FIRST NATIONS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
WHAT IS THE FNCFS PROGRAM?
FNCFS is First Nations Child and Family Services, a community social service program dispensed by the Grand Council de la Nation Waban-Aki.
Some other Waban-Aki organizations also provide child and family services, such as the CPE (early childhood centre), the CPDA (police force), the Band Council and the Health Centre. All of these are important partners and share common objectives while offering complimentary services. This is why these stakeholders are constantly working to coordinate community actions in order to best meet the needs of child, family and community services.
WHAT CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IS OFFERED?
The main services (FNCFS) to be deployed will be first line, which can sometimes be called community prevention services. The community intervention to be gradually done through this approach seeks to create social and community conditions favorable to the full development of children, youths and families. In brief, services will be offered to contribute to the social development of Odanak and Wôlinak, in order to favor child safety and development.
ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF PREVENTION SERVICES?
Here are examples of prevention services that has been offered until now to the communities of the Abenaki Nation:
- Access to first line services and personalized follow-up (voluntary basis)
- Access to a family centre on each community
- Parent groups, support groups and other groups that developped a particular project
- Training on various subjects (parental skills, family budget management, educational or community activities, etc.)
- Child-parent, child-grandparent and family activities or excursions
- Visits from speakers selected or suggested by the community
- Other suggestions and special requests coming from citizens or partner organizations.