Western Standard - Additional Funding Supporting Families & Communities In Alberta.

00:00:00.000 Welcome, everyone. Thank you for being here with us today. I would like to begin by acknowledging

00:00:15.400 that we are on the traditional lands referred to as Treaty 6 Territory and that the City

00:00:21.200 of Edmonton and all the people here are beneficiaries of the Peace and Friendship Treaty. Treaty

00:00:27.640 6 territory is a traditional meeting grounds gathering place and traveling route to the cree

00:00:33.080 soto blackfoot metis denny and nakota sioux people bentaro traditional healing society

00:00:39.240 is dedicated to ensuring that the spirit of the treaty six is honored and respected and followed

00:00:46.840 i'd like we at bentaro traditional healing society are pleased to host

00:00:51.720 minister cyril turton minister of children's service children and family services and we

00:00:58.280 and welcome everyone here in attendance today the bentaro traditional healing society was

00:01:04.760 established in 1994 with a commitment to building upon the strengths of aboriginal children youth

00:01:12.040 and families so they can walk proudly in both aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities

00:01:17.960 Our founders strongly believed that keeping culture at the center of everything we do is crucial to mental, emotional, and spiritual growth and physical well-being.

00:01:29.720 With the knowledge, we provide programming that promote healing, resiliency, and cultural connectedness.

00:01:37.080 Over the 30 years, the Society has been serving urban Indigenous communities in Edmonton.

00:01:44.120 Our scope has widened and our goals have changed.

00:01:47.480 our programs are open to all people in need of community who wish to be supported through an

00:01:53.240 indigenous world view that is holistic and incorporates knowledge and ceremony our founders

00:01:59.960 also believe that the important work we do requires collaboration and partnership

00:02:05.720 we have developed strong partnerships along the way to be able to provide many programs that

00:02:11.480 include community outreach employment resources and our negay housing first initiative

00:02:19.480 and of course the reason you're all here today our kakoswin family resource network

00:02:25.480 through our partnership with the alberta government the kakoswin family resource

00:02:31.640 network here at bantero offers support services and programming for children youth and families

00:02:37.000 that aim to strengthen caregiver capacity, support health, healthy child development

00:02:43.020 and well-being, and increase social supports and connections.

00:02:47.560 I'd like to now welcome Minister Turton to the podium

00:02:51.220 to tell you more about the family resource networks across the province.

00:03:01.840 Well, thank you so much, Shirley, and good morning, everyone.

00:03:05.780 thank you for joining us today as our government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the

00:03:10.580 well-being and resiliency of children youth and families for many years to come first of all i

00:03:16.900 just want to recognize elder tom snow for starting us off with a beautiful blessing this morning

00:03:21.860 i also want to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of bent arrows executive

00:03:26.660 director sheryl whiskey jack who is an amazing advocate for children and families in edmonton

00:03:31.940 and a huge supporter of this vitally important program i also want to thank the wonderful folks

00:03:37.300 here at bantero for giving me a tour of this amazing facility here this morning now this is

00:03:43.220 not the first time i've been here but every time i visit the kiko suwin hub i'm struck by how warm

00:03:48.980 and inviting this facility is and that's exactly what we wanted family resource networks to be

00:03:54.420 when our government started the program back in 2020 safe havens where families can gather and

00:04:00.820 grow together we realized that there were so many fantastic community organizations across alberta

00:04:06.980 offering guidance and supports to foster healthy families from parenting classes to support groups

00:04:13.300 to on-site mental health services as well as childhood development and mentorship programs

00:04:19.060 for children and youth but there was no easy way for these organizations to coordinate their

00:04:24.180 services or pass on knowledge and skills to each other so that they could serve families better

00:04:29.540 the family resource network program was our solution ensuring children youth and families

00:04:34.980 can have more consistent and coordinated access to prevention and early intervention services

00:04:40.180 regardless of where they live in other words families facing big challenges can get help early

