Monthly Updates
October 2023
The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) is pleased to provide you with an update for the month of October on its research to support reform of child and family services in First Nations (FNCFS).
IFSD is pleased to continue working with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Caring Society (Cindy Blackstock), and the National Advisory Comittee (NAC) to support the long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program.
IFSD extends its gratitude for the invaluable contributions made to this work by First Nations. In the last year and a half, through a questionnaire (46% national participation), 9 regional gatherings (with 70 First Nations represented by 125 participants), and several case study collaborators, you have helped to define different starting points, identify successes, challenges, and needs.
On November 2, 2023, we are gathering to share research findings with you flowing from your generous contributions, gather your reflections on findings, and set next steps.
We look forward to welcoming 83 First Nations in-person and virtually.
You can consult the agenda here.
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on our research to support FNCFS reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
August - September 2023
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July 2023
The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) is pleased to provide this update for the month of July on its research to support reform of First Nations and family services.
The Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy (IFSD) has been asked to undertake additional research on Jordan’s Principle.
The project will make recommendations for consideration to develop and implement structural solutions to achieving substantive equality for First Nations children, youth, and families. This work builds on findings from IFSD’s September 2022 report, Data assessment and framing of an analysis of substantive equality through the application of Jordan's Principle.
| IFSD needs your help
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IFSD’s mandate is to respond (in part) to the recommendations made in Part 1, and propose options for the long-term sustainability of Jordan’s Principle through the:
- Development of a policy framework (e.g., approach to measuring/monitoring outcomes for children, evaluating Jordan’s Principle, etc.);
- Review of existing programs and services;
- Definition of options and considerations for reforming the operationalization of Jordan’s Principle; and,
- Financial analysis and costing of the baseline and any proposed reforms.
A regionally-representative working group has been assembled to provide practitioner input on operating realities, successes/challenges, and considerations for refining/improving matters associated to Jordan’s Principle.
The work is scheduled to be completed by December 2024. To learn more, consult the update here.
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on our research to support First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
June 2023
This month’s update is designed to provide an overview of IFSD’s work to undertake research and analysis on the long-term reform of FNCFS for First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency.
IFSD relies on and is grateful for the contributions of First Nations and FNCFS agencies that help to shape this work. This would not be possible without your willingness to share information, time, and experiences with IFSD. The project is summarized in the table below. For more details, consult the full update here.
| Component | First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency | |
| IFSD’s mandate |
| Questionnaire 2022 summary of analysis |
May 2023
IFSD recognizes the contributions of over 75 First Nations not affiliated to a First
Nations child and family services (FNCFS) agency that shared their experiences and defined needs in child and family services from May 2022 to November 2022. National participation in the questionnaire (with the population adjustment for Quebec) was 46% (n=160).
We recognize that the data analysis process took significantly longer than initially planned. The varied nature of the data made analysis a much slower process than usual. We are pleased to be able to share our findings with you now.
First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency have significantly different starting points and needs that should be reflected in future funding approaches. The table below summarizes IFSD’s mandate and responses from engagement with First Nations and their representatives in this work (this includes both questionnaires and workshop engagement).
IFSD’s Mandate and Responses to Questions
IFSD has prepared a national summary of findings that is attached here.
IFSD’s Next Steps
- Build examples of funding models (with consideration of different starting points) based on findings;
- Request regional review meetings of the models to ensure they capture different needs;
- Prepare a final report for December 2023 with a summary of findings.
Should a presentation and discussion of findings be desired, kindly contact Tianna Tischbein – tianna.tischbein@ifsd.ca – by June 20, 2023, to organize a date/time for a regional session.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on our research to support First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
April 2023
There is significant variability operationally, financially, and organizationally when it comes to how First Nations not affiliated to a First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) agency are delivering child and family and related services.
Most First Nations are offering some services, but not the services they would like to offer to meet their communities’ needs.
There are two extremes: there are First Nations offering a variety of services in CFS and related areas at one end, and at the other, First Nations without active service delivery (or, where service delivery is desired).
First Nations are contemplating a variety of options and models from the exercise of jurisdiction to integrated CFS and health services delivery.
However a First Nation decides to chart their course on CFS, there are guiding questions that – as IFSD has learned from engagement with collaborators – can be helpful for planning.
The table below offers an overview of questions and considerations developed for a First Nations collaborator. IFSD is grateful to have learned from their experience and pleased to share the learnings.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on our research to support First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
February 2023
IFSD is pleased to share this monthly update for February 2023.
To better understand similarities and differences among current collaborator planning and service contexts, a comparative assessment of provincial child and family services legislation was undertaken to explore how matters of funding, reporting, and delegation, may impact current and future operating environments. This information may be helpful to First Nations and service providers as they consider differences ultimately impacting outcomes for children and families.
First Nations child and family services often requires service providers to work in different places, e.g., on-/off-reserve, in different regions. Their work and operations are shaped by the legislation in their province/territory, First Nations legislation, and federal funding approaches. These factors can influence the approach, planning, and even highlight gaps in existing resources for FNCFS agencies (consider, for instance, the case of Indigenous and non-Indigenous service providers in British Columbia).
