in the health and
well being of children and youth and
a decrease in preventable vulnerabilites.
KEY ACTIONS
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
䡲 Develop and implement an
Early Years strategic plan.
䡲 Build on current FASD investments in key
workers and education arising from the FASD
strategic plan.
䡲 An increased percentage of young
children who are school-ready.
䡲 A decrease in the number of children
born with FASD and other substance abuse
related vulnerabilites.
MINISTRY INSIGHT
Early Years Programs and Initiatives
Families will access a variety of safe,
affordable and quality child care and early
childhood development (ECD) programs
through services under one roof at 32 new
Family Resource Programs will provide
services to help families connect with other
community members and parent support
programs, particularly in rural areas.
community hubs around the province that
have been funded in the last year alone.
Families will be strengthened and parents
Programs will be offered for children aged
birth to six within five core areas: family
support, play-based learning, early literacy
supported through available programs such as
Nobody’s Perfect and Parent Child Mother
and learning, parent education, and
information and referrals.
Goose. Children in British Columbia will
benefit from universal hearing, vision and
dental screenings providing early
Programs and services such as these
will offer a wide range of supports to parents,
children and communities, providing British
detection and/or prevention of common
childhood ailments.
Columbia’s young children with the best
start possible.
EARLY INTERVENTION
Government will provide early intervention
services to vulnerable children and youth within
their families and communities.
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Government’s desire is to see children,
youth and families strengthened to prevent
vulnerability from occurring in the first place.
However, when vulnerability is identified,
early intervention services, including training
for parents, can be very successful in
mitigating risk and strengthening
resilience.
Initial referrals to community
supports and school-based
programs will often arise or work
in conjunction with early
intervention and assessment.
Increasing emphasis will be
placed on the effort to work
across ministries and
programs. This remains
vitally important to ensure
that families’ experience, as
receivers of services,
is seamless.
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EARLY INTERVENTION:
International research and practices
demonstrate that early intervention strategies
Ministry will focus on early intervention work
within families and communities to maintain
can protect many children identified at risk
without the emotional trauma of removing
them from family and community. This in
turn increases wellness in communities
and families and lessens the dependence
on alternative caregivers. This is particularly
critical in Aboriginal communities where the
placement of children into care away from
community is seen as harmful to the children,
their communities and their traditions. The
these important family and community
connections.
The Ministry of Children and Family
Development’s programs and services
recognize and build on individual and
collective strengths, building resilience and
protecting children, youth and families from
further vulnerability, which lessens
the likelihood of more intrusive
intervention measures.
When vulnerability is identified, early intervention services can be
very successful in mitigating risk and strengthening resilience.
SUCCESSES TO DATE
䡲 Specially-trained child and youth mental
health clinicians work with children from
birth to five years of age who may be at risk of
developing mental health problems and
their families to enhance the attachment
relationship and promote social-emotional
development.
䡲 Infant Development programs are available
throughout B.C. and provide services to
children from birth to three years old who are
at risk for or who already have a delay in
development. Family plays an active part in
deciding what kind of support they need with
an emphasis on learning to encourage a child’s
development. In addition, there are
28 Aboriginal Infant Development Programs
(AIDP) serving Aboriginal children and
families offering home visits, play groups,
family support and parent to parent links.
program has 12 temporary housing units,
a child care centre, community kitchen,
meeting and office space, and is one of the few
in the country specifically designed for this
population of mothers and their children.
KEY ACTIONS
䡲 Increase early intervention options
in each region.
䡲 Increase community hubs providing
family support programs.
OUTCOME
We expect an increase in the strengths,
䡲 Pregnant women are supported to prevent
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder by
capacities and competencies of vulnerable
children and youth and their families.
cross-ministry and community partnerships
that provide community prenatal outreach
programs such as Sheway, located
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
in the Downtown East Side. This program
focuses on helping women with complex
needs have healthy pregnancies and positive
䡲 A decrease in the number of children and
youth referred for intervention, or coming
into care or custody.
䡲 An increase in the use of Family
Development Response.
parenting experiences. This unique housing
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EARLY INTERVENTION:
MINISTRY INSIGHT
Government Takes Action for
Children and Youth with Special Needs
Parents of children and youth with special
needs will find it easier to access support and
services as a result of a new cross-government
Children and Youth with
Special Needs Framework
for Action.
䡲 The Early Hearing Screening Program
provides a coordinated early identification
and intervention approach.
䡲 A new Key Worker Program provides
families of children with Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder or similar conditions with
access to a skilled and knowledgeable person
who helps them understand how to best
support their children.
䡲 Simplified Information for Parents includes
a family friendly booklet and website to guide
families to services in their community.
