Starting from a Tradition Place:

Aboriginal Operational and Practice Standards – Practice Standards Re-Design Initiative

The development of Practice Standards governing Delegated Agency Practice that are shaped by Indigenous ways of knowing and doing while meeting legislative requirements. 

Purpose:

  • To redesign the practice standards governing BC First Nations, Aborginal and Métis delegated agency practice under the existing  Aboriginal Operational Practice Standards and Indicators (AOPSI).
  • To implement a new model developed from an Indigenous worldview and accountable to the First Nations Director of Child Welfare.
  • To accomplish this through a cooperative information sharing approach between First Nations delegated agencies, urban Aboriginal delegated agencies and Métis delegated agencies, the Province of British Columbia and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).

Background:

  • The AOPSI practice standards are the foundation for providing child and family service, and represent the minimum expectations of performance for delegated agencies in the Province.
  • These standards emphasize the importance placed upon family and community within Aboriginal cultures and are not identical to the practice standards of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).
  • The AOPSI practice standards must meet or exceed those established by MCFD. Arguably, the current standards represent a novel adaption of MCFD standards rather than an innovative practice founded on an Indigenous worldview

Project Charter:

The following Charter has been developed through the cooperative efforts of the Caring For First Nations Children Society (CFNCS), First Nations, Aboriginal and Métis Child and Family Service Agency Executive Directors (Agency), MCFD and INAC. The project is being designed in such a way as to meet legislative requirements while delivering services in a manner congruent with traditional Indigenous ways of caring.

This initiative will involve delegated Agencies, MCFD and INAC developing:

  • A Practice Standards Redesign Steering Committee (PSRSC) responsible for overseeing the redesign;
  • A working group responsible for the project's implementation; An administrative and secretariat support through the CFNCS;
  • A work plan for the redesign of the standards;
  • A mechanism to work with the First Nations Director of Child Welfare;
  • A research component to include the engagement of Indigenous scholars;
  • An enhanced agency information sharing process;
  • and Evaluation of the project.