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ALIGN Well-Being in Child and Family Services Initiative

 December 10, 2024

The way we define and understand child and youth well-being matters.

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ALIGN's Indigenous Cultural Understanding Framework (ICUF)

 December 10, 2024

A Digital Interactive Journey to increase cultural understanding within Alberta agencies so that all Indigenous children living in Alberta can live in dignity and respect, supported by people with a deeper understanding of Indigenous worldviews, history and current reality.

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Well-Being CoP Meeting December 17, 2024 Learn More!

 December 10, 2024

The CoP meets monthly, every third Tuesday and is an informal community of like-minded practitioners and evaluators in the child and family serving sector who are interested in growing their organization's impact on child and youth well-being.

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Online Indigenous Advent Calendar

 December 10, 2024

Updated annually, this online advent calendar is great fun for kids and anyone wanting to learn more about First Nations, Metis or Inuit culture

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Caring for Foster Kids During the Holidays: Bringing Joy and Stability to Their Lives

 December 10, 2024

As a caregiver, fostering a sense of joy, comfort, and security during the holidays can make a world of difference.

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This December, Be Part of a Provincial Story of Well-Being Impact! (Well-Being Eblast Nov 2024)

 December 4, 2024

This December, we invite you to share your organization’s work of supporting Well-Being and create a Provincial Story of Impact with the ALIGN Well-Being Impact Portal and Dashboard. .

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Alberta Budget Consultations 2025 - Have Your Say!

 December 3, 2024

Albertans’ perspectives and those organizations that serve Albertans' are an important part of the budget process as the government sets financial priorities. Share what matters to you!

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ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers November 2024

 November 28, 2024

CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.

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Inuit-Specific Child Welfare Data Discussion Paper Nov. 2024

 November 26, 2024

An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families has created national standards, the commitment to resources and the ability to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services by Inuit Treaty Organizations. It has the potential to change outcomes for Inuit children and families across the country.

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Celebrating Success at the "Our Children, Our Way" Conference

 November 23, 2024

We were honored to present at the Our Children, Our Way conference this year, hosted by the incredible Mary Teegee and her team. Mary, a recent presenter at ALIGN’s own Walking the Children Home event, graciously invited us to share our work, and we were thrilled to connect with so many passionate professionals and community members dedicated to Indigenous child and family well-being.

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ALIGN’s Ongoing Engagement Executive Director’s Update: Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly

 November 8, 2024

We are pleased to share that ALIGN recently attended the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program, held from October 16-18, 2024, on Treaty 7 Territory, in Calgary, Alberta.

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS)
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MCHB: Centering Stories in an Ecological Framework (ALIGN's Well-Being Eblast Oct. 2024)

 October 24, 2024

This month we feature Hannah Goa’s experience of piloting the toolkit at the Multicultural Health Broker Cooperative (MCHB) in Edmonton. Hannah has been supporting the Intercultural FRN work for the past 4 years and is responsible for reporting to funders. She became interested in joining the toolkit pilot group to inspire her work on their Evaluation Framework that uniquely reflects the values and principles of cultural brokering.

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ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers October 2024

 October 23, 2024

CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.

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Updated Statistics Overrepresentation of Indigenous Children in Care (Indigenous Watchdog)

 October 13, 2024

The number one issue in Child Welfare is the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in care. The majority of Indigenous children-in-care are First Nations (69.1%)

Woman looking at a laptop screen
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Updated Reformed Approach to First Nations Child and Family Services

 September 30, 2024

The Caring Society's positions on the long-term reform of the First Nations Child & Family Services Program to stop the discrimination against First Nations children, youth, and families, and prevent it from happening again

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Alberta.ca Child Intervention Recommendations Data Tool

This Data Tool is updated twice a year, with progress status results as of March and September.

Open laptop with data on the screen
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Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society: Growing Organizational Well-Being (ALIGN’s Well-Being eBlast Sept 2024)

 September 15, 2024

This month we feature Jill Robinson's experiencing of piloting the toolkit with managers using components of the tool-kit to better understand how to promote staff well-being.

