Latest News
Join us for our Virtual Annual General Meeting on June 29th, 2023
Aaniin – Boozhoo – Kwey Kwey – Tansi – Hello
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto cordially invites staff, community members, funders, partners and all our friends to register and join us in our Virtual Annual General Meeting on June 29th from 6pm to 9pm.
To receive your link please register here
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
For questions or concerns, please email: [email protected]
Miigwetch – Nia:wen – Marsee – Kinanâskomitin – Nakurmiik – Thank you!
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is Seeking Board Members
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) is the largest urban Indigenous multi-service agency with a child protection mandate in Canada. We have been providing holistic, culture-based prevention and child and family well-being services to the Indigenous community in the Greater Toronto Area for over three decades.
Our circle includes over 350 staff who deliver over 140 programs across 20 locations serving 8,000 individuals annually. The agency was developed by community for community to address the intergenerational legacy of residential schooling and mainstream child welfare. NCFST works with communities, partner agencies, Indigenous governing bodies, and governments to develop and deliver services and promote safety, health, wellness and prosperity for Aboriginal children, youth, and families across Toronto and Peel regions.
It is a particularly interesting time to join the Board of Directors at NCFST. Indigenous people represent the youngest, fastest growing, and most diverse population in Canada. Ontario’s process of child welfare modernization, the federal transformation of Aboriginal child welfare through Bill C-92, and the push by all governments and major institutions to address systemic racism create a dynamic context for the growth and innovation ahead. We are also entering an exciting time in our agency as we are in the process of transitioning from a colonial model of leadership with an Executive Director, towards an Indigenous model of governance in the form of a leadership council. We are actively developing this new model and will begin implementation in early 2024.
For individuals who are invested in the wellbeing of Indigenous children in Toronto and Peel, this is an opportunity to get involved in an innovative and multifaceted organization that has accepted a sacred responsibility for the next generation.
We are currently seeking self-identified Indigenous individuals to sit on our Board of Directors. New members will stand to be voted in at our Annual General Meeting on June 29th, 2023, and are expected to serve a minimum of a one-year term, though we encourage Directors to serve for multiple years. Board members are required to attend monthly board meetings (minimum of nine (9) total in the year), and to join and participate in one of our board committees (active committees include Executive, Governance, Finance, and Indigenous Spirit Fund). Board members may be required to contribute to strategic planning and related governance activities.
For current board vacancies we are interested in candidates with one or more of the below qualifications and/or lived experiences:
- Five (5) years or more experience serving on non-profit boards.
- Strong connections to the Indigenous community in Toronto and/or Peel
- Knowledge of Indigenous culture, ceremony, and systems of traditional governance
- Demonstrated history of success with philanthropy and securing private donations
- CPA designation
- LLB designation
Prospective candidates must either live or work in the City of Toronto or Peel Region.
Qualified individuals are invited to submit a letter of interest along with a current resume to [email protected].
We will be accepting nominations until positions are filled.
NCFST Announces Family-Based Home for Human Trafficking Survivors and At-Risk Youth
April 17, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Toronto, ON] – Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is seeking a dedicated individual to serve as a full-time live-in community caregiver in our family-based home. The ideal candidate will have experience working with at-risk Indigenous youth and survivors of human trafficking. The community caregiver will be committed to providing a safe and supportive environment to young people.
This home will provide a safe and supportive environment for young persons who have experienced trauma and need wraparound support.
“A family-based home that provides culturally grounded wellness and healing is what our vulnerable youth need that are at risk of or survivors of human trafficking.” said Jennifer Turner, Director of Child and Family Wellbeing. “They must have access to security, nurturing and a culturally safe space to begin healing from the trauma they have experienced. NCFST is pleased to have the opportunity to develop this home for them.”
“Family based care is Indigenous care. We are honoured to provide culturally grounded, trauma-informed support to youth as they stabilize and heal from human trafficking, trauma, and the ongoing impacts of colonization in ways that are aligned with our culture and wellness practices.” said Melissa Hamonic, Director of Holistic Services at NCFST.”
In this home, Indigenous youth receive, wholistic support around the clock from a trained and dedicated live-in community caregiver. These caregivers maintain a safe and supportive home while acting as role models, assisting youth with life skill building as they work towards self-sufficiency and independence.
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto believes that family-based homes are a better option than other types of residential placements, such as group homes or institutions. Community homes provide a more intimate and personalized environment. With a low resident-to-caregiver ratio, caregivers and support workers can respond to the individual needs of youth – their emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual needs. Additionally, family-based homes are often located in residential neighborhoods, providing youth with a more natural and integrated living experience.
If you are interested in becoming a community caregiver, please visit our website for more information and to express your interest.
Email: [email protected]
About Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) is a multi-service urban Aboriginal agency providing holistic, culture-based programs and services for Aboriginal children and families. NCFST strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, healing, and self-determination for children and families in the Toronto urban Aboriginal community. We do this by implementing a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Aboriginal people, the extended family and the right to self-determination.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Freida Gladue
Manager of Communications
(437) 244-2816
