A First Nations Child and Family Services Agency (FNCFS)

The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) is a Canadian think-tank that engages in applied research in public finance and its intersection with public administration, politics, and public policy. Led by Kevin Page, Canada’s first Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), IFSD undertakes its work in Canada at all levels of government as well as abroad.

IFSD is proud to continue its work in FNCFS.  Building on Phases 1 and 2, IFSD will continue to foster its relationships, knowledge base, and role as a trusted third-party with stakeholders in FNCFS across Canada.

The IFSD is pleased to be working with First Nations child and family services agencies, First Nations, the National Advisory Committee (NAC) on First Nations Child and Family Services, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), and the Caring Society.

IFSD's approach to this project is collaborative and informed by OCAP® principles

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT), in its January 2016 decision and subsequent rulings, has found that Canada has used a discriminatory funding approach for FNCFS agencies.  Canada states it is committed to implementing the orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. You can read the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s ruling here.

In January 2022, the parties to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) proceedings on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) announced an agreement in principle, which included compensation for past harms of the FNCFS system, and a commitment to long-term reform.  This commitment to long-term reform presents an opportunity to reset the FNCS system with a focus on well-being and the needs of First Nations. 

The project is focused on the delivery of well-being for First Nations, families, and children. It will aim to do so by leveraging, building-on, and translating previous phases of work (Phases 1 and 2) into discrete First Nation-based delivery models that transform organizational strategy, people, process, and systems. It is intended to build capacity and an enhanced bottom-up planning framework for FNCFS agencies and First Nations, while building confidence among stakeholders.

See our project overview. 

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.

The ethics review and adjudication processes of individual First Nations will be followed by IFSD.

All research collaborator data and analysis will be anonymized.  First Nations serving as research collaborators will be asked to review and approve any anonymized profiles, models, or tools built based on their First Nation prior to public dissemination.

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

The shared data will contribute to the development of models, tools, reports, briefings, and decision-support for stakeholders. 

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.

phases of work (Phase 1 and Phase 2) into discrete First Nation-based delivery models that transform organizational strategy, people, process, and systems. 

It is intended to build capacity and an enhanced bottom-up planning framework for agencies and First Nations, while building confidence among stakeholders.

IFSD depends on the experiences, perspectives, and information from research collaborators to connect this work to realities of exercising jurisdiction in First Nations child and family services. 

As a First Nation exercising jurisdiction through An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, or anticipating an exercise of jurisdiction, you are invited to take part in this work by serving as a research collaborator.

Research collaborators will have detailed budgets, operating plans, a capital needs assessment, and transition considerations developed.  This will be a multi-year commitment with significant requests for data, financial information, site visits, and the testing of tools and approaches.  IFSD can offer support for your participation.  If you’re interested in contributing as a research collaborator, contact helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca

In January 2022, the parties to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) proceedings on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) announced an agreement in principle, which included compensation for past harms of the FNCFS system, and a commitment to long-term reform.  This commitment to long-term reform presents an opportunity to reset the FNCS system with a focus on well-being and the needs of First Nations and support First Nations exercising jurisdiction. 

The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) is pleased to continue its collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Caring Society to support this reform.  Over the past four years, the contributions of FNCFS agencies were the backbone of the cost estimate in Phase 1 and the development of the well-being focused and needs-based funding approach in Phase 2.  We remain grateful and humbled by the commitment, trust, and generosity shown to us. 

We have a unique opportunity to put previous phases of work into action in Phase 3.  This work will be essential in providing decision-support that will inform a long-term agreement on FNCFS system reform. 

Participating FNCFS agencies and First Nations will have their own financial models developed for their use in planning and advocacy (with consideration of the children, families, and communities they serve).  Contributions from participating FNCFS agencies and First Nations will inform the refinement of funding and performance approaches for FNCFS. 

IFSD remains grateful to the FNCFS agencies and First Nations that have contributed and supported its work in FNCFS.  Your participation makes this work possible.

On a monthly basis, IFSD will release interim results through its websites and updates to research collaborators (FNCFS). Case study FNCFS agencies and First Nations own and control their information throughout the project.  The full project is set to be completed by February 2025.