The Child and Family Services (CFS) system continues to make progress in transforming into a culturally safe system that supports children and youth in a meaningful way while keeping families together. To remain accountable and transparent, CFS has committed to report status updates through an online progress tracker, and service delivery trends through the CFS Director’s Annual Report. To date, 88 per cent of action items within the CFS Action Plan are on track, 8 per cent are completed, and 4 per cent are delayed.

Progress on key actions include:

• Increased daily rates for foster care and adoption subsidies, effective retroactively from March 1, 2024.
• Piloted a cultural wellness camp for youth with complex needs in November and December 2023. This pilot project included two 14-day camps for youth 12-18 years old, followed by three months of individualized, community-based after-care support.
• Tailored existing Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism (CSAR) Training to address harmful historical and current CFS policies that contribute to anti-Indigenous racism and systemic barriers.
• Launched a Working Group called “Care Rooted in Indigenous Practices” in February 2024 to guide the “Redesigning of Care models” initiative. 
• Piloting two Family, Community, and Culture Connection Worker positions to work directly with families and inform the development of the Family, Community, and Culture Connection project.
• Participating in the Child Welfare League of Canada’s pilot project to support equitable transitions to adulthood for youth in care.
• Sent letters in January 2024 to Indigenous governments across the Northwest Territories (NWT), inviting them to nominate additional Custom Adoption Commissioners to support and enhance cultural, community, and regional representation.

For detailed progress updates, please visit:

• CFS Action Plan Progress Tracker

As we implement the Action Plan, we continue to monitor and adjust these initiatives. Our goal is to incorporate them into ongoing service delivery to support more families staying together and promote the overall safety and wellbeing of children and youth.

Quote

“The Child, Youth, and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan demonstrates our government’s commitment to a system that promotes cultural safety and anti-racism. We will continue to work with Indigenous governments, communities, and other partners to implement the Action Plan and improve the wellbeing of the children, youth, and families we serve.”

-Lesa Semmler, Minister of Health and Social Services

Quick Facts

• 88 per cent of action items within the Strategic Direction and Action Plan are on track, 8 per cent are completed and 4 per cent are delayed.
• The implementation of Action Item 3.2, which involves adapting and implementing HEART and SPIRIT Training to meet the needs of foster caregivers and First Nation, Métis, and Inuit children and youth in the NWT, has been delayed.
• Timelines were adjusted to align with ongoing work by the Care Rooted in Indigenous Practices Working Group. The contract has been signed, and phased implementation of HEART and SPIRIT training and tools will commence in Fall 2024, spanning the next three years.
• The Strategic Direction identifies seven priority areas in its vision for CFS that will guide the implementation of a five-year Action Plan. The seven priority areas are:
  • Work Collaboratively with Indigenous Governments and Organizations
  • Care Rooted in Indigenous Practices
  • Support to Care Providers and Caregivers
  • Strengthen Youth Supports and Transition to Adulthood
  • Specialized Services Closer to Home
  • Strengthen Human Resources Recruitment and Retention Efforts for an Inclusive and Representative Workforce
  • Reduce Administrative Demands for Increased Opportunities to Connect with Families

• The development of the Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan was informed by guiding documents, focused discussions, internal reviews, and key recommendations of the 19th Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Social Development.
• The Strategic Direction provides the foundation for outreach and engagement with Indigenous governments and other partners, to ensure that the CFS system meets the needs of children, youth, and families in the NWT.

Related Links

• Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan 2023-2028 
• Progress Tracker
• Child, Youth and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan Webpage

For media requests, please contact:

Andrew Wind

Manager, Communications

Health and Social Services

Government of the Northwest Territories

Andrew_Wind@gov.nt.ca

(867) 767-9052 ext. 49034