Report of the Board President and Executive Director
2004 – 2005
The past year can be characterized as a time of growth and challenge for the Agency and the Board of Directors. In May, 2004, an Executive Director was recruited and she became the Executive Director Designate of Aboriginal Child and Family Services, which became the vehicle through which the Board of Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services governed service provision.
The Board of Directors and the Executive Director have been
offered a variety of instruments to build capacity within our communities. From the introduction of Prevention services
from the Province, to the ongoing capacity development towards designation, as
well as bringing the issues of the communities forward at provincial, regional
and local tables, we have tried to keep our voice strong in all arenas.
The Board has concentrated on governance through Policy and
procedure development, and over this past year has endorsed twenty
Manuals. Services are further supported
through the established Family Services Committees in the communities and we
continue to identify and deal with obstacles as they arise. The Board developed a Strategic Plan for the
Agency and has monitored its progress, and my direction to the staff has always
been with this in mind
In September, 2004, direction was given by our Elders to
incorporate under the name Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services. The agency has also been honoured with a
grandmother Drum, a Staff, and an Agency Song.
During the year Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services has
become a member on the Board of Directors of the Association of Native Child
and Family Services of Ontario. This
organization will assist us in having a strong voice to advocate for our
particular needs as First Nations people.
Since that time Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services has
become a member on the Board of the Association of Native Child and Family
Service Agencies of Ontario. This
organization will assist us in having a strong voice to advocate for our
particular needs as First Nations People.
Following are some of the areas of the concentration over
the past year:
- Accountability and compliance
The
Agency received a full Foster Care License this year. This is a great acknowledgement of the quality of service
provided to our children, and one of few in Ontario. The Crown Ward Review received a compliance rating of 90%, also
an improvement from the previous year.
Again this indicates our ability to delivery quality services.
- Strengthening our bi-cultural
service provision through seasonal Ceremonies and Feasts, our First Annual
Tradition Pow Wow, and regular consultation with Elders on agency and corporate
direction.
- Strengthening partnerships with
community stakeholders, Grand Council Treaty #3 and community service
providers. We have held Retreats
and meetings with all of our five community leaders and an information
session with Ogichidaa Gardner, and will continue to do so. Service issues are readily resolved
through ongoing open dialogue, and a mutual sense of Unity.
- Annual Staff Retreats, Managers
Retreats and Staff recognition to honour commitment, develop team-building
skills and enhance capacity within.
- Development of a Prevention
Service delivery model, though consultations with fourteen First
Nations. Prevention workers have
been provided with support through training, centralized admin staff and
regular networking opportunities all to assist in the continuity and
consistency of services provided.
- Designation Strategy – Our
community leaders and the board identified and participated in development
of a strategy to support designation, from the acquisition of Resolutions
of Support from the All Ontario Chiefs, to commitments from the Grand
Council, and meetings held with Howard Hampton, MPP and Roger Valley, MP. All of these efforts led to the planned
meeting with the Honourable Minister of Children and Youth Services in
November, 2005.
- Provincial and Regional meeting
participation has lead to the identification of efforts to support funding
for Children’s Mental Health (we found out there were no dollars for our
communities presently), Jurisdictional Reform to ensure First Nations are
provided services by an Anishinaabe Agency, the Transformation Agenda
(Bill 210) which will amend the Child and Family Services Act, and a
Coordinated Response to Suicide Intervention was a working group that the
Agency took the lead on as we feel efforts should be coordinated by all
service providers to our communities.
- The Child Care Consultations/Conference,
delivered in partnership by Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services,
Aboriginal Child and Family Services, Weechi-it-te-win Family Services
Inc, Kenora Patricia Child and Family Services and the Grand Council of
Treaty #3 is evidence that we can work together to finalize plans to care
for our children according to our inherent customary laws and traditions.
Keeping our children safe, and providing them with a safe
and secure environment in which to thrive, is our commitment and we will
network with service providers in public health, law enforcement, and other social
services to reduce risks to children.
We continue to strive towards a time when suicide is no longer a threat
to the young people of our First Nations.
The Board President and I would like to thank you all for a
very rewarding year. Gains have been
made and we look forward to the future with hope, in Unity, with the ultimate
goal the realization of the Child Care Law for all Treaty #3 Nations.
Theresa Stevens Marilyn Sinclair
Executive Director President