00:04:46.900 reducing the number of children who come into government care and families who require child

00:04:51.940 intervention services when we designed this program we were thinking of the young expectant

00:04:57.540 mother in northern rural Alberta who feels isolated from her peers and wants guidance and a helping

00:05:03.140 hand to help her take on the huge responsibilities she has in front of her and the parents in

00:05:09.060 Okotoks who may live far away from family and are looking for a way to meet and find camaraderie and

00:05:14.980 support from other young parents as well as Indigenous families right here in Edmonton who

00:05:20.980 are searching for a place like Bantaro where they can connect to their culture and community.

00:05:26.580 four years later i'm proud to say we have over 70 networks across alberta that bring together

00:05:31.540 services from over 100 different agencies half of these serve rural communities and 18 are

00:05:38.500 specifically targeted to unique cultural and linguistic communities including the francophony

00:05:44.340 multicultural and indigenous communities both on and off reserve this means accessing community

00:05:50.660 services and much needed supports is easier than ever to be able to access in every corner of the

00:05:56.820 province our government has had high hopes for this program we want to make sure that we got it right

00:06:03.540 we launched an external evaluation three years ago so that we could learn what was working

00:06:08.020 and what could be improved within the program and i'm thrilled to share that the data backs

00:06:12.500 up what we've been hearing on the ground the family resource networks are having a positive

00:06:17.460 impact on families and communities and because of that i'm so pleased to announce that through

00:06:23.460 budget 2024 alberta's government is extending the family resource networks program and providing an

00:06:29.940 additional 6.6 million over the next two years we're building on our previous investments to

00:06:36.020 strengthen our networks in three key areas the first area focuses on ensuring indigenous children

00:06:42.420 families have access to culturally appropriate supports and services wherever they are secondly

00:06:49.700 we're making sure networks have the training and capacity to respond to the needs of lgbtqs plus

00:06:55.380 and gender diverse children and youth our third focus is all about enhancing intensive services

00:07:01.780 to meet the rising demand for these supports like our friends at bentaro and the other networks

00:07:07.300 across the province we're committed to helping albertan families stay healthy and stay together

00:07:13.140 strong communities depend on strong families and i'm confident that these additional investments

00:07:18.500 will help thousands of young people their parents and caregivers reach their full potential

00:07:24.260 to our family resource networks all of us at children and family services are so fortunate

00:07:29.540 to have incredible incredible partners like you to make this all possible my staff and i will

00:07:35.140 continue to support you so that you can focus on what matters most supporting children youth

00:07:40.900 and families well-being and resiliency and helping albertans become the best parents

00:07:45.540 they can possibly be thank you

00:07:53.620 thank you minister turton this is good news for our community and family resource networks across

00:07:59.060 alberta i'd like i'd now like to welcome murray newtson our deputy director here at bentaro to

00:08:05.620 the podium thank you shirley uh hello everyone i'm pleased to be here representing bentaro today

00:08:18.980 where our elders program staff service providers and volunteers give their best to make a positive

00:08:24.260 impact on the lives of Indigenous children, youth families, and community.

00:08:31.540 We're grateful for Alberta's government recognizing the importance of supporting the

00:08:35.580 well-being of families and children, and continuing on a path of meaningful reconciliation where

00:08:41.200 each and every Indigenous person has the same access to crucial services as any other Albertan.

00:08:48.380 While ensuring the interests of Indigenous children are protected, we believe in the

00:08:51.520 importance of family and providing for all family members to grow together.

00:08:57.600 In Cree, Kokosuin means the act of being with a family.

00:09:01.760 As an Indigenous Family Resource Network, the Kokosuin Hub provides services focused in three

00:09:07.360 key areas, child and development and well-being, caregiver capacity, buildings and social

00:09:14.960 connections and supports. We offer distinct programming for parents and children

00:09:20.480 up to the age of 17. This includes group and one-on-one supports to help parents

00:09:27.920 achieve their goals of becoming the best caregivers they can be.

