Overview

Since 2013, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has engaged collaboratively with representatives of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, as well as Indigenous service providers, to better understand their perspectives on improving outcomes for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth, families and communities.

Through this engagement, Indigenous partners and Ontario have co-developed a strategic framework that takes a whole-of-government approach to supporting programs, policies and services impacting First Nation, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families. This framework is the Ontario Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy (OICYS).

We continue to work with Indigenous partners to implement the OICYS, including working:

  • to shift the child and family services system to one that is community-led and prevention-based, including through the design, development and delivery of a family well-being program
  • with representatives of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to implement their own models for child and family services, including those governed under Indigenous laws

The strategy is intended to improve services and better meet the needs of Indigenous children and youth. It is also intended to enable Indigenous communities and service providers to have greater authority over child and family services. The strategy focuses on:

  • transforming Ontario’s relationship with Indigenous children, youth and families
  • enhancing First Nations jurisdiction and Indigenous control for children and youth services
  • prioritizing preventative, culturally appropriate services for Indigenous children and youth
  • building a high-quality integrated services network for Indigenous children and youth
  • enabling government and Indigenous service providers to track and evaluate their work in implementing the strategy

The strategy will build Indigenous perspectives into programs and policies. It is supported by:

Vision

First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous children and youth are healthy, happy, resilient, grounded in their cultures and languages and thriving as individuals and as members of their families and Nations or communities.

Guiding principles

The OICYS aims to build a holistic, culturally-based and community-driven approach to child and youth services. Its guiding principles are:

  • child and youth-centred, responsive to youth voices
  • culture and identity as foundational
  • respect for rights and jurisdictional aspirations
  • co-development, partnership and shared accountability
  • outcome-focused
  • flexible
  • commitment to reconciliation (acknowledge the past, act now and look to the future)

As part of the Child welfare redesign strategy we are continuing to work with Indigenous partners to implement the OICYS. While the OICYS and the child welfare redesign strategy overlap, they are distinct. The OICYS extends beyond the child welfare redesign strategy as it is the foundation for all work the ministry does with Indigenous partners.

Pillars of the Ontario Indigenous Children and Youth Strategy

First Nations jurisdiction and control / Métis Inuit and urban Indigenous control

First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous communities and organizations have authority to care for their children and youth.

Prevention, culture and opportunities

First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous children and youth have access to preventive services focused on well-being, culture and opportunities.

Coordinated and responsive circles of care

The child and youth service workforce is equipped to provide high quality, integrated and culturally appropriate services.

Monitoring, evaluation and shared accountability

Progress is tracked through culturally and contextually appropriate monitoring and evaluation approaches.

Transformed relationships and collaborative, holistic action

Systemic change through collaborative action and transformed relationships with First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous partners.

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