䡲 Research and evaluation ensures the
services that families receive are effective.
INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT
Government will provide intervention
services and supports based on the assessment
of individual needs.
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All vulnerability cannot be prevented.
Realistically, some children, youth and
families will need assistance to address
challenges stemming from family violence,
child abuse, substance abuse, mental health
issues, or other need. The ministry and its
contracted community-based agencies and
organizations that provide services will
continue to find ways to provide innovative
services to vulnerable families, children
and youth.
We believe that we need to take
a strengths-based approach when considering
the child. Because of the strengths they bring,
children, youth, families and communities are
recognized as a resource to each other rather
than people ‘needing help’. Each child or
youth’s needs are different.
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INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT:
Once a challenge is identified, it is
best addressed through an individualized
approach that takes into account both
risks and strengths.
Services must be available along a
comprehensive continuum that will offer
unique and individual support based on
individualized assessment and planning.
Children and families must be connected
to the most appropriate service based on an
assessment of their strengths and needs.
Reassessment needs to inform ongoing
planning in many cases, including when
children are in care. Comprehensive plans
addressing the need for safety, therapeutic
and developmental support, and ageappropriate education and health outcomes
will be identified for children and youth who
need higher levels of service.
Planning functions and services are
shaped by the dynamic voice of children,
youth and their families. Consistent with the
UN Convention and our own legislation,
children, youth and their families have the
right to express their views and are included
in planning . We continue to expand the use of
restorative justice, family group conferences,
mediation and extended family or ‘kin’ based
participation in case planning, decisionmaking, and, where necessary, care giving for
vulnerable children. In his Child and Family
Review, The Honourable Ted Hughes noted
these newer approaches would result in better
lives for vulnerable children and youth across
Children and families must be connected to the most appropriate
service based on an assessment of their strengths and needs.
the province provided implementation was
supported and results evaluated. More will be
done as implementation proceeds.
MCFD provides a range of prevention,
early intervention and other more intrusive
but necessary services to which children,
youth and families have access. The idea is to
ensure that, based on an effective assessment,
children and youth are provided with and can
access the services that best meet their
individual needs. To meet the needs of
the situation, decisions regarding service must
allow for consistent consideration of the least
intrusive service.
SUCCESSES TO DATE
䡲 The Family Finders program, in the Fraser
and Vancouver Coastal regions, creates
lifelong attachments between children and
extended family, or significant others. It
allows for children to be discharged from care
into safe homes offering lifelong relationships
and permanence for the child. Between April
2005 and December 2007, 168 Family Finder
subsidies in high rent areas, landlord/mentor
assistance, and more contracted youth
workers to provide direct contact.
䡲 The youth crime rate, including violence by
youth, has substantially decreased. B.C.,
which had rates among the highest in the
country in the 1990s, now has overall youth
crime and violent youth crime rates below the
national average. B.C. also has the lowest per
capita rate of youth on probation and the
second lowest rate of youth in custody.
䡲 With the implementation of the five-year
Child and Youth Mental Health Plan, youth
with mental health issues are receiving more
support from qualified workers with the
completion of the fifth and final year of
mental health worker recruitment. The
mental health plan has succeeded in locating
child and youth mental health service
providers throughout the province so
children, youth and their families managing
mental health issues have more options in
their home communities or nearby.
cases were completed in the Fraser region;
150 of those were children in care.
䡲 As an alternative to coming into care, high
KEY ACTIONS
risk youths between 16 to 18 years are
supported in their transition to adulthood
through options such as Youth Agreements.
and youth based on individual needs.
䡲 Improve support to caregivers, including
parents, foster parents, adoptive parents and
These Agreements include increased rent
extended families.
䡲 Improve case management and assessment
models across programs and plan for children
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INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT:
䡲 Improve supports for former children
in care and youth on youth agreements
transitioning to adulthood.
OUTCOME
We expect children and youth receiving
services from the Ministry to demonstrate
increased resilience and capacity
to cope with their challenges.
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
䡲 An increase in the number of children and
youth in care or custody who have positive
educational outcomes.
䡲 An increase in the number of children and
youth in care or custody who have a secure,
safe, lifelong, positive relationship with at least
one caring adult.
MINISTRY INSIGHT
Collaboration
When there are concerns about a child’s
well-being, child welfare workers often work
directly with the family (and others as
appropriate) to develop a plan to keep the
child safe—without having to go to court.
Options for collaborative planning and
decision-making include:
䡲 Family Development Response: emphasizes
and builds on family’s strengths and connects
them with resources such as counselling,
parenting programs and other services in
their community. This means the child is safe
while the family stays together and works
though its challenges.