00:09:33.520 We provide resources and opportunities for children and their families to make

00:09:38.400 community connections by participating in activities that support growth and development

00:09:42.000 in a fun interactive environment. And we help families build supportive networks while working

00:09:47.520 on personal goals and plans that will help strengthen their relationships and their families

00:09:54.400 of note our dad's engagement and men's support group provides a supportive space for men to

00:09:59.040 engage in meaningful conversations and activities that promote personal growth family bonding and

00:10:04.000 community involvement and we also have a youth engagement service that provides safe and

00:10:11.200 welcoming environments for young people to make pure condition pure connections build positive

00:10:15.920 relationships and prepare for successful futures our emphasis on indigenous culture and content

00:10:22.560 in our service delivery works to provide relevant supports for the people who are receiving them

00:10:27.280 making it more likely that they'll continue to access our services and complete programs

00:10:33.360 not only will today's investment ensure that we are able to continue making these important

00:10:37.520 cultural connections with families but it will also allow us to work with more parents supporting

00:10:43.280 them to increase their capacity and serve indigenous communities in a culturally relevant

00:10:47.840 authentic and sincere way in other family readers pardon me on behalf of our members i'd like to

00:10:56.240 thank minister churton for recognizing the positive impact programs offered through the

00:11:00.160 family resource networks have on the youth and families as well as the commitment to coming here

00:11:05.280 today in learning. Thank you. Forgive me. We look forward to continuing to work together

00:11:14.820 providing safe and supportive environments for families to grow. Thank you.

00:11:31.860 Thank you everyone for coming today to hear about the continued investment in family resource

00:11:37.980 networks in Alberta.

00:11:39.540 All right, we will now open things up for a quick Q&A.

00:11:46.640 Reporters will be able to ask one question, one follow-up.

00:11:49.360 Please state your name and outlet and we'll begin by taking questions from the floor first.

00:11:56.120 This is for Minister Turton.

00:11:57.680 This is Daniel Barker-Chambley with Windspeaker Radio Network for CFWE and 89.3 The Raven.

00:12:03.640 Minister Turton, with this announcement that you have made here within Bandero,

00:12:07.700 I have to ask, in terms of, you know, with the act of being with the family,

00:12:13.260 have you sat down with the Grand Chief of Treaty 6 First Nations,

00:12:17.280 as well as the other chiefs and the M&A president to sit down with them

00:12:22.480 to go over these programs with Bandero present

00:12:25.440 to keep the children within the families?

00:12:28.680 So I have met with many First Nations leaders

00:12:31.720 since I've been appointed as minister

00:12:35.280 and look forward to any ongoing conversations

00:12:38.340 that First Nations leaders may wish to have

00:12:41.180 regarding the ongoing evolution

00:12:43.400 as we transfer children and family services

00:12:46.240 over to their respective First Nations.

00:12:48.100 So we already have an obligation to consult

00:12:51.120 and work with First Nations communities

00:12:52.620 on many aspects of child intervention services.

00:12:55.880 And I know I'm going to be meeting with one Treaty 8 council and nation

00:13:00.620 here in about an hour and a half, actually, at the legislature.

00:13:03.240 So my door is always wide open, but we've been very eager

00:13:06.800 to continue to have those conversations as we can move down a path

00:13:09.840 towards reconciliation with Indigenous leaders and communities

00:13:13.900 around the province of Alberta.

00:13:15.760 And as minister, this is for my follow-up.

00:13:18.020 As minister, what are you hoping for that these programs will provide

00:13:21.760 And what are you hoping for as far as an outcome goes after this has been installed?

00:13:27.000 Well, it's a great question.

00:13:28.460 And with the announcement today, it really comes down to strengthening families.

00:13:32.080 I want to make sure that children continue to have those cultural connections with the respective First Nations.

00:13:37.620 To me, it's extremely important.

