Aboriginal Family Healing Case Conferences
Aboriginal Family Healing Case Conferences (AFHCC) provide support for Indigenous families involved in child protection<p><span lang="EN-US">The area of law dealing with the safety and well-being of children and governed by BC’s </span><span lang="EN-US">Child, Family and Community Service Act </span><span lang="EN-US">or Indigenous child protection laws</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span><span> </span></p> cases in some parts of the Lower Mainland before, during and after a case conference.
Family court conference
When there are child protection concerns and the family disagrees with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) about the way forward, a case conference is often scheduled. A case conference is an informal meeting between the parties and a judge to try to resolve the disagreement before the case escalates to trial.
AFHCC explained
Together with the assistance of Elders, representatives from MCFD, the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and the Ministry of Justice, the Court has created a unique process for Indigenous families in child protection cases.
AFHCC offer Indigenous families support, flexibility, choice and culturally appropriate processes for dealing with child protection matters. Parents and families work closely with Elders to better understand their strengths, challenges and how they can heal from the impacts of colonization and systemic racism.
Judges, lawyers and social workers are educated about the impact that past government policies had and continue to have on Indigenous peoples in Canada and their culture.
Cultural Safety Agreement
Parents and families work with Elders, the program coordinator and any chosen personal or professional supports to develop a Cultural Safety Agreement that provides a culturally safe environment for the family. This agreement highlights how a family and/or children would like to ensure their cultural practices are respected and followed, particularly in the case conference.
Cultural Family History Healing and Wellness Plan
Families work with Elders, the program coordinator and other support people identified by the family to develop a Cultural Family History Healing and Wellness Plan. Where appropriate, aspects of the Healing and Wellness Plan may be included in any consent order<p><span lang="EN-US">A court order made by a judge when the parties agree on what the order should say. Parties may be able to file some consent orders in the court registry and have them signed by a judge without appearing in court. </span><span> </span></p> that a judge makes at the case conference.
Improved outcomes
The Program Coordinator uses tools available in BC’s Child, Family and Community Service Act to improve outcomes for Indigenous children by actively involving Indigenous communities in child welfare matters. Involvement of Indigenous communities can diminish the isolation parents and children experience within the child welfare process and prevent the loss of identity and disconnection experienced by past generations of Indigenous children.
A cultural ceremony is held for families when they achieve the goals set out in their Healing and Wellness Plan to honour their hard work and success.
AFHCC availability
Families who self-identify as aboriginal may have an Aboriginal Family Healing Case Conference if they:
Are serviced by the Burnaby or New Westminster MCFD office and have a court file in New Westminster
Are connected to the MCFD Aboriginal teams in Burnaby, New Westminster or Tri-Cities and have a court file at the Robson Square or Port Coquitlam courthouse (their court file will be transferred to New Westminster for the case conference and returned to the original court after the conference)