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APPENDIX B
Key Federal Government Programs for First Nations Families and Young Children
living on Reserves
National Child Benefit: The federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada developed the National Child Benefit (NCB) in partnership. It is a program providing support for low-income families with children. There are two main components to the NCB: an increase, through Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), in federal child benefits to families earning under $30,000 and the reinvestment, by the provinces, territories and/or First Nations in programs to improve services and benefits to the children of low‑income families. The NCB is managed by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for First Nations communities.
First Nations National Child Benefit Reinvestment Program:Reinvestment of the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's national child benefit enables the First Nations to fund a range of community programs for low income families living on reserves, such as income support, daycare, child nutrition, parenting workshops, family services, recreation, adolescent development and training and skills to increase employability.
First Nations Child and Family Services Program: This program of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is one component of social policy and programs, which include adult care, children's programs, social assistance and family violence prevention. The main objective of the First Nations Child & Family Services (FNCFS) program is to assist First Nations in providing access to culturally sensitive child and family services in their communities and to ensure that the services provided to First Nations children and their families on-reserve are comparable to those available to other provincial residents. The program funds and promotes the development and expansion of child and family services agencies designed, managed and controlled by First Nations. Since child and family services is an area of provincial jurisdiction, these First Nation agencies receive their mandate and authorities from provincial or territorial governments and function in a manner consistent with existing provincial or territorial child and family services legislation.
First Nations and Inuit Child Care Program: This program is administered by the Department of Human Resources Development and provides for the funding of affordable quality child care for First Nations parents who work or are taking courses or training. This program, like the Youth Employment Strategy and the Urban Aboriginal Employment Initiative, is intended to help develop human resources in Native communities
The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program: This Health Canada community-based program is intended to improve the health of pregnant women at risk and their birth outcome. It consists primarily in courses and counselling on nutrition and the provision of food, as needed.
First Nations Head Start on Reserve Program: This early intervention program for young First Nations children living on reserves (zero to age 6) and their family is provided by Health Canada. It centres on various preschool program components: culture and language, education, health promotion, nutrition, social support and parental involvement.
The Community Action Program for Children: This Health Canada program funds a range of community projects across the country to promote the healthy child development. The programs are generally designed for children, with parental involvement.
First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program: This Health Canada program aims at providing basic and culturally sensitive home and community care services reflecting the specific health care and social services needs of the First Nations and the Inuit.
Family Violence Prevention Programs: This DIAND program is intended to provide help and support to families that are victims of domestic violence: shelters, self-help groups, anger management workshops, and so on.
Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative: This Health Canada program is intended to provide a collaborative and integrated approach in order to reduce the level of diabetes and its complications among Native Peoples..
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE) Initiative: Health Canada's FAS/FAE initiative provides funding for many public awareness and education, monitoring and screening activities and strategic projects.
Aboriginal Languages Initiative: This Department of Canadian Heritage program supports Native communities in their efforts to conserve, preserve, enrich and consolidate their language. The program is implemented within reserves by the Assembly of First Nations.
Brighter Futures: This program was launched by Health Canada to help First Nations and Inuit communities develop health programs that are adapted and responsive to their cultures.
Nobody's Perfect: This program, the product of a partnership among the federal (through Health Canada), provincial and territorial governments, is designed to provide support for parents of children aged from zero to five years and to strengthen their parenting skills.
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