PROTOCOL AGREEMENT
Between
NISHNAWBE–ASKI LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
and
CHILD and FAMILY SERVICES of TIMMINS and DISTRICT
TALKING TOGETHER PROJECT
November 26, 2004
TALKING TOGETHER PROTOCOL
PREAMBLE
Native history teaches that prior to contact the Native people practiced a unique culture. Through the process of colonization, people have undergone great loss, resulting in the deterioration of the family unit today.
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District and Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services are committed to providing services to families that will ensure the safety of the child, the well-being of the family, and as a result, strengthen the community.
It is recognized that success in the provision of these services will be enhanced if carried out in a manner that takes care of our own and is in keeping with the values and beliefs of Native people.
In keeping with these beliefs, the Talking Together process is an innovative kind of dispute resolution practiced as an alternative to the present family law court system.
CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES OF TIMMINS DISTRICT
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District is a non-profit charitable, mainstream Integrated Children’s Services Agency in north-eastern Ontario servicing the District of South Cochrane in the central portion of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation including the communities of Timmins, Iroquois Falls, Montieth, Matheson, and Wahgoshig First Nation.
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District is mandated as a Child Protection & Children’s Mental Health Services Agency.
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District provide services including:
▪ Assessment/Investigation/Placement
▪ Child & Family Supportive Service
▪ Children’s Mental Health
▪ Residential Care
▪ Residential Treatment
▪ Young Offenders Facility
▪ Ontario Early Years Program
▪ District wide Partnered Programming i.e. Integrated Services for northern children,
▪ Supervised Access & Autism, Community Support Team (Young Offenders)
A volunteer Board of Directors representative of the communities within its geographic catchment area governs CFSTD. Timmins is the central migratory community for Mushkegowuk First Nations people from the James Bay coastal and other northern rural and remote communities. CFSTD serves a population of near 60,000 of which approximately 20% are Aboriginal.
NISHNAWBE-ASKI LEGAL SERVICES
Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services is a unique and innovative organization belonging to Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and is managed by a board of directors who are members of First Nations within NAN. The organization delivers a wide range of services to the members of Nishnawbe-Aski Nation including legal, public legal education, and law reform services. Services are delivered in the languages of the communities wherever possible. Restorative Justice is a priority of Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Service Providers participate in the Talking Together process circles as resource and support to clients involved in Child Welfare matters. Wahgoshig First Nation Band Council, Timmins Native Friendship Centre, Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre, TAMPA Children’s Centre – OMAA, and Ojibway Cree Cultural Centre agree to provide support, services and programming that adhere to the values and beliefs of the Aboriginal community.
Wahgoshig First Nation Band Council
Wahgoshig First Nation is located 43 kilometres east of Matheson, Ontario and has a population of approximately 150-200 people residing in the community and receives Federal funding to govern and administer programs and services that meet the needs of the membership assuring a community control at the grassroots level.
As the governing body of Wahgoshig and the membership the Chief and Council have developed and passed a Band Council Resolution in support the Talking Together Process.
Support services/resources available within the community are as follows:
Native Alcohol & Drug Counsellor
▪ provides prevention & promotion workshops, counselling and referral services to clients affected by the use and/or misuse of substances.
Community Health Nurse
▪ visits two times a week to provide immunization clinics, client assessments, and prevention & promotion workshops.
Community Health Representative
▪ assists clients in securing medical appoints/attention and provides medical transportation.
Community Health Care Worker/Homemaker
▪ provides in-home care to the chronically ill, disable and Elder population.
Outreach Worker
▪ provides counselling to people who have been impacted by sexual abuse.
Family Support Worker
▪ provides counselling, prevention/intervention programming and referral to children and their families that are dealing with child protection/safety issues.
Ontario Works
▪ provides social assistance benefits to community members in need.
Community Employment Counsellor
▪ assists the employable in seeking/applying for jobs.
Education Counsellor
▪ in filling funding applications for Secondary & Post Secondary education and advocates on behalf of children/parents who are in need of Alternative/Special Education Planning.
Housing Counsellor
▪ provides assistance/direction to meet the housing requirement needs of members.
Aboriginal Healing & Wellness Program
▪ provides opportunities for spiritual and traditional healing and workshops.
Early Years Program
▪ provides information, training and support to parents of children 0-6 years in an early learning setting that promotes healthy child development and assists the children in meeting their full potential intellectually, spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Timmins Native Friendship Centre
Timmins Native Friendship Centre was realized in 1974 and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that receives its core funding from Heritage Canada’s Friendship Centre program.
The Friendship Centre’s mission is to promote the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of all people, by providing a safe healthy environment to assist both resident and migrating people adjust to city life with emphasis on promoting and preserving Aboriginal culture and tradition.
