Maori experts back in Manitoba to help grow Indigenous-led child welfare practices

Indigenous leaders from Manitoba are welcoming back a group ofMaoriIndigenous Peoplesof New Zealandwho have beensharingtheir best practices in reducingthe numberof Indigenous children in foster care.

InWinnipeg, the group has been assisting social service provider Ma Mawi Wi Chi ItataCentre with the Family Group ConferencingModel, which was pioneered in New Zealand.

"It's an instrument that can bring children back," said Katie Murray.

Murrayhelped to create the Family Group ConferencingModelnearly 30 years ago, and it's been effective at reducingthe numberof Indigenous children in care in New Zealand.

The model is an Indigenous-led approach that puts the decision-making powers regarding children into the hands of the affected family and community. The model prioritizes keeping children in need of protectionin the care of family, so they can maintaincultural ties. Murray said identity, language and culture are key to success in life.

"Research shows us that children will get the best start in life if they are with their family, if they know who they are," said Murray.

Indigenous Maori from New Zealand help Ma Mawi Chi Itata program reunite kids with families, keep them out of foster care

6 years ago

Duration 1:53

$2.5M donation from The Winnipeg Foundation will support another 1,200 kids.

If a family is struggling with addictionsor violence, the organization tries to support the family, as opposed to removing the child.

"If we can't keep them with family, we need to go out to the next ring of relations," said Murray.

There are about 11,000 children and youth in care in Manitoba, with close to 90 per cent of them being Indigenous.

Families reunited faster

Ma MawiWi Chi ItataCentre in Winnipeg's North Endhas been using the Family Group ConferencingModel for the last 15 years, and says it hasa 79 per centreunification rate. Reunification is when children in care are returned to their families.

"We can get kids home within threemonths, whereas the average time can be nine, to even 12 or 18 months," said Diane Redsky, executive director at Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata.

Redsky said when there are family emergencies like drug addictions, the extended family is usually aware of what the problems already are, and are able to work together if there is a crisis.

The North End organization was able to expand the family group conferencingmodelafter receiving a $2.5 million investment in 2017 from the Winnipeg Foundation, and both the federal and provincial governments.

According to Ma Mawi Wi Ichi Itata, this new funding will allow for 445 family group conferences, and will affectapproximately 1,200 youth in care.

Redskysaid the aim is to have families making the decisions themselves, with everybody else acting as support and "most times not even having the child come into care at all."

"That's ultimately our goal."