To better understand approaches to FNCFS in provinces and territories, IFSD prepared a comparative legislative analysis. There are five considerations that emerge from this comparative assessment:
- There are differences in defining forms of Indigenous identity, which could lead to challenges in service access.
- Most legislation is silent on funding approaches, making it unclear how services are funded and whether they are sufficient.
- There’s variability in reporting approaches and requirements between provinces, with limited connection to outcomes for children. This makes it challenging to understand how children in care are doing, and how resources support or limit those outcomes
4. It is important to consider the impacts of the Federal Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families on provincial/ territorial legislation. Federal legislation is still relatively new, and it will take time to understand how it will influence provincial legislation, especially when tested before the courts.
For further detail, you can read the full analysis here.
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
January 2023
IFSD is pleased to share this monthly update for January 2023. This update provides an overview of Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) principal existing funding approaches, namely block funding, and offers comparisons to the reformed FNCFS funding model tested by IFSD in Phase 3 research on costing out FNCFS reform.
Read the analysis here.
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
November - December 2022
This is the monthly update for November and December 2022.
There are two parts to this update:
- A summary of the principal findings from the questionnaire (please read the summary here):
- 46% national participation rate.
- Diversity of starting points among First Nations.
- Desire to provide more services, but attracting/retaining staff is a significant challenge.
- Limited information available on budgets and costs of service delivery.
- A call for additional collaborators to support this work.
- IFSD is pleased to have five confirmed and active First Nations collaborators from British Columbia, Ontario, Yukon, and Quebec in this work.
- We are looking for 5 more.
- If you are interested in sharing your First Nation’s experience in child and family services in a detailed way, e.g., financial portrait, governance overview, programs, etc., reach out to Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca) by January 20, 2023.
To those celebrating, we wish you Happy Holidays.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
October 2022
Questionnaire deadline: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2022
Since April 2022, IFSD has been working to connect with First Nations not affiliated to a First Nations child and family service agency to learn about their current state and future needs in child and family services.
[Download the questionnaire here]
At this time, 42% of First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency have shared their experiences through the questionnaire. The questionnaire is about collecting data to define a baseline where none exists. Data is critical to help understand where you are, where you want to go, and the gap between these points.
By province/region, we need the following to achieve a 50% participation rate:
First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency that complete the questionnaire will receive a $300 gift card to their chosen vendor (Shoppers, Tim Horton’s, Wal-Mart, or Amazon).
If you have not already done so, we ask that you consider completing the questionnaire (as best you can), with particular focus on the budget (revenues/expenditures and sources of funding).
[Download the questionnaire here]
To ensure analysis can be completed in time to support the negotiating parties, IFSD will close the questionnaire process on Friday, November 4, 2022. No additional questionnaires will be accepted after this date.
Our thanks to those First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency who have already completed and shared their questionnaires!
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
September 2022
Jordan’s Principle is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson who died in a Winnipeg hospital, never having been in his family home because of a jurisdictional battle between the federal and provincial governments on who would pay for his homecare.
Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations children, ensuring access to the services and supports they need without delay or denial. Substantive equality for First Nations children is a core pillar of Jordan’s Principle, recognizing that some First Nations children may require unique supports to achieve equitable outcomes to their non-Indigenous peers.
At this time, however, we cannot determine if substantive equality is being achieved.
When we reflect on the long-term sustainability of Jordan’s Principle, we should consider:
- What we know: Jordan’s Principle is addressing needs and the number of requests to Jordan’s Principle is increasing.
- What we don’t know: the root causes of requests to Jordan’s Principle…why are children in need? We know inequalities exist, but what are they? How are they affecting children?
- Why does this matter? Jordan’s Principle is filling gaps in existing program areas. Understanding the root causes of need is critical to developing informed policy and funding decisions to support well-being over the long-term, and to permanently address program gaps.
With these questions in mind, the IFSD analyzed available information from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) on Jordan’s Principle to better understand whether substantive equality is being achieved.
You can read the full report here.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca)
August 2022
Many people are feeling pressure from price increases in food, clothing, and the cost of living. In June 2022, inflation was 8.1% higher than the previous year (June 2021). When working with First Nations and FNCFS agencies, we have heard concerns and challenges associated to increasing levels of inflation.
From a program funding perspective, inflation adjustments alone will not address broader issues of underfunding. Inflation adjustments do not replace program funding that is adequate for the needs of a First Nation. If a program area is underfunded relative to need, it will remain insufficient even with an inflation adjustment.
IFSD’s Chief Economist, Dr. Mostafa Askari, prepared a primer on inflation and two approaches to remedy underfunding in First Nations program funding. You can read the full note here.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
July 2022
To better support young people transitioning out of the care of child and family services, best practices in post-majority services are being identified by youth with lived experiences and the organizations that offer that support. From housing to life skills, we have heard from First Nations not affiliated to a FNCFS agency about what they are doing and what they hope to do to deliver post-majority supports.
| Do you have an approach or program in post-majority support to share? Get in touch with IFSD. |
While we learn from you, IFSD has been working to compile existing frameworks and research to help understand the costs of designing and delivering post-majority supports and services.
