Frequently Asked Questions

The Metis Child and Family Services Authority is an incorporated entity responsible for administering and managing the delivery of child and family services for Metis and Inuit people in Manitoba. It is one of four Child and Family Services Authorities that operate within the province who are charged with ensuring that child and family services are available and accessible to their respective populations.

Overall, we ensure the provision of quality Metis and Inuit specific child and family supports and services that are culturally relevant and community-based in order to effectively build the capacity of Metis and Inuit families and communities to care for themselves and each other.

The other three Authorities are:

• The First Nations of Northern Manitoba CFS Authority;
• The First Nations of Southern Manitoba CFS Authority; and
• The General CFS Authority.

Metis Child and Family Services Authority delegates the provision of services Metis and Inuit people in Manitoba to the Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency and Michif Child and Family Services Agency.

In August 2000, as a result of child welfare recommendations in the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry Report, the Manitoba Metis Federation, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and the Province of Manitoba began working together on a plan to restructure the child and family services system.

This collaboration was based on the common understanding that local strength based solutions which are community driven and culturally relevant hold the key to ensuring the health and wellbeing of Metis and First Nation families.

Since then, the restructuring of Manitoba's child and family services system has seen Metis and First Nation peoples reclaim their rightful role in the creation and delivery of services to Aboriginal families.

Today, four Child and Family Service Authorities exist in Manitoba – three of which serve Aboriginal communities:

• The Metis Child and Family Services Authority;
• The First Nations of Northern Manitoba CFS Authority;
• The First Nations of Southern Manitoba CFS Authority; and
• The General CFS Authority.

Aside from ensuring that services are delivered through its agencies, the Metis CFS Authority has a number of broad responsibilities including, but not limited to:

• Ensuring that children and families have reasonable access to quality services throughout the province;
   
• Ensuring that appropriate policies and standards are developed to guide service delivery by its agencies;
   
• Ensuring processes are in place to ensure policies and standards are followed;
   
• Working with other CFS Authorities, community partners, private bodies, and government to coordinate services for children and families;
   
• Promoting collaboration and cooperation amongst communities, service affiliates, and other CFS Authorities;
   
• Developing policies and standards in consultation with affiliated agency staff;
   
• Assessing services needs and setting system priorities;
   
• Allocating funding and other resources to agencies providing services on behalf of the Metis CFS Authority;
   
• Hearing and deciding appeals respecting the licensing of foster homes; and
   
• Complying with any written directions given by the Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, and with any requirements specified in the regulations.
   

As the Authority responsible for services to Manitoba's Metis and Inuit community, our responsibility first and foremost, is to ensure the provision of relevant, accessible and meaningful services to Metis and Inuit children, youth and families. This means working in close collaboration with our agencies to make certain that children and families have reasonable access to quality services and that legislation, policies and standards are followed.

On a daily basis, we are involved in monitoring and determining what services are offered and how they are delivered through ongoing policy development, needs assessment and the setting of priorities. We also respond to inquiries from the community and service providers dealing with everything from information requests to child protection referrals.

While we do not deliver services directly to families, we are directly responsible for ongoing quality assurance of such services. In doing so, we continue to serve as a valuable resource to our agencies and our community.

The Metis Authority is an incorporated entity with an independent Board of Directors, responsible to administer and manage service delivery for Metis and Inuit people in Manitoba.

Through the Child and Family Services Authorities Act, the MCFS Authority has the power to grant mandates to affiliated service providers and receives funding from the government to carry out such tasks.

In order to fulfill its mandate, the MCFS Authority manages and monitors the provision of services to Metis and Inuit children and families by developing policy, setting priorities and assessing the needs of Metis and Inuit communities in consultation with the Metis Child, Family and Community Services Agency and the Michif Child and Family Services Agency.

We welcome enquiries from people interested in becoming Foster Parents.

