During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the definition of caseload was further refined through input of the CFS Quality Committee, which included regional, Departmental and NTHSSA Headquarters staff. The caseload methodology has been adjusted to take into consideration the cases held by Foster Care and Adoption Workers. Using this refined methodology, caseload was measured three times (May and October 2019; and May 2020) to determine if there were fluctuations, trends and anomalies within community and regional caseloads in comparison with previous measures of caseload.

A range of Indigenous service models are being examined to inform alternative community care for children and youth.  The goal is to have more children remain in their home communities, and be connected with their culture, community members and family. This work along with community engagement will inform how to best update the foster care standards. In June 2020, funding was provided to support community engagement to develop customary care models. With the federal government’s An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families coming into force on January 1st, 2020, the Department of Health and Social Services is working with the Departments of Justice and Executive and Indigenous Affairs to develop standards to support the implementation of this Act in the NWT. As such, any revisions to existing NWT CFS standards must align with the work on the Federal Act. Therefore, the work to update the Foster Care standards will be put on hold until community engagement is completed, and the standards related to the Federal Act are completed.

With the federal government’s An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families coming into force on January 1st, 2020, the Department of Health and Social Services is working with the Departments of Justice and Executive and Indigenous Affairs to develop standards to support the implementation of this Act in the NWT. As such, any revisions to existing NWT CFS standards must align with the work on the Federal Act. Therefore, the work to update the Plan of Care Agreement standards will be put on hold until the standards related to the Federal Act are completed.

Consistent monthly teleconferences were initiated in July 2018. During the containment phase of the pandemic, we introduced weekly “all staff” meetings as a means of keeping staff engaged and informed of key practice changes. For phase 2 of the pandemic, we have moved the meetings to every three weeks to ensure staff have consistent messaging and an opportunity to provide feedback.

The OOT database was restructured in August 2018 to track and manage IPPAs.  All IPPAs were reviewed by October 2018. The work of ensuring the IPPAs are up-to-date is ongoing.

A quarterly quality review process was implemented in July 2019. Completion of regular quality reviews were put on hold due to the COVID-19 situation. The immediate attention for staff was to adjust the delivery of child and family services in compliance with public health orders, and to maximize resources to provide increased contact and support to children, youth and families. The system response was to maintain regular contact with children, youth and families - in some instances; we were able to surpass the minimum standard. In collaboration with the Foster Family Coalition, we also developed child and teen COVID-19 booklets to support their understanding and coping during the pandemic. We have completed focused quality checks related to case planning for youth aging out of services.

As of October 2020, measuring compliance on key case planning and permanency planning requirements is back on track.. 

Reviews were initiated in October 2018. This action will continue on a quarterly basis. The completion of foster care quality reviews were put on hold due to the COVID-19 situation. The immediate attention for staff was to adjust the delivery of child and family services in compliance with public health orders; and to increase contact and support to foster caregivers and the children residing in these homes. As of October 2020, measuring compliance on key foster care requirements is back on track.

To ensure the quality of foster care services and to respond to potential gaps, the Foster Family Coalition participated in the COVID-19 response for Child and Family Services.

The human resources recruitment and retention plan was completed in May 2019. Implementation is underway. A staff recruitment model is being used where we can fill multiple Community Social Services Workers positions at the same time across the NWT. This has resulted in more streamlined and efficient hiring of community social services workers. 

Between October 2018 and September 2020, the vacancy rate for the Child and Family Services system has decreased from 25% to 16.8%. The most recent vacancy rate includes the 20 new positions that were added to the Child and Family Services in June 2020. We are in the process of filling these positions.

Job descriptions and salaries for some key positions have been standardized across the NWT to support the consistent delivery of services. In February and May 2020, a survey was sent to all Child and Family Services Staff. Results from this survey will be used to create strategies to improve staff support, satisfaction and wellness. The NTHSSA is also conducting a workplace assessment for Child and Family Services to improve retention of staff.

The training leads have taken on the role of ‘expert’ SDM® trainer and are delivering all SDM® training components within the Child Protection Worker Statutory Core Training and have provided regional refresher training on SDM®.

Between February and May 2019, refresher trainings were delivered on current SDM® Assessment Tools for Managers and Supervisors, and some frontline staff. Refresher webinars on specific SDM® Assessment Tools were delivered in September and November 2019.

The monitoring plan was finalized in March 2019.

