INAC and Canadian Polar Commission
1996-1997 Estimates
Part B: Indian and Inuit Affairs Program
2.1.3 Social Assistance and Social Support Services
The federal government funds the costs of particular income security and social support services to on-reserve families and individuals in need, as defined by provincial legislation. These may be individuals or heads of families who are unemployed, unemployable, aged, disabled or individuals who are abused. The Social Assistance Program ensures that people's basic needs for food, shelter, clothing and other essentials are met. Social Support Services include First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS), Adult Care Services, and programs aimed at reducing family violence and facilitating the integration of persons with disabilities.
Social Assistance Program
In most Aboriginal communities, economic development and employment fall far short of Canadian norms. Job opportunities and businesses are growing in many areas, but most First Nations communities still have too few jobs and high rates of dependency on social assistance. The traditional economy (hunting, trapping, and fishing) is seasonal and marginal. Geographical isolation is another problem for many Aboriginal communities. At the same time, the rate of growth of the Registered Indian on-reserve population is high (2.3 times the Canadian norm), as is the rate of new-family formation. These factors put greater demands on social support services.
In 1994, the Auditor General of Canada released a review of the on-reserve Social Assistance program. In response to the recommendations of this report, the department launched a series of studies and an audit examination.
Plans for 1996/97 include:
Continuing to monitor provincial Social Assistance benefits, to ensure that the benefits it provides meet provincial standards.
Continuing to implement and respond to the recommendations of the 1994 Auditor General's report, including:
- strengthening the accountability of First Nations both to the local community and to Parliament for the expenditure of public monies;
- completing research into the quality and types of data collected for the program;
- improving the methodology used to ensure that on-reserve social assistance programs comply with legislative, policy and financial requirements; and
- focusing on more effective ways to monitor the social assistance program.
Ongoing investigation into the possible impact of the Social Security Reform initiative and how it will harmonize with on-reserve programs.
Implementing the commitment in the February 1995 Budget Speech to improve the compliance of on-reserve social assistance, drawing on the recommendations from DIAND's 1995 audit study on Social Assistance Methodology for Compliance.
Investigating possible improvements to the linkages between social assistance and on-reserve economic development and ways to break the social assistance dependency cycle.
Social Support Services
These services include First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS), Adult Care Services, and programs aimed at reducing family violence and at facilitating the integration of persons with disabilities.
The objective of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) program is to ensure that First Nations children and families living on reserve have access to culturally sensitive child and family services in their communities and that these services are comparable to those available to other provincial residents in similar circumstances.
Every province in Canada has legislation governing child and family services. Provincial services fall into three categories: protection, prevention and alternative care services (adoption, foster care, group homes and institutions). Child protection services are responsible for protecting children from neglect or abuse. Prevention services identify children and families at risk and provide support for them before problems have reached the point where children must be removed from the home. Alternative care services provide for the placement of children who are unable to continue living in the parental home.
The FNCFS program funds and promotes the development and establishment of child and family services agencies designed, managed and controlled by First Nations themselves. These agencies receive their mandate from provincial or territorial governments. Their operations comply with existing provincial/territorial legislation governing child and family services.
There were 59 FNCFS agencies in operation across Canada by the end of 1994/95; another 37 agencies were at various stages of planning or development. FNCFS programs were reviewed in 1994/95; an evaluation will be released in early 1996.
The objective of the Adult Care Services program is to promote independence and improve the quality of life of people on reserves who are elderly or ill or who have a disability, allowing them to remain in their community and at home whenever possible. Services include in-home care such as housekeeping services, as well as foster and institutional care.
In-home care programs have developed under the influence of provincial programs, First Nations' interest, and the availability of resources. More than 90 percent of First Nations provide care services in the home. The program is generally administered by First Nations social development officers, who assess the financial and social needs of clients and hire staff. First Nations staff and health professionals are also involved in client assessments.
In addition to funding adult care, the department participates in the National Strategy for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities, announced in 1991. This initiative funds First Nations activities that are designed to help disabled people participate in community activities and to give them the access to essential goods and services.
An evaluation of DIAND's part in the National Strategy was completed in February 1995. The overall effect of the National Strategy was evaluated late in 1995/96.
The department participates in the Federal Family Violence Initiative. DIAND has funded community-based activities to reduce violence against women, child sexual abuse and elder abuse. The department also supports on-reserve shelters for battered women and their children. The program has been extended until the end of 1995/96.
Plans for 1996/97 include:
Discussing the future of the Integration of Persons with Disabilities and Family Violence initiatives with other federal departments.
Continuing to expand and develop FNCFS agencies, working toward the 1998/99 goal of having 97 percent of the on-reserve population served by FNCFS agencies.
Implementing the action plan developed in response to the recommendations contained in the program evaluation of FNCFS.
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