Social

1
Social
3RD NATIONAL FIRST NATIONS YOUTH
SUMMIT Rebuilding Our Nations National Unity,
Voices From The Community October 30 November
1, 2007

• Breakout Session 1
• Oct. 30th 2007

2
Agenda Overview

• Introductions
• Phase 1 Evaluation Form
• Presentation
• Brainstorming on Gaps
• Brainstorming on Priorities
• Brainstorming on Five-Year Activities
• What they are
• Who will do them
• What resources/capacity are needed
• Phase 2 Evaluation Form

3
What impacts First Nations youth social
development?

• Gang Prevention
• Family Violence
• Child Welfare
• Racism and Discrimination
• Income Assistance
• Child Care
• Special Needs and Disabilities

4
Key Facts

• Over-representation of First Nations children in
  care
• 30,000 First Nations children in both the 103
  First Nations agencies and 144 provincial/territor
  ial agencies
• This is more than the total number of residential
  school attendees at the height of their
  operations
• 22 funding gap between First Nations and
  provincial child welfare agencies
• From 1995-2001, the number of children from First
  Nation communities placed in out-of-home care
  increased by 71

5
Question

• What are the main three reasons why First Nations
  children end up in the child welfare system?

(WenDe Report)
6
Causes of First Nations children in the welfare
system

• Neglect caused by
• Abject poverty
• Poor housing conditions
• Addictions
• Two of these factors are beyond the control of
  the parents and require real community support
• First Nations children are placed in care at a
  rate of 1/10 whereas non-Aboriginal children are
  placed in care at a rate of 1/200.

7
Key Facts

• Children who experience long periods of poverty
  before the age of 5 or in their early teen years
  are more likely to commit crime
• 38 of First Nations child welfare cases have
  been exposed to family violence
• 40 of First Nation youth are either wards of the
  state at the time of conviction or have active
  files with a child welfare agency

8
Question

• What have First Nations youth identified as the
  greatest issues facing them?

(in a FNC_at_NAHO poll, 2006)
9
Greatest issues facing First Nations youth

• Education
• Racism
• Gangs
• Aboriginal youth (15-24 yrs) are 2.5 times more
  likely to be victims of violent crime than those
  35 yrs and older
• Young Aboriginal women are disproportionately
  victimized in domestic violence, the sex trade
  and gang violence

10
Current Initiatives Child Welfare

• Joint National Policy Review 2000
• Wen de Reports
• 2005 125M federal investment over 5 years in
  child welfare
• 15.3M in Alberta based on a F/P/FN partnership
• AFN Leadership Action Plan on Child Welfare
• Better capacity of agencies to respond to child
  protection
• More prevention services for children and
  families
• A sustainable community infrastructure for safe
  living conditions
• AFN FN Family and Caring Society of Canadas
  launch of a complaint to the Canadian Human
  Rights Commission on child welfare

11
Current Initiatives Family Violence

• INACs program supports the operation of 35
  shelters, which serve approximately 265
  communities
• 15 years without increases in federal funding
• Fall 2006 INAC announced 6M for on reserve
  shelters as a one time investment
• June 2007 56 million over 5 years for the 35
  shelters and the construction of up to 5 new
  shelters
• Native Womens Association Sisters in Spirit
  Campaign
• National Aboriginal Womens Summit, June 2007

12
Current Initiatives (ctd)

• Joint AFN-INAC Social Development Framework
• Vision Building healthy, safe and sustainable
  communities through an inclusive, holistic and
  culturally-based social development system under
  First Nation control.
• Objectives
• Provides sufficient fed/FN authority and removal
  of 2 cap
• Ensures that First Nations communities are
  provided with an equitable services as other
  Canadians
• Recognizes the unique and diverse circumstances
  of FNs
• Promote linkages with social programs in other
  federal departments, like Health Canada, Human
  Resources Development Canada, etc.

13
Current Initiatives (ctd)

• AFN Gender-Balanced Analysis Framework
• Balancing traditional roles between men/women
• Income Support Active Measures
• Includes capital, operating, training
  employment shelter/special needs allowance
  child care
• 250 FN communities do not have regulated child
  care
• National Council on Welfare Report on Aboriginal
  Children and Youth, released Sept. 2007

14
Current Initiatives (ctd)

• Addressing At Risk Populations
• Persons with disabilities UN Convention adopted
  in December 2006
• Limited new monies in family violence shelters
• AFN support for the Jordans Principle campaign
• AFN children with special needs research project
• AFN-Canadian Red Cross MOU

15
Whats Next?

• What are the key Gaps in supporting First
  Nations youth to advance First Nations social
  development?
• What are the key Priorities for First Nations
  youth initiatives in the area of First Nations
  social development?
• What are some Five-Year Activities that you
  would suggest to address the gaps and meet the
  priorities?
• Who will do them?
• What resources/capacity are needed?
• Please dont forget to complete Evaluation Form
  before leaving the session!