The Department will be leveraging indicators developed the Pan-Northern Data Project.  The Territorial Governments are leading the country in joint reporting on Child and Family Services through the Pan-Northern Data Project. The Pan-Northern Project is a five-year project (February 2018 to March 2023) that involves the Public Health Agency of Canada, Government of Yukon, Government of Northwest Territories, and Government of Nunavut. The purpose of the project is to collaboratively develop relevant and meaningful child and family services indicators derived from administrative data.

In collaboration with the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT, a foster care recruitment campaign was launched with a video, posters, and an all NWT mail out (March – April 2019). In October 2019, the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority completed a Foster Care Recruitment and Retention Strategy. The strategy was informed by a foster care survey that was sent to all foster caregivers throughout the NWT.

The Foster Family Coalition of the NWT is supporting the recruitment of foster caregivers during the COVID-19 situation through their social media platforms.

Letters were sent to key stakeholders to inform them about key service changes and enhancements during the COVID-19 situation. This letter also asked them to look out for safety concerns in their communities, and to report any suspected child maltreatment and neglect to their local CFS office. In June 2020, we launched social media advertisement related to reporting suspected child maltreatment and neglect. The GNWT COVID-19 website is being used to communicate any service changes and enhancements to Child and Family Services.

The NTHSSA is actively reviewing the regional and territorial barriers and solutions in complying with standards related to interviews and investigations.

To ensure the quality of services and to mitigate risks to children and families, the Child and Family Services system launched a specific working group to inform our response to COVID-19. This working group includes representation from all three authorities, and the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. Other working groups have been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

The Child and Family Services system launched a specific working group to inform our response to COVID-19. This working group includes representation from all three authorities, and the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. The Foster Family Coalition ensures that the voice of foster caregivers is included in the GNWT response to the COVID-19 situation.

The review process was finalized on February 8, 2019.

The NTHSSA has updated the foster care and adoption worker job descriptions to ensure consistency of program delivery across the NWT. There are dedicated positions in all regions of the NWT.

The anonymous Suggestion Box was initiated in September 2018. The Suggestion Box continues to be monitored and responded to.

There are specific strategies in the human resources recruitment and retention plan aimed at increasing the Northern Child and Family Services workforce. For example, position in the Child and Family Services system are being re-leveled to ensure that there are several entry points into working for CFS, with a variety of educational and experience requirements assigned accordingly.

In efforts to ensure strategic hiring of local staff, we have limited most family preservation competitions to candidates from a specific region or community. 

The Department entered into a renewed contract in October 2018, which includes the development and implementation of the remaining SDM® Assessment Tools. Work is underway to customize the tools for the NWT.

In April 2019 and June 2020, a total investment of $6.97 million was approved to add 41 new positions to support Child and Family Services. The June 2020 investment also includes increased funding to support training, and funding to implement youth in care network(s) in the NWT.

Between October and December 2019, information was gathered from Assistant Directors to identify their individual training needs. This will continue on an ongoing basis and will inform the training framework.

In April 2019, a directive was sent to all staff to clarify the requirement of sending contact information of foster caregivers to the FFC-NWT. The Foster Home Agreement includes a section for approving the provision of foster caregiver contact information to the FFC-NWT. With consent, contact information of foster caregivers is being provided regularly to the FFC-NWT. The list of foster caregivers was shared with FFC-NWT in July and November 2019.  Reporting will be ongoing to the FFC-NWT.

In March 2020, we offered training to a number of foster caregivers and foster care staff from across the NWT on how to support children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked with the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT to complete an outreach with the foster caregivers to understand and respond to their needs. During the COVID-19 situation, support is being provided foster caregivers in a number of ways. For example, in partnership with the Foster Family Coalition, we have established respite services for foster caregivers to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foster Family Coalition has also launched a virtual support group for NWT foster caregivers, which is held twice a week.

Managers and Supervisors, and some other CFS Staff participated in the HSS system cultural competency pilot training (January 2019).

As part of the enhanced Child and Protection Worker Statutory Core Training,  a full day of on-the-land learning experiences was delivered in partnership with the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation (June 2019).

Supported is provided to the Assistant Directors through the Statutory Director’s Forum and on an as-needed basis.

Incoming and current Assistant Directors participated in a two day specialized training event in November 2018. The Child Protection Worker Statutory Core Training was also offered to all Assistant Directors.

The Assistant Directors have consistently met with the Statutory Director and Deputy Directors since May 2018.

The review was completed in April 2019.

The permanency and cultural planning standard, tool and form were implemented in March 2019.

We are working with the Division of Policy, Legislation and Communication along with the Departments of Justice and Executive and Indigenous Affairs to draft standards that will guide the field related to the Federal Act. The standards are anticipated to be completed in December 2020.

The documentation standards were implemented in October 2020.