For Immediate Release
Prince George, B.C. – Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) Executive Director of Child and Family Services, Co-Chair of the Provincial Aboriginal Delegated Agencies Forum, and BC Board Member of the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society, Mary Teegee, commented on the report released by the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY), Delegated Aboriginal Agencies: How Resourcing Affects Service Delivery.
Teegee said, “It is fitting CSFS provides feedback on reports that directly reflect on the service delivery to Indigenous children and their families. This report speaks to staffing and resource issues within Delegated Aboriginal Agencies (DAAs), and our direct feedback was a part of this review.”
The report reflects on the policies and standards set by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) for DAAs. In addition, the report considers the funding structures, both federal and provincial funding, that directly impact the service delivery of DAAs.
In the province of British Columbia, there still remains an over-representation of Indigenous children in care, at 62%.
This report is just one of many to acknowledge that the federal government’s provision of First Nation child and family services was discriminatory due to the inequity of funding between children residing on-reserve and those residing elsewhere.
CSFS supports the findings in this RCY Report outlining federal funding flaws, inequitable funding for on-reserve versus off-reserve prevention and child welfare services, and the strained relationship between DAAs, MCFD and INAC.
Inequitable funding continues to impact the retention and recruitment of DAA staff, and this directly impacts the service delivery to Indigenous children in care.
By addressing these findings within the RCY report, the federal and provincial governments will begin to address the systemic inequalities from the past.
CSFS continues to strive for optimal holistic service delivery, and it is imperative that our services are in line with our mandate. With the direction of our Elders in the territories, CSFS will remain committed to the healing and wellbeing of our member Nations, and the most vulnerable in our communities, Indigenous children in care.
Contact Person:
Mary Teegee
Cell: 250-612-8710
Email Address: mary@csfs.org