The Assembly of Seven Generations (A7G), an Indigenous youth-led organization prepared a report based on the experiences of children in care. The report, Children Back, Land Back : A Follow-Up Report of First Nations Youth in Care Advisors, includes actions (past, present, and future) to support children and youth in contact with child and family services.
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Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
IFSD is writing to share its fourth monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list (info@ifsd.ca).
May 2022
IFSD is writing to share its second monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list
This is a call to action.
IFSD needs your help to compile as many perspectives as possible through the questionnaire. Building a dataset with contributions from First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency is critical to defining a baseline for cost analysis and future needs.
The information will support the ongoing negotiations for long-term reform of the First Nations child and family services system.
This month’s messages:
- Every First Nation/Band that completes the questionnaire will receive a $300 gift card. More First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency are needed to complete the questionnaire.
- There are fewer than 30% of First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency that have completed the questionnaire to date.
- Every First Nation/Band that completes the questionnaire will receive a $300 gift card to an outlet of their choice (e.g., Amazon, Shoppers, Tim Horton’s, Canadian Tire, etc.). Share your questionnaire by June 30, 2022, to receive your gift card.
- In May 2022, six workshops were hosted across Canada, with another three workshops scheduled for Ottawa in early June. The sessions have been invaluable in capturing the differences in First Nations’ approaches to child and family services.
- IFSD continues to seek out volunteer collaborators for this work, to share their practices and experiences in child and family services in an in-depth fashion.
Throughout the month of May, IFSD was pleased to host 6 workshops in Vancouver (2 sessions), Prince George, Whitehorse, Edmonton, and Yellowknife, with another 3 workshops scheduled for Ottawa in early June.
Across all sessions, we will have heard from 70 First Nations/Bands through 124 workshop participants. It is evident that there is a broad range of approaches, needs, and points of departure in the delivery of child and family services in First Nations not served by FNCFS agencies.
IFSD will be working on the discussion summaries of the takeaways from the workshop discussions (with participant reviews) to be shared in the next monthly update.
While in-person participation in the workshops has been additive, there is a significant gap in data collection. At this time, there are under 30% of First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency that have completed the questionnaire (there are 165 First Nations not served by a FNCFS agency). It is a good start, but more contributions are needed to ensure cost analysis reflects current needs in communities.
The deadline to complete the questionnaire has been extended to June 30, 2022.
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).
April 2022
IFSD is writing to share its first monthly update on First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) reform (updates will continue monthly). Feel free to share this update with colleagues or invite them to join our mailing list.
In January 2022, after years at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT), the parties came to an agreement in principle (AIP).
As the parties continue to negotiate a final agreement, there is an opportunity to shape the reform of the First Nations child and family services (FNCFS) system to focus on well-being.
IFSD is working with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Caring Society, and the National Advisory Committee (NAC) to provide research support and analysis for long-term reform.
We need your perspective to get this right.
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.
How can I participate?
Share your experience as a First Nation not served by a FNCFS agency on child and family services programming, funding, and capital needs by completing a questionnaire by June 3, 2022.
IFSD will cover the costs for two representatives from your First Nation (typically, one child and family services program expert, and one finance expert) for an in-person working session. During the session, you will complete the questionnaire and engage in a group exchange on needs, successes, and challenges in the design and delivery of child and family services.
Join one of the following in-person work sessions:
- Vancouver, BC – Monday, May 9, 2022
- Vancouver, BC – Tuesday, May 10, 2022
- Prince George, BC – Thursday, May 12, 2022
- Whitehorse, YK – Monday, May 16, 2022
- Edmonton, AB – Wednesday, May 18, 2022
- Yellowknife, NWT – Friday, May 20, 2022
- Ottawa, ON – Wednesday, June 1, 2022
- Ottawa, ON – Thursday, June 2, 2022
- Québec, QC – Monday, June 13, 2022
To attend an in-person workshop, complete the registration form and email it to helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca by May 27, 2022.
Virtual options are available OR you can complete the questionnaire on your own and return it to helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca.
Any data shared will only be used for the purposes of this project. Participants can withdraw at any time and any data they shared will be destroyed. Learn more about IFSD’s privacy and data management practices here.
In addition, IFSD is seeking 10 volunteer First Nations to serve as collaborators for this work (an approximately 2-day commitment).
If your First Nation is interested in volunteering as a collaborator, contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461) before May 27, 2022. IFSD will be working to balance various characteristics, e.g., region, geography, size of the population served, etc. We are very open to volunteers but will not be able to accept all volunteers (as much as we would like to).
Questions? Contact Dr. Helaina Gaspard (helaina.gaspard@ifsd.ca | (613) 983-8461).