Post-majority support services for First Nations youth and young adults
This is an overview of the implementation of post-majority support services as part of the immediate measures starting April 1, 2022, towards a larger reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program.
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About post-majority support services
Post-majority support services assist youth aging out of care and young adults formerly in care across all provinces and in the Yukon. Services are available to them from the age of majority up to their 26th birthday, or to the age specified in the applicable provincial or Yukon legislation, whichever age is greater.
Starting April 1, 2022, First Nations authorized service providers can submit claims for the reimbursement of costs related to these services to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) through the existing FNCFS claims process until March 31, 2023, or until the fully reformed program is implemented.
ISC will develop a post-majority support services toolkit to provide awareness of the expanded post-majority support services in the FNCFS Program.
The toolkit will:
- be shared with service providers and First Nations
- provide youth and young adults with the information about:
- the program
- services
- additional resources that could further promote holistic positive outcomes
- be distributed through the FNCFS networks
- include a link to subscribe to a mailing list
Post-majority support services is an immediate measure which will support the evolution toward a fully reformed program. Post-majority support services will transition according to the reformed funding methodology, program service scope and mandate.
- Post-majority support services expenditures are paid under the category of care and maintenance costs, and includes distinct needs-based services specifically targeted to youth and young adults.
Objective
By focusing on the basic principles of the service and providing flexibility to service providers to design services while implementing post-majority support, services can be developed and delivered in a manner that:
- puts the needs of First Nations youth aging out of care and young adults formerly in care at the centre
- is more accessible and timely
- minimizes administrative burden
ISC will take a youth and young adult-centred and reconciliation-first approach in receiving and processing requests from FNCFS providers and First Nations for post-majority support services.
Post-majority support services aim to support the safety and well-being of First Nations youth and young adults in a way that is:
- culturally appropriate
- in their self-identified best interest
- provided on the basis of substantive equality
The goal of post-majority support services is to provide wrap-around support that meets the distinct needs of First Nations youth and young adults and promotes and supports holistic positive outcomes for thriving youth and young adults.
Supports could include help with:
- housing
- food
- employment and financial security
- mental health, wellness, and addiction supports
- healthy relationships
Principles
- The culturally-based safety and wellbeing of First Nations youth aging out of care and young adults formerly in care is paramount
- First Nations youth aging out of care and young adults formerly in care are to be holistically supported in (re)connecting meaningfully with their family, as well as, have access to supports that promote reunification and/or repatriation
- First Nations youth aging out of care and young adults formerly in care are to have:
- culturally appropriate services and supports that meet their needs and the standard of substantive equality
- stability and connection in areas of housing, employment, education, mental health, and wellbeing
- access to financial support
- the opportunity to remain connected and actively engaged in their communities, language, and culture
- holistic support with an approach that recognizes historical and contemporary disadvantage and contextual and cultural differences
- access to supports that promote safety, security, and stability to develop necessary life skills
Post-majority support services are youth-and-young-adult-centered and needs based:
- to support thriving First Nations youth and young adults during their transition to independence, their self-identified best interests, including their physical, emotional, cultural, relational, and psychological safety, security, and wellbeing are paramount considerations
- in supporting First Nations young adults formerly in care, unique supports may be required because of the time between when the young adult was in care and the point in time they are accessing post-majority support services
- factors to consider include the youth's or young adult's:
- First Nations context, customs and traditions, spiritual upbringing, identity and heritage
- needs and preferences
- safety and well-being
Eligibility
First Nation youth and young adults are eligible for post-majority support services if they meet the care status, residency and age criteria.
