British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres

A Framework for “Standing Up for Our Children” – February 2009

The Framework for “Standing Up for Our Children” is the BC Friendship Centre Response to the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s (MCFD) “Strong Safe and Supported” document.  It is also a response to the change in legislative direction of MCFD signaled by the Minister in Spring 2008. 

In the 2008 BCAAFC annual general meeting, the Provincial Board of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres declared a state of emergency for Aboriginal children.  This led to the development and submission of the proposal, titled Standing Up for Our Children:  The BCAAFC Strategy for Safe, Strong, and Supported Off-Reserve Aboriginal Children, Youth, and Families 2008-2011 in June 2008.  This proposal introduced the initiative to develop three program streams that focus on the key reasons Aboriginal children are apprehended by the ministry:  sexual abuse/exploitation, family violence, and neglect.  In August 2008 BCAAFC received a contract approving the proposal in principle and providing funding until March 2009 to support the development of a framework and to prepare for the implementation of 3 program streams. 

The governance structure for this project included three program stream working groups (one for each: child sexual abuse/ exploitation, neglect, and family violence); the executive committee of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres; and the project management team.  The three working groups have been crucial to determining the direction for implementing the “Standing Up for Our Children” initiative.   The final framework can be accessed by clicking here.

For an electronic copy of this document please click HERE (.pdf) 1.62mb

Background

In June 2002, the government of British Columbia signaled their commitment to devolve control over child and family services to Aboriginal people and communities. Aboriginal leaders and the provincial government unanimously supported the creation of an Aboriginal child and family services governance structure in the form of five Regional Aboriginal Authorities.

The first document to support the devolution of governance of child and family services became known as the Tsawwassen Accord. The Tsawwassen Accord   made specific statements  and declarations regarding the creation of Regional Aboriginal Authorities, and in September of 2002, a Memorandum of Understanding   further endorsed the support of all parties to build on the proposal of creating Regional Aboriginal Authorities. Regional Planning Committees have been working diligently since 2002 to create the framework for this governance structure.

Because more than half of the Aboriginal population live off-reserve, it is crucial that Friendship Centres engage in the process of regionalization, transformation, and the devolution of child and family services. Representation of Friendship Centres at the regional planning tables is important because Friendship Centres maintain a vested interest in the overall quality of life of Aboriginal children and families living off of the reserve.

Regional Aboriginal Authorities

The Province has been divided into five regions in the planning, development, and implementation of Regional Aboriginal Authorities: Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coastal, Fraser, the Interior, and the North. Each region's committee is at a different stage of development. Currently, Vancouver Island and the Fraser Region have become Interim Authorities and Vancouver Coastal is close to achieving this as well. For more information on the planning committees, please visit their websites:

Vancouver Island: http://www.viatt.ca

Vancouver Coastal: http://www.vcapc.ca 

Interior: http://www.apfabc.org  

North: http://www.naaff.ca  

Fraser: http://www.fraa.ca

For more information on the provincial government's role in this process, please visit their website at: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/about_us/aboriginal/index.htm

Transformation

A concurrent evolution in the delivery of Aboriginal Child and Family Services in British Columbia is the Ministry's Transformation agenda. According to the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD):
Transformation is about making positive changes to streamline programs and branches for increased accessibility, building a New Relationship with Aboriginal communities and creating a Provincial Office that can better support the regions (MCFD Website).
The UAPCU is researching and developing new ways to deliver effective services in their respective regions through the Transformation agenda.

For more information on the status of Transformation, please visit the MCFD website at:
http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/about_us/transformation.htm

Purpose of UAPCU (Urban Aboriginal Policy and Communication Unit):

The purpose of the UAPCU is to provide, in cooperation with the Regional Planning Committees and the Provincial Transformation Team, the capacity necessary to fully engage Aboriginal Friendship Centres in the transformation and devolution of Aboriginal child and family services in British Columbia. A policy analyst is located at a host Friendship Centre in each of the planning Regions: Prince Rupert, Kamloops, Vancouver (Vancouver and Fraser regions combined), Nanaimo, and a provincial technician to assist the analysts as well as support the work at the provincial co-ordination level.

Updates: Coming Soon!

For more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director of Child and Family Services.
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
Phone (250) 388-5522
Fax (250) 388-5502
#200-506 Fort Street, Victoria, BC
V8W 1E6