Touchstones of Hope in Northern BC

In October 2008, leaders in Aboriginal child welfare including Elders, youth, traditional knowledge holders, First Nations and non-Aboriginal child welfare providers came together in Prince Rupert to begin exploring an alternative vision of child welfare using the Touchstones process. The gathering began with participants working together to develop a “dream” of what safe and proud Aboriginal children, youth and families in Northern BC would look like at a grass roots level.

Following the Prince Rupert gathering, First Nations communities and the Ministry for Child and Family Development (MCFD) launched a major initiative to re-develop child welfare services in Northern BC based on the Touchstones of Hope principles. This historic effort involves the provincial government, six First Nations child and Family service agencies and First Nations working together to restructure child welfare using the Touchstones principles on a broad scale.

An Advisory committee composed of First Nations and the MCFD is guiding the work of the Touchstones of Hope in Northern BC and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society is assisting by providing support throughout the process. The hope is that all parties involved can work toward long term visions to ensure best practices in child welfare. As the project continues, communities will have resources and training so that they are able to sustain the principles and process of reconciliation beyond funding initiatives.

A key difference with the Touchstones approach is that it is community driven. Community members are provided with the best research knowledge on Aboriginal child welfare and are actively engaged in developing community-based child safety models that reflect their culture, contexts and goals for their children.

The following initiatives form the northern BC Touchstones:

Launch of the Northern BC Touchstones of Hope website

This website provides a central information hub on the implementation of the Touchstones of Hope movement in Northern BC. The URL is www.northernbctouchstones.ca.

Quarterly Touchstones Newsletter

To keep you up to date on the Reconciliation in child welfare: Touchstones of Hope movement in Northern BC

Train the trainer sessions

Two of these sessions occurred in order to train individuals from the communities to facilitate Touchstones gatherings and how to guide participants through the Pathways for Alternative Tomorrows of Hope (PATH)

Touchstones Provincial Forum

A joint initiative between First Nation child and family service agencies in BC and the Ministry for Child and Family Development, the Touchstones Provincial Forum brought together First Nations and non-Aboriginal leaders, Elders and youth, service agencies and government employees to engage with the Touchstones of Hope principles and process for reconciliation in child welfare. Held in Victoria, BC, the forum offered an opportunity for those present to consider if the Touchstones process would be useful in their community.

Touchstones Community Sessions

Trained Touchstones facilitators work with their community members, First Nations child welfare providers and MCFD to actively interpret the Touchstones of Hope principles to shape the development and implementation of their vision for child and family safety and well being. At the end of the session, participants come away with a plan to build upon the existing strengths and to create new initiatives in order to better life for children and families in their areas.

Touchstones Research

Dr. Michael Saini from the University of Toronto created a recording format utilizing a new method of research which works on a participatory basis. The research will be done by all who participate in the community sessions, including participants, facilitators and speakers. The goal of this research is to identify themes throughout the sessions to inform policy and service change and to gauge the effectiveness of the Touchstones in communities and in child welfare practices.

The Touchstones of Hope Tool Kit

The work of Northern BC Touchstones inspired the creation of the 2011 Touchstones of Hope Tool Kit. The Tool Kit is designed to guide communities in beginning their own Touchstones reconciliation process, joining the larger movement towards reconciliation in child welfare.

The Touchstones of Hope Tool Kit is divided into four interactive components: Starting a Reconciliation Journey, Traveling the River, Grassroots Reconciliation and Learnings. Each section includes an introduction, templates and detailed explanation of what and who is needed to advance the Touchstones of Hope philosophy.

Should you wish to learn more about the Touchstones of Hope Tool Kit please contact Andrea Auger, CAB/Touchstones Coordinator, at (613) 230-5885 ext. 223 or aauger@fncaringsociety.com.