䡲 Family Group Conference: a formal meeting
with members of the child’s immediate family,
extended family and community—often
including service providers—guided by an
impartial coordinator. The family develops
the plan for the child.
䡲 Traditional decision-making processes:
family members work together to solve
problems by following community or cultural
traditions; for example, in the Aboriginal
community, Elders might lead families and
child welfare workers through a traditional
process to help them make decisions.
䡲 Mediation: a trained, impartial person helps
the family and the child welfare worker agree
on the best way to meet the child’s needs.
After receiving a reported
concern on a child that is not serious,
alternatives to care are considered and
used where appropriate.
THE ABORIGINAL APPROACH
Aboriginal people will be supported to exercise
jurisdiction in delivering child and family services.
4
The provincial government and B.C. First
Nations’ organizations are working together
to develop a New Relationship founded on
respect, recognition and reconciliation.
Restoring, revitalizing and strengthening First
Nations and their communities and families
is an integral part of this vision. Increasingly,
First Nations and Métis people are exercising
planning and decision-making functions
associated with service delivery. They are
supported to develop models of service
intervention that meet the needs of their own
communities and families. Government’s role
is to support these developments in a flexible
manner that responds to different conditions,
among Aboriginal communities.
One of the steps toward improving the
circumstances of Aboriginal children and
families is to support delivery by Aboriginal
people. We believe that Aboriginal delivery
of services to their children will result in
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4
THE ABORIGINAL APPROACH:
improved outcomes for vulnerable Aboriginal
children and youth.
creation and development of delegated
agencies providing direct services in
The Ministry of Children and Family
Development supports Aboriginal people to
provide for the safety and well-being of their
children and the governing of services to
support children and families. For example,
we continue to work with Aboriginal
communities on the creation of Aboriginal
Authorities that administer child and family
services. We also continue to support the
Aboriginal communities. Training for
delegated agency staff and support specific
to work in First Nations communities (also
commented on by Mr. Hughes) will continue
to be necessary.
No matter how services are supported
and delivered, policy and practice in child
and family development services must reflect
traditional ways of practice if they are to be
truly effective in Aboriginal communities and
with Aboriginal children and youth.
Aboriginal children in care need
continued support to maintain
or rebuild connections to their
culture and home communities.
These connections support
child development, positive
We cannot allow questions of jurisdiction to interfere
with services to any child in need
self-esteem and help children take pride in
who they are and where they come from.
development of healthy First Nations
communities generally.
Working with Aboriginal children and youth
means working to facilitate and enhance
attachment to culture and community. The
need for such commitment is evident in the
statement of one young person: “Now the
‘hole’ in my heart is mended. I know where
I come from and where I belong. I will
go back home.”
In addition to ensuring our polices and
practices are amenable to Aboriginal people,
our Ministry as an organization must change.
Mr. Hughes noted in his review that MCFD
needs to recruit and retain more Aboriginal
people at all levels of our Ministry. Promising
work has been done to address this need and
is a strong focus for the future.
SUCCESSES TO DATE
MCFD believes that all Aboriginal
children, youth and families, whether on or
Health Plan has resulted in improved access to
and cultural relevance of child and youth
off reserve, should have access to a full range
mental health services for Aboriginal
of equivalent, effective services that reflect
and support Aboriginal cultures and
children, youth and their families. Aboriginal
youth suicide prevention strategies are being
implemented in several communities.
䡲 The Vancouver Island Aboriginal Interim
Authority and the Fraser Region Aboriginal
traditions. We cannot allow questions of
jurisdiction to interfere with services to any
child in need, whether or not those children
live on reserve. At the same time, we continue
to work with Aboriginal leaders in engaging
the federal government to support the
䡲 The A Child’s Roots Are Forever program is
reconnecting Aboriginal children in care with
their communities and extended families.
Over the last year there have been five homecoming celebrations that have re-connected
39 Aboriginal children to their communities.
䡲 The North East Project with Nenan DaneZaa deh Zona is underway to build capacity
in communities and ensure the effective
governance of these services. This approach is
intended to fully engage community members
in the identification of strengths and needs in
the development of service action plans
unique to each community.
䡲 The Aboriginal Child and Youth Mental
Interim Authority have been established.
䡲 There are 24 delegated agencies operating
at various levels of delegation. The Vancouver
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4
THE ABORIGINAL APPROACH:
Aboriginal Child and Family Services Agency
is the first urban Aboriginal child and family
leaders, communities and service providers
including delegated agencies on achieving
serving agency with full delegation for child
protection services. An adoption delegation
enabling agreement was signed with the
Cowichan Tribes child welfare agency
Lalum’utul’ Smun’eem. This is the first such
agreement in B.C. and the second in Canada.