Minimally, prospective foster parents must:

• Be over the age of eighteen (18) years;
   
• Be medically, physically, and emotionally prepared, and able, to fulfill the responsibilities required to meet the needs of the child(ren) in their care;
   
• Be able to provide character references;
   
• Be able to provide Criminal Record and Child Abuse Registry checks that are current to within three months of becoming a foster parent;
   
• Consent to a Prior Contact check (prior contact with Child and Family Services), and Consent for Release of Information if the Prior Contact Check reveals prior involvement with Child and Family Services;
   
• Consent to release of information about current employment, previous employment and volunteer work.

New foster parents are involved in an extensive orientation and training program before being licensed to care for foster children. Ongoing support and periodic training continues throughout the time foster parents are providing services.

For further information, please contact the Metis Child, Family, and Community Services Agency at: (204) 697-1118

Foster parents who disagree with a child and family services agency's decision to:

• refuse to issue a Foster Home License
• suspend, cancel or refuse to renew a Foster Home License

have access to the appeal procedure which is described in the Child and Family Services Authorities Act and Authorities Regulation.

A person who is refused a foster home license, or whose license is suspended, cancelled, or not renewed by an agency may, within 10 days of receiving notice of the refusal, suspension, cancellation or non-renewal, appeal to the agency's Child and Family Services Authority. Appeals should be submitted in writing.

Foster Parents who disagree with the removal of a foster child (children) from their foster home can initiate the appeals process as described in the Child and Family Services Act and Regulation:

• Appeal to the agency Executive Director in writing (within twelve days)
• Executive Director offers Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process in writing (seven days)
• Executive Director reviews ADR process (seven days)
• If dissatisfied with ADR process, foster parents can appeal to the agency's Authority in writing (seven days)
• If dissatisfied with the Authority's response, (who responds promptly to the appeal), foster parents can appeal to the Director, the Child Protection Branch for a referral to the Adjudication Process (fourteen days).
• Time at the adjudicator varies according the complexity of each case and the time required to hear the appeal.

Please contact the Metis Child and Family Services Authority for more detailed information regarding Foster Parent Appeals.

The public or any other Agency or Authority may call, e-mail, send a letter or fax the Metis Authority with their issues or concerns. The Authority Service Specialist – Community Inquiries will take their call or respond to any letter, e-mail or fax on condition that the individual has provided contact information.

If the issue or concern has to do with an open case at an agency, the Service Specialist will first ask if the caller has gone through the lines of authority within their agency's structure.

This would require them to contact first the Worker, and then the Supervisor. If they are still not satisfied that the issue has been dealt with, they can contact the Director of Service that oversees the Supervisor involved. The final step within the Agency structure would be to contact the Executive Director. If they have exhausted all avenues within the Agency structure, then they may contact the Authority.

The Authority Determination Process is the sequence of actions taken intended to determine the Authority of Record, the Authority of Service, and the subsequent Service Provider for a family. Every family that comes into contact with an Agency that will result in an open file must have an Authority Determination Process (ADP) Form completed. The worker is responsible for ensuring the completion of the ADP form with the family. The family makes the determination of their Authority of Record, and has the right to choose their Authority of Service. This means they can have service from their Authority of Record or another Authority. Should a family not agree on Authority of Service or decide not to choose Authority of Service, the worker will note this in the form and choose the Authority of Service for the family based on the Authority of Record.

It is possible to transfer Authorities.

If you have had previous contact with the system but your file has been closed for one year or longer you will be given the opportunity to choose your Authority of Service.

If the custodial parent changes, the Authority Determination Process can be revisited.

A youth who is in an established independent living arrangement and is being monitored by a mandated child and family services agency has the choice to determine their Authority of Service.

Youth (minor) parents who receive or are about to receive expectant parent services from a mandated child and family services agency have the right to choose their own Authority of Service for their child.

If a person feels they want to transfer to a different Authority for service, for any other reason than stated above, the case would be examined on an individual basis by the Authorities in question.