1. Care status
First Nations youth and young adults must be one of the following:
- currently in care and approaching the age of majority
- previously in care on the day they reached the age of majority
- left care prior to the age of majority by exercising a voluntary care provision
For the purposes of the FNCFS Program, a child or youth is considered "in care" when a child and family services provider or agency has arranged for them to live outside their home or family of origin, in either formal or informal care. This includes, but is not limited to:
- customary care
- extended society care
- guardianship
- custody
- alternate care
- kinship care
- adoption
2. Residency
First Nations youth and young adults must be at least one of the following:
- ordinarily resident on reserve or in the Yukon at the time of being taken into care
- currently ordinarily resident on reserve or in the Yukon
3. Age
First Nations youth and young adults must meet one of the following criteria, using whichever age threshold is greater:
- be under 26 years of age
- be under the age of eligibility for post majority services as set by the applicable provincial/Yukon legislation
How to access funding
Delegated and partially delegated agencies will access post-majority support service funding through existing processes:
- submission annually through existing mechanisms (where said mechanisms enable timely reimbursement at actual cost) or
- submission through claims on actuals for care and maintenance or intake and investigation
- partially delegated/mandated agencies can also bill for post-majority support services through the maintenance or intake and investigation funding at actuals streams
- through the use of planning models, which could include business plan models
First Nations, or First Nations-authorized service providers can access post-majority support services funding through:
- submission of request on actuals, or
- through use of planning models, which could include business plan models
Expansion of post-majority support services providers in the FNCFS Program signifies:
- First Nations and First Nations-authorized service providers will now be able to deliver post-majority support services for First Nations youth and young adults under the FNCFS Program
- Greater scope for providers and greater access to services for youth
- More control for First Nations to develop and deliver community-led, needs based programming
- Shift toward a more holistic service delivery model, empowering First Nations to address gaps in service that had been created by colonial child welfare systems
Funded costs
The FNCFS Program Terms and Conditions include a list of eligible expenditures under the care and maintenance funding stream that support the delivery of post-majority support services.
Eligible activities under post-majority support services are based on needs of the youth or young adult. The below examples are informed by Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care and Children Back, Land Back.
Eligible activities could include assistance so young people have:
access to financial support
- Needs-based financial support (budgeting, credit, money management)
- Equitable funding to meet basic needs and access clothing and hygiene items
- Livable basic income based on local realities and inflation
- Financial literacy programs and access to financial advisors
- Financial planning
- Financial costs and support to acquire various forms of identification (birth certificate, government ID, passports)
- Financial cost and support for driver's permit and driver's education
access to learning and educational opportunities
- Education mentorship and support
- Assistance to navigate education systems and options
- Access to resources and support related to education, rights
- Education-related costs
- Professional development and skills training, and/or career path planning
- Specialized supports such as tutoring, career counselling
- Cultural learning, regalia, resources, and opportunities
- Technology required for education
- Financial support for training and certifications such as, first aid, food safe, childcare
access to safe, stable, and comfortable housing
- Needs-based financial support
- Rent and rent subsidies
- Interim housing options during transition of youth to independence
- Housing stability during transition to adulthood
- Supports in viewing housing, guidance, transportation
- Moving costs and support
- Housing-related skills training
- Basic household necessities
- Basic household utilities, including internet connectivity and clean water
- Home repairs
- Life and home skills, including in home supports, such as cooking, housekeeping, planning, life coaching
- Clothing including clothing required for employment
- Personal care and hygiene including menstrual supplies
support to be physically, mentally and socially well
- Non-insured medical, dental and allied health services prescribed by relevant professional
- Sexual and gender identity health supports, such as education related to sexually transmitted diseases, sexual health
- Recreation and sport
- Funding to ensure consistent access to holistic health services, transportation to and from, support navigating health systems
- Counselling
- Healthy relationships counselling and support concerning personal safety, gang involvement, domestic violence, healthy boundaries, addictions
- Trauma informed mental health and addictions support options
- Access to intensive treatment
- Support for family violence and/or domestic violence
Post-Majority Support Services Toolkit
Communication resource to inform First Nations youth and young adults who are or have been in care, and First Nations and FNCFS Providers, of the tools and supports available to them when navigating and accessing post-majority support services.
To request a copy, please email: sefpn-fncfs@sac-isc.gc.ca
Stacking provision
The practice of "stacking" generally refers to the request of funding from one or multiple sources for the same purpose or activity, programs often stipulate rules or restrictions around this practice.
It is important to note that the compensation arising from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal or the class actions is not considered "stacking," for post-majority care recipients (that is to say, the compensation is not considered government funding of a program, service or support).