䡲 A partnership between MCFD, University
of Northern British Columbia, the Public
Service Agency and Aboriginal Delegated
Agencies in the North to recruit and train
Aboriginal social workers has increased the
number of Aboriginal social workers in the
North from 5 to 14.
䡲 Between January 2006 and March 2008, the
Aboriginal MCFD staff doubled— increasing
from 119 to 239. On May 25, 2007, 10
individuals graduated with a certificate in
child welfare specialization, in addition
a governance model supported by Aboriginal
people in each region.
䡲 Continue the devolution of decisionmaking and service delivery responsibilities
to Aboriginal people and communities
through mechanisms such as Aboriginal
Authorities and delegated agencies.
to a social work degree.
KEY ACTIONS
䡲 Support First Nations and other Aboriginal
leaders, communities and service providers
in improving outcomes for children, youth
and families.
䡲 Support First Nations and other Aboriginal
OUTCOME
We will see Aboriginal children, youth and
their families receiving services through an
Aboriginal service system that strongly
connects children and youth to their culture
and tradition.
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
䡲 Aboriginal people are delivering services
to their children, youth and families.
䡲 Decrease in the Aboriginal children and
youth coming into care.
䡲 An increase in the number of Aboriginal
children and youth in care or custody who
have positive developmental outcomes.
䡲 A decrease in the number of Aboriginal
youth that attempt or commit suicide.
Respect, reconciliation and recognition of Aboriginal rights and title
are the foundation for building ongoing relationships.
MINISTRY INSIGHT
Closing the Gap
Since 2005, the Province of British Columbia,
First Nations, and Aboriginal leaders have
Transformative Change Accord established
a 10 year plan to measure progress in
focused attention on building positive working
relationships. Their efforts reflect a strong
commitment to close, by 2015, the socioeconomic gaps that separate Aboriginal people
from other British Columbians.
Both the New Relationship vision and
Transformative Change Accord embody this
commitment. The New Relationship identifies
respect, reconciliation and recognition of
Aboriginal rights and title as the foundation
for building ongoing relationships between
the Province and First Nations. The
achieving key priorities in five sectors.
By signing the Métis Nation Relationship
Accord in 2006, British Columbia and Métis
Nation BC agreed to work together to address
socio-economic gaps.
These documents set formidable goals
requiring long-term societal change to
achieve. At this point, much remains to be
done, but the Province, First Nations, Métis,
and Aboriginal organizations in local
communities throughout British Columbia are
making and measuring their progress.
29
4
THE ABORIGINAL APPROACH
MINISTRY INSIGHT
Jordan’s Principle: Putting the child first
On January 24, 2008, Premier Gordon
Campbell told a B.C. First Nations Chiefs
Forum in Vancouver that B.C. backs Jordan’s
Principle—the first Canadian premier and
province to do so. The House of Commons
approved a private Member’s Bill backing
Jordan’s Principle in December, 2007.
In 1999, Jordan was born with a rare
neuromuscular disorder, on the Norway
House Cree Nation reserve in northern
Manitoba. Referred to Winnipeg for
treatment, he eventually became bound to a
wheelchair, dependent on a ventilator and
unable to speak. His hospital caregivers
thought it was best to discharge Jordan to
specialized foster home care near his home
Sadly, the circumstances of Jordan’s case
are not unique. A survey of 12 First Nations
agencies across Canada in 2005 found 393
cases in one year where services were denied
or delayed because of jurisdictional disputes.
The majority of the disputes were between
two federal departments, and resolving each
one took an average of 54 person-hours.
Jordan’s Principle is designed to end
such tragic disputes. It would provide First
Nations children the same care that all
Canadian children are entitled to, regardless
of jurisdiction.
In practical terms, it means that
whichever government is first contacted pays
for necessary services without delay or
reserve. However, the federal and Manitoba
governments could not agree on responsibility
for paying for the care and Jordan died
interruption. Reckoning of accounts between
governments will occur later without
implication for services to the child
in a Winnipeg hospital before the dispute
was resolved.
in need of service.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Child, youth and family development services
will be based on evidence gathered through
a strong quality assurance system.
5
To ensure that children and youth have the best
opportunity to be strong, safe and supported,
government must take an integrated approach to
meeting basic and universal needs. The focus must
be on better lifelong outcomes for children and youth
while remaining responsive to imminent need.
The ministry works with government agencies,
community organizations, family service providers,
caregivers, health workers, teachers, families and
Aboriginal people. Increased partnerships and
shared responsibility can reduce the likelihood of
harmful situations and mitigate impacts when
they do occur.
