KAINAIPOOKAIKSI

(BLOOD CHILDREN),

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

 

BLOOD TRIBE CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES CORPORATION

Human Resource Building

PO Box 58

Standoff AB  T0L 1Y0

Phone: 403-737-3437

Fax: 403-737-3236

  

Mandate:

The Blood Tribe Child Protection Services Corporation is delegated by the Minister of Children’s Services to carry out the provisions of the Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act on the Blood Reserve and to provide case management services to band members who live off reserve but who are deemed to be ordinarily resident on the reserve within the catchment areas of the Southwest Child and Family Services Authority.

 

SERVICE PROGRAMS

Assessment/Investigation

An assessment/investigation is completed to determine:

- if a child is in need of intervention;

- if family enhancement services will satisfy the child need for intervention;

- if protection services are required;

 

Family Enhancement

The provision of services to a child and  family through a Family Enhancement  Agreement, which will address the child’s survival, security and development within the family home.

An Enhancement Agreement with youth may be entered if the youth is living independently of the youth’s guardian and in need of  intervention services.

For a youth that was in care or had an Enhancement Agreement when they turned 18 years old, the director may enter into a Support and/or a Finance Assistance Agreement up to age 22 to assist the youth in transitioning to independence.

Protection

Protection services are any services provided to a child who is either in the Custody of the Director or is subject of a Supervision Order, Temporary Guardianship Order, Permanent Guardianship Order or Agreement, Apprehension, Interim Custody Order, Custody Agreement With Guardian, or a Custody Agreement With a Youth.

Service Provision

Service to children and families may be provided directly by caseworkers, by community agencies, or through contracts or fee for service agreement with private service providers and may include:

 

- Family Support

- Parenting Assessment/ Education

- Child Development

- Mediation

- Addiction Treatment

- Psychologist Assessment/Counseling

- Youth Worker

- Secure Services

 

Foster Care/Kinship Care Home

The Foster Care/Kinship Care programs are based on the belief that the family unit and parent model is the most beneficial and desirable setting for raising a child.  A foster/kinship care family is a substitute family for a child whose birth family is unable or unwilling to assume full responsibility for the child.

Caregiver undertakes an approval process that includes a Home Study, Criminal Record Check, Child Intervention Check, Medical Report, Safety Check and references. Foster homes are required to be licensed under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act and complete training.

 

Adoption

Adoption is intended to provide a lifelong commitment of permanence and stability for children.  It can provide a sense of place and belonging to children who may not otherwise be able to have this experience.

 Adoption Services include:

- Birth Parent Service

- Private Adoptions

- Adoptions home approvals

- Matching children with permanent guardian with approved adoptive parents.

- Post approval services

- Supports for permanency

- International adoption

- The post adoption registry

 

The adoption home approval process includes Home Study, Criminal Record Check, Child Intervention Check, Medical Reports and References

Some of the adoption process can be completed by a licensed adoption agency or a self-help kit (step parents adoption, private direct placement).

The Blood Tribe will support an adoption of Blood children in permanent care with members of the Blood Tribe and Blackfoot Confederacy.

 

Private Guardianship

Any adult who has had continuous care of a child for a period of more than 6 months may apply to the court for a Private Guardianship Order.

This is a self-help process and information/documents are obtained from Family Court.  If the child is involved with child intervention services our office may assist with the application.

 In providing intervention services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act the following criteria is followed:

 

Matters to be considered

If a child is in need of intervention under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act the following must be considered:

 If a child is in need of intervention, a Court, an Appeal Panel and all persons who exercise any authority or make any decision under this Act relating to the child must do so in the best interests of the child and must consider the following as well as any other relevant matter:

 

- The family is the basic unit of society and its well-being should be supported and preserved;

- The importance of stable, permanent, and nurturing relationship for the child;

- The intervention services needed by the child should be provided in a manner that ensures the least disruption to the child;

- A child who is capable of forming an opinion is entitled to an opportunity to express that opinion on matters affecting the child, and the child’s opinion should be considered by those making decisions that affect the child;

- The family is responsible for the care, supervision and maintenance of its children and every child should have an opportunity to be a wanted and valued member of a family, and to that end;

-- If intervention services are necessary to assist the child’s family in providing for the care of a child, those services should be provided to the family, insofar as it is reasonably practicable, in a manner that supports the family unit and prevents the need to remove the child from the family, and

-- A child should be removed from the child’s family only when other less disruptive measures are not sufficient to protect the survival, security or development of the child;

- If the child has been exposed to domestic violence within the child’s family, intervention services should be provided to the family in a manner that supports the abused family members and prevents the need to remove the child from the custody of an abused family member;

- Any decision concerning the removal of a child from the child’s family should take into account the risk to the child if the child remains with the family, is removed from the family or is returned to the family;

- If it is not in inconsistent with protecting the survival, security or development of a child who is in need of intervention, and appropriate community services are available, the child or the child’s family should be referred to the community for services to support and preserve the family and to prevent the need for any other intervention under this Act;

 

- Any decision concerning the placement of a child outside the child’s family should take into account;

-- The benefits to the child of placement within the child’s extended family;

-- The benefits to the child of a placement within or as close as possible to the child’s home community;

-- The benefits to the child of placement that respects the child familial, cultural, social and religious heritage,

-- The benefits to the child of stability and continuity of care and relationships,

-- The mental, emotional and physical needs of the child and the child’s mental, emotional and physical stage of development, and

-- Whether the proposed placement is suitable for the child;

 

- The provision of intervention services is intended to remedy or alleviate the condition that caused the child to be in need of intervention;

- Intervention services are most effective when they are provided through a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach;

- If a child is being provided with care under the Act, the child should be provided with a level of care that is adequate to meet the needs of the child and consistent with community standards and available resources;

- If a child is being provided with care under this Act, a plan for the care of the child should be developed that

-- Addresses the child’s need for stability, permanence and continuity of care and relationships, and

-- In the case of a youth, addresses the youth’s need for preparation for the transition to independence and adulthood;

- A person who assumes responsibility for the care of a child under this Act should endeavor to make the child aware of the child’s familial, cultural, social and religious heritage;

- There should be no unreasonable delay in making or implementing a decision affecting a child;

- If the child is an aboriginal child, the uniqueness of aboriginal culture, heritage, spirituality and traditions should be respected and consideration should be given to the importance of preserving the child’s cultural identity.

Intervention

A child is in need of intervention if a there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the survival, security or development of the child is endangered because of any of the following;

- the child has been abandoned or lost;

- the guardian of the child is dead and the child has no other guardian;

- the child is neglected by the guardian;

- the child has been or there is substantial risk that the child will be physically injured or sexually abused by the guardian of the child;

- the guardian of the child is unable or unwilling to protect the child from physical injury or sexual abuse; 

- the child has been emotionally injured by the guardian of the child;

- the guardian of the child is unable or unwilling to protect the child from emotional injury;

- the guardian of the child has subjected the child to or is unable or unwilling to protect the child from cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.