Community Engagement Sessions

As part of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate’s Review of the New Brunswick First Nations child welfare system, we will be co-hosting with individual First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies several Community Engagement Sessions on First Nations child welfare. Bernard Richard, the Child and Youth Advocate, will attend each session.

Sessions schedule: 

September 1	Burnt Church
September 2	Kingsclear
September 3	Tobique and Madawaska
September 14 in Bouctouche	Four Directions (Fort Folly, Indian Island, Pabineau and Bouctouche)
September 24	Elsipogtog
September 28	St. Mary’s
October 5	Oromocto
October 19	Eel River Bar
October 8 in Eel Ground	Eel Ground and Metepenagiag
October 28	Metepenagiag

In each of these communities we will be coordinating a day-long series of facilitated individual dialogue sessions targeting specific segments of First Nations society. We will engage community members to share their experiences and voice their concerns regarding child welfare. 

The goals of these community sessions are far reaching.  In addition to informing the Advocate of concerns from various stakeholders, the Community Engagement Sessions seek to build leadership and ownership for child welfare within First Nations communities and to engage surrounding communities in being part of the solution. Finally, the participation of Advisory Committee members is welcome and encouraged as a means of furthering local participation and ensuring that all voices and viewpoints are heard and discussed.  Summaries of the feedback and suggestions made will be posted to the project website and opened up for further public comment and debate.