Briefing Document of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry — Child Welfare Initiative

Special Focus: Work Phases

Background:

The Aboriginal Justice Inquiry--Child Welfare Initiative represents a joint initiative between the Government of Manitoba and the following signatories to the Memoranda of Understanding (MOU): the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF), representing the Metis, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) representing southern First Nations; and the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO), representing northern First Nations.

A Child and Family Services Protocol describes the framework and structure for the implementation process. Within the MOU-CFS Protocol, a Joint Management Committee, comprised of representatives of each of the parties, was established as one of the initial steps taken in the Initiative. The Joint Management Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of the implementation plan.

Vision and Mission Statements:

The vision of the Joint Management Committee is:

A child and family service system that recognizes and supports the rights of children to develop within safe and healthy families and communities, and recognizes that First Nations and Metis peoples have unique authority, rights and responsibilities to honor and care for their children.

The following mission statement was developed:

To have a jointly coordinated child and family services system with three distinct mandates (First Nations, Metis and non-Aboriginal); that is community-based; and reflects and incorporates the cultures of First Nation, Metis and non-Aboriginal peoples.

For further information please refer to an earlier document, Background Briefing Document of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry - Child Welfare Initiative. Schedule of Work Phases. A schedule of work has been adopted based on five separate phases. Each phase is dedicated to a step in the overall process leading to the establishment of separate and distinct province-wide child and family service mandates namely, First Nations, Metis and non-Aboriginal. The proposed schedule of phases is as follows:

Phase 1: September 2000 to December 2000 - Working Groups struck; within the context of strategic design principles, WGs develop proposals and recommendations for the draft implementation plan.
Phase 2: January 2001 to March 2001 - Implementation Committee prepares a consolidated draft implementation plan based on Working Groups' final reports and written submissions received December 31, 2000.
Phase 3: April 2001 to August 2001 - Detailed implementation plan developed.
Phase 4: August 2001 to March 2003 - Plan substantially implemented.
Phase 5: April 2003 to October 2003 - Stabilization of changes implemented.

Phase 1: Data Gathering and Proposal Development:

In September 2000 the Joint Management Committee initiated the Working Group process by striking seven Working Groups each charged with their specific statement of work. The seven Working Groups reflected broad areas to be examined in light of the change process. They included:

Research
Inter-jurisdictional/Inter-sectoral
Financial
Human Resources
Service Delivery
Legal/Legislative
Technology

Balanced representation and a common process were reflected in all undertakings. An Implementation Committee, representative of all parties, was charged with the responsibility for overall management and coordination of the Working Groups; providing interpretation of Joint Management Committee direction; and ensuring Working Groups achieved their objectives and met established deadlines. Phase One Completed: Numerous agencies, individuals and service users, from child welfare, health, justice, and education sectors contributed various forms of input to the Working Group common process. Community members also submitted their thoughts and recommendations in writing. The level of participation demonstrated a shared commitment to improving the child and family services system in the province. Working Groups achieved their objectives and met established deadlines.

Phase 2: Analysis and Design:

The completion of Working Group reports signaled the start of Phase 2. To date, the following tasks have been accomplished:

Completion of a notional work plan and time line by Implementation Committee.
Approval by Joint Management Committee of Phase 2 terms of reference for the Implementation Committee.
Preliminary analysis of final Working Group reports by Implementation Committee members and respective technical support staff.

Throughout the second phase, the Implementation Committee, are expected to support Joint Management Committee to develop a draft implementation plan. Implementation Committee will achieve this objective by synthesizing and building upon the reports of the Working Groups. According to the established time frame, a detailed plan for the implementation process is scheduled to be submitted to the Joint Management Committee on March 21, 2001. The final report is to be delivered to Executive Committee members for their consideration by March 31^st.

Contact Information:

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Trudy Lavallee 2^nd Floor - 260 St. Mary Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0M6 (204) 956-0610	Manitoba Metis Federation John Lussier 3^rd Floor - 150 Henry Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0J7 (204) 586-8474
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Winnipeg Sub-Office Colin Kinsella 201- 274 Smith Street R3C 1K1 Winnipeg, Manitoba (204) 987-7500	Province of Manitoba Family Services and Housing Patrick Falconer 216 - 114 Garry Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4V4 (204) 945-6731

Interested parties can also obtain further details by calling our Central Information Line at 945-1183. If you reside in a remote, northern, or rural part of the Province, call toll-free at 1-866-300-7503.