Children and Youth with Support Needs – First Nation Engagement
Overview
Who: The Ministry of Children and Family Development
What: Consultation with First Nation Rights and Titleholders on a system of supports for children and youth with support needs
Where: Province-wide
Why: To build a better system of supports co-developed with Indigenous communities
How: Online
Engagement summary
The Province is seeking input on B.C.’s system of supports for children and youth with support needs.
In November 2022, Premier Eby and Minister of Children and Family Development, Mitzi Dean, committed to engaging in deeper consultation with parents and caregivers, First Nations, Indigenous Peoples, communities, experts and practitioners, and others with lived experience to understand how the system can be transformed and together build a better system of supports, co-developed with Indigenous communities.
B.C. recognizes the importance of CYSN services that work for every child and is committed to immediately beginning meaningful engagement with First Nations Rights and Title Holders.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD or the Ministry) is guided by the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (the Declaration Act) and the commitment to co-develop legislation, policy, and programming with First Nations Rights and Titleholders. As part of this commitment, the Ministry will engage in a 12–18 month co-development process that explores: a system of services for Indigenous children and youth with support needs that aligns with First Nations Rights and Titleholders’ vision for their children, families and communities.
The Province needs the input of First Nations Rights and Titleholders to understand what is and is not working for CYSN families. A series of initial, virtual meetings of Rightsholders are set for May 10, May 25, June 12, and June 27.
Concurrently, there are further opportunities to engage to build a better system of supports for all children and youth with support needs. Reciprocal Consulting Inc. has been contracted by the Province to engage Métis, urban Indigenous, Inuit, immigrant and English-as-a-learned-language families and others with lived experience to understand how the system of supports for children and youth with support needs can support cultural safety. More information on other engagements already underway can be found here.
Principles guiding this engagement
The Ministry will take a government-to-government approach to co-development with First Nations Rights and Title holders when fulfilling commitments under the Declaration Act. The Ministry will plan and deliver all CYSN engagements in an inclusive way, using an intersectional lens with particular focus on GBA+ and anti-racist practice. In addition, the approach is guided by the Aboriginal Policy and Practice Framework and the following principles:
- Distinctions-based.
- Direct relationship between the Provincial Government and Rights Holders
- Financially supported
- Iterative and guided by interests of partners
- Multiple avenues and opportunities to engage and participate in co-development
A longer-term proposal for this engagement process includes a phased approach to consultation and engagement with First Nations Rights and Titleholders. More information can be found here.
Engagement opportunities
Engagement events will be posted here. Opportunities include:
Learning sessions
- Thursday May 4, 2023: 10am – 11:30am PST: Virtual Information and Learning Session on CYSN and Engagement – through the UBC Learning Circle
- Register through UBC
- Register through UBC
First Nations Rights and Titleholder sessions
These 2-hour sessions are open to all interested First Nations Rights and Titleholders to set priorities and inform the path forward.
- Wednesday May 10, 2023: 9 am – 11 am PST: Virtual meeting – via Zoom
- Materials for this session can be found here: May 10 Session Overview
- Thursday May 25, 2023: 2 pm – 4 pm PST: Virtual meeting – via Zoom
- Materials for this session can be found here: May 25 session overview
- Monday June 12, 2023: 10 am – noon PST: Virtual meeting – via Zoom
- Tuesday June 27, 2023: 1 pm – 3 pm PST: Virtual meeting – via Zoom
Additional materials for these sessions can be found here:
Please contact MCF.CYSNengage@gov.bc.ca to register for these sessions.
Written submissions
Written submissions are being accepted now through fall 2024. Please send written submissions to MCF.CYSNengage@gov.bc.ca
Updates
Sign up for updates by emailing MCF.CYSNengage@gov.bc.ca. MCFD will use this page to record learnings through engagement and provide more information as the shared approach to consultation unfolds.
Key initial engagement questions
- What does an engagement and co-development process that meets your needs look like?
- What do we need to talk about and explore together when it comes to creating a vision for CYSN services for Indigenous children and youth with support needs and their families?
- What are we not talking about that needs to be explored?
- What elements would make up a successful system of CYSN services for Indigenous children and youth with support needs and their families?
For more information, please contact the project team at MCF.CYSNengage@gov.bc.ca
Engagement capacity funding available
Provincial funding is now available to B.C. First Nations communities to help support their capacity to engage with the ministry and others on their unique needs in the context of supports and services for children and youth with support needs.
To express interest in accessing this funding, please email MCF.CYSNengage@gov.bc.ca. There is no need to submit a detailed plan for the funding at this time. All that is required is a brief summary of how your First Nation community intends to use the funds, along with the full name and contact information for the person who the grant letter will be addressed to. Funding requests are open until November 2023 and will reopen in February 2024.