00:13:39.080 And as I've been traveling around the province since being appointed as Minister of Children and Family Services in June,

00:13:45.960 And that has come across loud and clear from families, from children, that they want to make sure that those cultural connections are supported.

00:13:52.400 And that's why this announcement today is so important, because we're investing in capacity building for the FRN announcement to allow FRNs around the province to continue to build upon those cultural connections so that we can ensure that our children are looked after.

00:14:07.040 Hi, thank you so much.

00:14:10.620 Hi, Minister. Danny Parity, APTN.

00:14:13.120 my question is about the 6.6 million you mentioned that that goes towards capacity building

00:14:18.640 um what what does the money go towards is it infrastructure is it programs what's the breakdown

00:14:24.260 well as i've been traveling around the province it was really critical um when with my conversations

00:14:30.020 that i've been having to ensure that all outburns continue to receive the the access to frns they

00:14:36.900 can feel connected and so from my conversations with frns as well as other cultural communities

00:14:42.040 I really felt it was important for this added investment again to increase the capacity of

00:14:47.080 FRNs to be able to offer those culturally relevant services especially to Indigenous youth and also

00:14:52.960 gender diverse youth as well so we want to make sure that our FRNs continue to be open inclusive

00:14:57.640 and I really think this added investment is really going to help us in that regard.

00:15:03.100 So that is programs then? So we're going to have those conversations with FRNs about

00:15:08.600 in terms of exactly how it will look like.

00:15:11.160 So it could be everything from perhaps a specific specialists and FRNs to programs to,

00:15:19.140 I'm really open to having that conversation with what works out best for the individual FRNs

00:15:23.900 to meet the needs of their respective communities.

00:15:26.360 And how many people or children have been helped?

00:15:28.540 What did you find in your external review?

00:15:30.920 Oh, I could easily find this.

00:15:32.500 So Ashley can get you the exact number for how many children and families actually access FRNs.

00:15:38.380 it's quite considerable. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

00:15:45.500 And we will now take questions from the phones. Operator, put through the first caller.

00:15:52.380 The first question is from Janet Prince, CBC. Please go ahead.

00:15:57.340 Hi there. Minister, you mentioned that these FRNs are preventing children from ending up 1.00

00:16:05.660 in government care what evidence do you have that this program specifically is preventing children

00:16:10.940 from ending up in government care well no thank you very much for the question so i think this is

00:16:15.820 really one of the key strategies as a government that we have um regarding prevention improving

00:16:21.740 family outcomes when when it comes to mental health resiliency just really empowering families

00:16:27.900 and children the fact that the programs continue to grow and the positive effects that we've been

00:16:33.580 able to see and how families lives have been improved for many families across the province

00:16:38.700 if you don't know where to go for support and FRN is typically the first place you go

00:16:43.420 and so that has been shown just with the increasing numbers of families that have

00:16:47.420 been accessing these programs and it is our hope and goal that as we continue to help provide

00:16:53.020 supports for families around the province that yes it can actually lead to declines and children

00:16:58.860 actually entering care later on okay my follow-up is a bit more practical can you explain to me how

00:17:08.380 this additional money is going to be distributed is it going to be through grants that these agencies

00:17:12.460 or the networks have to apply for or is it just a blanket increase across the board that each

00:17:16.940 network gets will be a blanket increase across the across the entire network we want to have

00:17:23.260 those conversations with frn specifically on the specific programs that they may need to

00:17:29.100 address the needs that families in the respective areas are looking for so again that's something

00:17:35.100 or a part of the conversation that we're going to be having over the next couple months as i

00:17:38.620 continue to travel around the province again looking for additional ways that we can help

00:17:42.620 support families here in alberta operator could you put through the next caller

00:17:48.540 there's no other colors in cube great that concludes our press conference for today

00:17:55.300 thank you for everyone for being here

Western Standard - April 02, 2024

Additional Funding Supporting Families & Communities In Alberta.

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