Waabnoong Bemjiwang Child Well-Being Agency Development Project
Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services (NCFS) became a designated Child Welfare Agency on April 1, 2021.
During 2017, the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Child Well-Being Agency Development Project staff engaged in community consultations with each First Nation. Further consultation with the youth and Elders from each community took place to determine the ‘readiness’ to proceed through the process of becoming a designated agency approved to deliver child protection and prevention services both on and off reserve to the members of Wasauksing, Shawanaga, Magnetawan, Henvey Inlet, Dokis, Nipissing and Wahnipatae First Nations.
The operations of the Child Well-Being Project is housed on Dokis First Nation. There was a Feasibility Study conducted to determine where the Head Office location will be on a permanent basis. Further work conducted under the project was working collaboratively with legal counsel in order to have the Child Well Being Agency deliver operations from its own Corporate Structure. Ongoing meetings occurred on a monthly basis with the Organizational Steering Committee. This committee had a representative from each of the seven communities. The representatives are the voice of the members of each First Nation as we plan and develop the new agency.
Organizational Steering Committee Members
On January 16 & 17, 2018, the Project hosted a launch in Sudbury to celebrate ministerial approval to move from Stage A requirements of Community Readiness into Stage B which focuses on Capacity Development of the agency. Some of the areas where capacity will be developed will be in Customary Care placement of children as well as acquiring a Foster Care license. A key element that will set this agency apart from the mainstream CAS will be the development of Service Delivery Model that will encompass the Anishinaabe culture. Cultural awareness and inclusion through these initiatives will assist with keeping our children in their own communities.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have on the project’s progress. Please feel free to contact Vicki Restoule at 705 763 2200 or at Vicki.Restoule@wbafn.com