Timmins Native Friendship Centre will provide programming services including:
Aboriginal Healing & Wellness Program
▪ focuses on reducing family violence, promoting healthy lifestyles and healing.
Native Courtworker Program
▪ provides assistance to all Native people who are in conflict with the legal system.
Aboriginal Child Development/Early Years Program
▪ promotes early childhood development so that children are prepared and ready to learning in order to reach their full potential and assists children with exceptionalities by supporting their families in a strong caring environment.
Aboriginal Family Support Program
▪ offers programming and services to children 0-6 years and their families.
Aboriginal Prenatal Nutrition Program
▪ provides services that meets the needs of women of childbearing years, pregnant women, mothers with children under 6 months and their families
Misiway Milopemahtesewin Community Health Centre
Misiway Milopemahtesewin CHC is funded by the Ministry of Health, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors guided by the vision of meeting the priority health needs of the Aboriginal Community of Timmins and surrounding area.
Misiway offers a range of coordinated primary health care and related services with an emphasis on health education and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. The services are provided in a multi-disciplinary manner with emphasis on promoting a holistic approach to health care for the Aboriginal population.
Mental Health
▪ advocacy, counselling, and parent education services are offered by a fulltime Social Worker/Therapist.
Community Outreach
▪ provides education, information and prevention services regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders with the assistants of a Child Nutrition Worker.
Health Promoter
▪ develops and delivers programs ranging from personal development to proper nutrition and including cultural teachings. All services incorporate and respect Aboriginal beliefs.
TAMPA – Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association
The T.A.M.P.A. Children’s Center program is a component of the Brighter Futures off reserve Community Action Program for Children. T.A.M.P.A. is sponsored by the Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association and aims to strengthen families and communities while supporting community development and healing.
T.A.M.P.A. Children’s Centre’s aims to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being of Metis, First Nation and Inuit children aged 0-6 years.
Services Provided by TAMPA
▪ Cultural Retention
▪ Parenting Programs
▪ Crafts
▪ Community Kitchen
▪ Nutrition Information
▪ Family Visitation /Access
▪ Women’s Circle
▪ Child Development
▪ Clothing Bank
▪ Various Workshops
▪ Referrals
▪ Individual Support
▪ Crisis Support
▪ Pre-Natal Education
▪ Post-Natal Education
Ojibway Cree Cultural Centre
Ojibway Cree Cultural Centre is mandated to assist Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (Treaty #9) communities in nurturing a sense of pride in their native culture, establishing independence and self-determination towards their growth and development. As a result, OCCC promotes self-reliance and enhances the unique cultures, traditions and languages of its members.
Translation Services
▪ a duo path process to assist participants in communicating effectively further enhancing and benefiting the process of Talking Together.
MISSION STATEMENT
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District and Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services agree that working jointly to develop and deliver an Alternative Dispute Resolution process is a positive step in addressing the needs of the children, families and communities.
DEFINITION AND PURPOSE
Child and Family Services of Timmins and District (hereinafter referred to as CFSTD) holds a mandate to provide services to strengthen our children, our families and our communities, as well as promote the best interests, protection and well-being of our children, families and communities. Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services (hereinafter referred to as NAN Legal Services) holds a unique and innovative mandate to deliver legal services including the administration of Legal Aid Ontario in the Treaty # No. 9 area and to deliver a Restorative Justice Program in 15 of the 48 NAN communities.
In keeping with these mandates, CFSTD and NAN Legal Services recognize the importance of continuing to develop appropriate programs in order to meet the diverse needs of the Native people, in as comprehensive and coordinated a manner as possible.
The Talking Together Protocol is an innovative kind of dispute resolution practised as an alternative to the Family Court system, and is based on traditional circles held in the communities. It is conducted in the form of a circle, where the child, family members, service providers, community members and Talking Together Facilitator meet. The rules of the traditional circle apply. Everyone is equal. Everyone is given a chance to speak, and be listened to respectfully. Comments are framed in a non-judgmental way. The aim of the circle is to arrive by consensus, at an effective plan to bring about resolution of outstanding child welfare concerns. The term Talking Together is used to describe a process that starts with a referral, moves to a circle, develops planning and involves monitoring and evaluation.
The successful implementation of this framework is the shared responsibility of all employees of CFSTD and NAN Legal Services. The Board of Directors of CFSTD and NAN Legal Services sanction this framework; each representing their involved First Nation constituents.
Through the application of this protocol, all employees of CFSTD and NAN Legal Services responsible for the referral, planning and coordination and implementation of Talking Circle service to clients shall conduct their activities in a manner that is client focused and that is professionally, and ethically congruent to this protocol.
Child and Family Services protocol continued
