GUELPH – Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County (FCSGWC) has launched a “Village Finding Project.”
The goal is to connect Black and Indigenous children in crisis with safe adults in their communities, and the project is supported by a $95,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant.
It’s inspired by the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child,” combined with the “knowledge that child welfare must do better for Indigenous and Black families,” said FCSGWC director of service Erin Harvey.
Child welfare systems have “historically dismissed and undermined” Black and Indigenous families, she said – “our go-to has been removal, and we know how that goes.”
FCSGWC officials hope the program will reduce the number of “more intrusive measures often taken by our agency.”
Harvey said colonization weakened Indigenous communities’ strong networks of parenting support, leading to the over-representation of Indigenous children in government care.
Community leader Dana Nuttley, who helped Harvey introduce the initiative, said, “Village Finding is about getting intentional – making sure children have at least one safe and predictable relationship in their life,” and to “make sure those people understand how important their role is for the child.”
The program is based in three Guelph neighbourhoods: Brant Avenue, Two Rivers, and Onward Willow. It is for Black and Indigenous kids for whom FCSGWC hasn’t been “able to find naturally occurring support networks,” Harvey said.
Guelph MPP and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner attended the Village Finding launch virtually and noted OTF “funding is so vital” and will help to “break down systemic barriers.”
Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie noted the city is known for spearheading initiatives, implying other areas may follow suit on this project.
