After months of co-operative planning and development between YTSA, Region 6 CFSA and Alberta Children's Services the Permanency Planning Project was launched in October 2004.

The Permanency Planning Project, emphasizes the importance of permanency planning for children in care. This Project is designed to benefit the children and families of the five YTSA First Nations by striving to reconnect their children in the care of CFSA Region 6 with their community and culture through permanency planning.

Philosophy

On November 1, 2004 the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act came into effect in Alberta. This legislation supports the development and well-being of children, youth and families. The Legislation increases services to families before the reach crisis, more quickly establishing permanent homes for children in government care and strengthens the involvement on First Nations and Metis communities' planning for their children.

The Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act legislate that all children in the care of the director will have a Concurrent and Permanency Plan. Permanency Planning is intentional, purposeful and timely planning that facilitates and builds significant and life long relationships for a child outside of the care of the director.

The project will involve identifications of the YTSA member First Nations children and youth in the care of Region 6 through the Child Youth Information Module (CYIM). The project team comprised of YTSA and seconded Region 6 CFSA staff will review file information of identified children and youth, including Information Consolidations Concurrent Plans and Genograms. Case specific data, including demographic and background information on children and youth, current permanency plans and activities intended to support connections with families and communities or origin will be added to a Project database.

The YTSA Elde's Advisory Committee as well as local community Child Welfare Committees in the five member communities will be consulted regarding permanency options for member children and youth. The project team will develop plans for children and youth in consultation with case managers at Region 6. Region 6 CFSA case managers will retain responsibility for children and youth as well as the implementation of the permanency and/or cultural connectedness plan.

Emphasis

YTSA, Region 6 CFSA and the Ministry have drawn on the collective eisdom and guidance of the YTSA Elder's Advisory Committee and YTSA member First Nations Child Welfare Committees including: Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, O'Chiese First Nation and Sunchild First Nation as well as the expertise of YTSA and Region 6 CFSA staff and the Ministry's First Nation Liaison Unit.

Project Scope

All YTSA member First Nation children in the care of Region 6 CFSA have been considered for inclusion in the Permanency Planning Project. Children in permanent care (Permanent Guardianship Order status) have been considered a priority for the Permanency Planning Project.

Following the launch of the Permanency Planning Project in October 2004 the project team has worked toward developing the tools necessary to review the children's files including the Permanency Planning Action tool, the YTSA Cultural Connectedness Agreement, and the Permanency Planning Project Intake-Referral Form.