This project is designed to help identify and cost the needs of First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency that wish to design and deliver child and family services or prevention services in their communities.  By defining needs, costing approaches, and identifying current gaps, First Nations and stakeholders can prepare a way forward. 

The agreement in principle among the parties to the CHRT includes an assessment of need in First Nations.  This is an opportunity to share your vision and shape a new approach for supporting activities in First Nations.

IFSD depends on the experiences, perspectives, and information from research collaborators to connect this work to realities in First Nations.  We are asking for your collaboration in one of two ways:

1. Share your experience by joining us for a session in Vancouver, Prince George, Winnipeg, or Ottawa (dates and times to be confirmed).  IFSD will cover costs for two representatives from each First Nation to attend. Virtual options for participation will also be available. We suggest those involved in finance and program delivery/management take part in this exercise.  During this session, you will be invited to complete a questionnaire and discuss your First Nation’s programming and needs in child and family services. REGISTER HERE or contact helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca
2. Volunteer to serve as a research collaborator.  This in-depth collaboration will include a full review of child and family services programming and needs in your First Nation.  As a collaborator, you will be asked to share more detailed information about funding, operations, capital needs, and best practices.  IFSD would join you in-person in your First Nation to undertake this work.  If you’re interested in contributing as a research collaborator, contact helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca

Collaborators and session participants will help to inform the cost estimation exercise to better understand and quantify the needs of First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency in child and family services.

IFSD follows OCAP® Principles.  IFSD has requested FNIGC to provide a technical review of its tools and materials, that integrates consideration of OCAP® Principles and data governance.

Any information that is disseminated publicly will be aggregated and/or anonymized to protect the privacy of participants.

All data shared by First Nations through the questionnaire will be anonymized and aggregated for any use.  This means, no one can be identified in any publicly shared work. 

All data shared by First Nations will be held on password protected cloud-storage system (OneDrive).  All servers associated to IFSD’s cloud-storage system are resident in Canada.  Data shared will be accessible only to IFSD staff directly engaged in the project.

Research collaborators and participants can withdraw at any time. Any data shared with IFSD will be destroyed.