Growing Imagining the Future of Jordans Principle Summit

Growing: Imagining the Future of Jordan’s Principle Summit Winnipeg, MB September 13, 2018

Jordan’s Legacy • Jordan’s Principle is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child born in 1999 • In 2007, the House of Commons passed Jordan's Principle • It was a commitment that First Nations children would get the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Payments would be worked out later • Jordan’s Principle is helping to ensure that every First Nations child has access to the services and supports they need This is Jordan’s legacy. 2

Canada’s Commitment to Upholding Jordan’s Principle • On January 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered Canada to fully implement Jordan’s Principle • Canada began work to immediately implement Jordan’s Principle, but also committed to engaging with First Nations to co-development policy options for the long-term implementation • From July 2016 to July 2018 more than 111, 000 requests were approved under Jordan's Principle • Engagement has been undertaken through the Jordan’s Principle Action Table, a sub-table of the National Advisory Committee on First Nations Child and Family Services Program Reform Jordan’s Principle is a legal principle that applies to all First Nations children 3

The Jordan’s Principle Action Table • The Jordan’s Principle Action Table is chaired by the AFN, and includes First Nations representatives from across Canada, including representatives from: – – – – NIHB navigators, National Indian Education Council, Health Technicians Service Coordination organizations, CFS Agencies, the AFN Elders and Youth Councils, and representatives of the federal government. • Since the Fall of 2017, the Action Table has participated in more than 30 engagement sessions for the purposes of developing policy options based on promising practices and lessons learned • The work of the Action Table, and the proposed approach, has been supported by the Chiefs in Assembly through a resolution 4

Jordan’s Principle Action Table Accountability 5

Resolution from Chiefs in Assembly (27/2018) 1. Call on Canada to continue to invest in, and implement Jordan’s Principle, beyond March 31, 2019 2. Call on Canada to immediately invest in capital costs required for the local delivery of health, social and education programs and services for First Nations children and families. 3. Support the work of the Jordan’s Principle Action Table and the proposed policy options for supporting greater First Nations control over Jordan’s Principle, as part of long-term approach to implementing Jordan’s Principle 6

Reflecting on Jordan’s Principle – What we’ve heard 7

Reflecting on Jordan’s Principle – What we’ve heard • First Nations must control Jordan’s Principle “Need to shift away from a request-based process through which First Nations must got to Canada for funding. ” “Funding should go directly to First Nations” • Communities need support for community-based capacity “Every community should have a Jordan’s Principle worker” “Communities need to have resources to train local people” 8

Reflecting on Jordan’s Principle – What we’ve heard (con’t) • Jordan’s Principle is breaking down silos between programs in the community “On the ground, there is increased networking among service providers” “Community members should have a single window of access” • More work is needed to increase awareness of Jordan’s Principle “People still don’t know about Jordan’s Principle” 9

Reflecting on Jordan’s Principle – What we’ve heard (con’t) • Provinces have a role to play in the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle “Provinces need to understand the unique context in which First Nations live and operate with respect to registration/Status, community programs and services available on reserves. ” “The roles and responsibilities of the province need to be identified, and First Nations made aware. ” • Communities need spaces to deliver services locally “Where will service providers stay when they come to the community. ” “We need space for a children’s center to help promote service integration” 10

Honouring Jordan’s Principle – where we’re going 11

Responding to What We’ve Heard First Nations Control/ Building community capacity Community based, flexible funding for communities to address needs Break down silos between programs An innovation fund to provide support to communities that want to test new service delivery models A holistic policy authority to break down silos Need greater awareness of Jordan’s Principle Funding to support First Nations-led dialogue, to increase awareness and determine a way forward Provinces have a role to play A strategy to engage provinces in the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle Canada has an ongoing responsibility to uphold Jordan’s Principle Continuation of a federally held fund, to manage individual cases and ensure the needs of Fist Nations children are being met Communities need space to deliver programs and services Funding dedicated to infrastructure needs, to ensure there is space for programming for children and their families. 12

A Phased Approach – the proposal for 2019 and beyond • Engagement has highlighted that many First Nations are still unaware of Jordan’s Principle. • Allow time for First Nations to build knowledge, to allow other transformation initiatives to mature. • Identify opportunities to enhance existing or develop new programs to address service gaps • Ensure First Nations have time to determine the path they want to take in the future the Jordan’s Principle Action Table is proposing a phased approach. 13

Outlining the Phased Approach Phase I Consultation Phase - Ongoing funding to First Nations for service delivery through new policy authority - Ongoing funding for Service Coordination - Funding to continue current implementation of Jordan’s Principle - Funding for innovation in service delivery - Mandate and one-time funding for First Nationsled dialogue sessions - First Nations-led Phase II dialogue to discuss: ● defining an essential basket of services ● developing a continuum of care ● the possibility of developing a disabilities initiative on reserve 14 - Implementation of First Nation vision for Jordan’s Principle based on the results of First Nations-led dialogue sessions, including funding needed to fill persistent gaps in service

Honouring Jordan’s Principle – Beginning the Transition (Phase I) • Enhanced funding for child-centered, needs-based and First Nation-based programs and services. • Funding allocation in a flexible agreement, tied to a set of eligible services that reflect a broad range of children and family needs from prevention to early intervention activities, as well as funding for services, products, or supports. • This approach would give communities the flexibility to set their own priorities to meet the needs of their children • It would replace the group request process, allow for First Nations control, and sustain capacity building at the local level • Innovation fund for First Nations that are ready to develop and test new ideas and innovations in service delivery. • Provide support to communities to develop new models, and then move successful models into an ongoing stream of funding • The fund would further support communities to build local capacity 15

Honouring Jordan’s Principle – Beginning the Transition (Phase I) (con’t) • Seek a mandate to create an integrated holistic Jordan’s Principle Children’s policy authority. • Ensure that communities are not limited by current program authorities and eligibility • Be a means to facilitate a single transfer of funding to communities to plan for and realize their vision for children and families • Would continue to help break down program silos • Funding to continue implementation of the current federal response to individual requests where exceptions or persistent gaps exist. • Ensure Canada continues to meet its legal obligation • Ensure support for First Nations children living off reserve • Continuation of the service coordination function 16

Honouring Jordan’s Principle – Beginning the Transition (Phase I) (con’t) • Seek a mandate and funding to support First Nation-led dialogue. • The results of these dialogues will inform a return to Cabinet for Phase II • This funding will support dialogue, visioning, needs assessment and planning for what is still unknown in terms of service needs • It will also allow First Nation to determine how they want to organize to deliver services, or how they want to implement Jordan’s Principle for themselves. • Ensure provinces and territories participate in the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle • Outline a strategy for provincial/territorial engagement, as well as the development of Regional Trilateral Tables • Funding to address Infrastructure needs • Funding dedicated to infrastructure needs, to ensure there is space for programming for children and their families, as well as space to house visiting professionals 17

Honouring Jordan’s Principle – Ensuring the Legacy (Phase II) • Following the First Nation-led dialogue, Canada will return to Cabinet to seek new authorities or funding to continue the full implementation of Jordan’s Principle • The content of the second phase would be determined by the results of the First Nation-led dialogue While the Tribunal started the work of implementing Jordan’s Principle, the future of Jordan’s Principle belongs to First Nations 18