NATIVE CHILD

AND FAMILY SERVICES OF TORONTO

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		Our History Brief History of Native Child Family Services of Toronto In 1985, The Child and Family Services Act was amended to recognize that: "Indian and Native people should be entitled to provide, wherever possible, their own child and family services, and that all services to Indian and Native children and families should be provided in a manner that recognizes their culture, heritage and traditions and the concept of the extended family." (Declaration of Principles, Child and Family Services Act). While specific provisions related to Native peoples under Part X refer directly to reserve communities, both the Province of Ontario and the Toronto Native community undertook to develop a response to the Child Welfare needs of Toronto's estimated 60,000 Native people. It was agreed by both parties that the Native population of Toronto was sufficiently large to warrant the development of its own child welfare response. From 1985 to April 1988 the developmental phase of this agency took place. The process involved extensive community consultation within both the Native and non-Native communities, the development of an incorporated board, by-laws, mission statement, and related service objectives. The agency presented its first service plan to the Ministry Of Community and Social Services in January, 1988, and service funding was provided on April first of that year. Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is unique in that it is Ontario's only full service off reserve child welfare related initiative under the direct control and management of the Native community. With a diversity of programs and related funders, it has developed a culturally based service approach and is poised to become Canada's first off reserve authority under The Child and Family Services Act. October 3, 1998 - Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is the first winner of the Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award. The annual award, the largest of its kind in Canada, provides a gift of $50,000 to an Ontario-based organization whose work has significantly improved the lives of needy children.

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