Our goal is to ensure that the best
quality services are consistently
provided to all clients, regardless of
location and circumstance. To support
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5
QUALITY ASSURANCE
this work, the Ministry of Children and Family
Development is implementing an integrated
quality assurance system that supports
continuous organizational learning and a
culture of improvement. When individual
cases warrant review, an integrated approach
must be used to draw insight and lead to
systemic improvement.
An integrated quality assurance approach
provides for:
䡲 Ongoing research that supports decision-
making and improves services;
䡲 Regular internal and external evaluation
of services against principles and standards
of practice; and
䡲 Monitoring the implementation of programs
and services.
Evaluation and monitoring processes
will include the participation of children,
youth and families.
Quality assurance means the Ministry
reports regularly on key actions, their status,
outcomes, and progress in important areas such
as the implementation of the recommendations
in the Hughes Review. Further, a progress
report on the initiatives outlined in the
Ministry’s Operational Plan will be
issued every six months.
SUCCESSES TO DATE
䡲 The Youth Advisory Council,
that brings young people from
across the province to share their
knowledge, skills and experiences
with MCFD, has contributed to the
development of youth-centred
policy; promoted youth engagement
in communities; and participated in
the development of youth services.
QUALITY
ASSURANCE DIAGRAM
The Ministry is implementing an integrated quality assurance system that supports
continuous organizational learning and a culture of improvement.
learning from reviews and other activities are
managed across programs at a regional level.
KEY ACTIONS
䡲 Implement an integrated quality
assurance approach.
䡲 Increase reporting on quality assurance
indicators and outcomes for children
and youth.
䡲 Develop and strengthen internally and
externally based evaluations of, and research
into, programs and services.
䡲 Increase child and youth participation
in decision-making.
䡲 99 per cent of service agencies with
annual funding of more than $500,000 are
now accredited. The Ministry has also
achieved accreditation for some services
directly delivered by MCFD.
䡲 Individual cases where a number of
OUTCOME
services have been provided may now
receive examination through an integrated
case review that places a single lens on
䡲 Increase in comprehensive and accurate
information used to inform continuous
practice rather than applying separate and
multiple program based reviews.
We expect increased effectiveness, efficiency
and accountability of supports and services
for children, youth and their families served
by the Ministry.
INDICATORS OF SUCCESS
service improvement.
䡲 Increase in the use of evidence in policy
and practice changes.
䡲 Each region has established a director
of integrated practice to ensure quality
assurance activities including shared
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Responding to the Hughes Review
Forty-four of the recommendations were
directed to the Ministry of Children and
Family Development. While many of the
recommendations have been implemented,
Mr. Hughes’ review continues to inform
MCFD’s planning and the work described
Strong, Safe and Supported, A Commitment to
Children and Youth is informed by the 2006
BC Children and Youth Review (also called the
Hughes Review) and builds on the progress to
date on the review’s 62 recommendations.
Government began responding to the
recommendations immediately after the
report was received in April 2006. By May
under these pillars. Themes arising from the
Hughes report and reflected under the pillars
in this document include:
䡲 Continued investment in what Mr. Hughes
referred to as ‘modern child welfare practices’,
such as kinship agreements, mediation and
family group conferences.
䡲 Working across all levels of government
and with First Nations and Aboriginal leaders
to resolve inequities in funding for Aboriginal
child welfare resources as well as ensuring
those working in Aboriginal child welfare
have the training and tools necessary
for their work.
䡲 Attention to recruitment and training.
䡲 Developing a comprehensive quality
assurance system that is solution focused,
2006, legislation was passed creating the office
of the Representative for Children and Youth.
A new committee, the Select Standing
informs learning across programs, and plays
a strong role in public accountability.
䡲 Developing methods of information and
data management that facilitate information
Committee on Children and Youth, comprised
of members of the legislature was created
soon afterwards to help retain ongoing focus
sharing among professionals at both an
individual and aggregate level and thereby
informing policy and practice.
on the needs of vulnerable children and
families and the services they receive.
1. Prevention
Government will place a primary focus on preventing
vulnerability in children and youth by providing strong
supports for individuals, families and communities.
2. Early Intervention
Government will provide early intervention services to vulnerable
children and youth within their families and communities.
3. Intervention and Support
Government will provide intervention services
and supports based on the assessment
of individual needs.
4. The Aboriginal Approach
Aboriginal people will be supported
to exercise jurisdiction in delivering
child and family services.
5. Quality Assurance
Child, youth and family development
services will be based on evidence
gathered through a strong quality
assurance system.
The Best Place on Earth
Ministry of Children
and Family Development