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ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers September 2024

 September 15, 2024

CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.

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Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood for Youth in Care Key Supports Checklist (CWLC)

 September 12, 2024

This checklist can help organizations who want to use the Equitable Standards to guide local advocacy efforts and supports for youth in and from care.

A red check mark over the word check
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Report: Staying Put & Reducing the Risk of Homelessness (Centre for Homelessness Impact)

 August 20, 2024

Learn how this approach reduces the risk of homelessness in care leavers.

Mother or adult caregiver with her arm around a teen girl, they are both smiling
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ALIGN Introduction to Child Intervention In Alberta Online Self Study Guide

 August 20, 2024

This self-paces online self-study guide is an orientation for those new to the work with children and families in Alberta.

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WJS: Using Well-Being Domains to Share Stories & Build Community (ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast August 2024)

 August 15, 2024

This month we feature Aaron Hachkowski’s experience of piloting the toolkit at WJS. Aaron is a Program Director and oversees sites across Alberta and Ontario. He found that gathering stories for each of the toolkit’s seven well-being domains was a way to support learning and community between very diverse sites

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Loving Our Children: Finding What Works for First Nations Families (FNCFS)

 August 1, 2024

Canada Research Chair in First Nations Child and Family Services Implementation 2023-2030

Indigenouselder and young boy holding hands in a field of high grass at sunset. They are both wearing regalia.
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ALIGN Journal for Services to Children and Families 2024

 July 25, 2024

The ALIGN Journal for Services to Children and Families (the Journal) is intended to be a forum for significant, critical and serious inquiry related to the work of the agencies – children, youth, families, organizations, leadership and wellness. ALIGN Journals support strengthening member agencies and promoting attitudes, practices and conditions that contribute to quality services for children and families

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Updates - Compensation and Agreement-in-Principle for long-term reform of FNCFS and Jordan's Principle

Update on the final settlement agreement on compensation, the agreement-in-principle on long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and on a long-term approach for Jordan's Principle, and the implementation of immediate measures

Two hands shaking in a legal office
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Rainbow Literacy: Stories Sharing Each Client's Journey (ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast July 2024)

 July 15, 2024

This month we feature Barbare Moore Coffey's experience of piloting the toolkit at a small FRN in rural southern Alberta. Barbara is the Executive Director of Rainbow Literacy and found in the toolkit a way to make storytelling fundamental to learning and understanding impact.

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Caregiver Resources for Natural Disasters and Emergencies

 July 9, 2024

Emergencies and disasters can impact individual, family and community well-being. Children’s reactions to disasters and their aftermath are strongly influenced by how their parents, grandparents, families, teachers, and other caregivers cope during and after the events

Emergency worker fireman caring small toddler
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ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast McMan South: Understanding Staff Well-Being and Supervision

 June 15, 2024

This month we feature Brittany Anderson's experience of piloting the tookit at McMan South. Brittany is a Therapeutic Caregiving Specialist, and she started using the toolkit to better understand staff well-being and supervision.

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Foster Care and the Holidays (Foster Focus Magazine)

 June 12, 2024

Holidays can be a stark reminder to these children that they are not with their own family. It is during the holidays when families are supposed to be together, yet these children in care are not. They are not with their families, and they may not know when they will see them next.

Sad toddler snuggled on the lap of a mom or caregiver
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Online Course for Foster/Kinship Caregivers: Giving and Receiving Healing

 June 12, 2024

Foster parents and other caregivers give from the bottom of their hearts. Often this isn't enough. Complex trauma changes the child’s brain and nervous system (and thus all development). These kids often don't respond well to typical parenting. Learn more about giving and receiving healing and caregiver wellness.

Mother or caregiver hugging young girl
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Free Online Certificate Program Evaluation for Youth Wellbeing

 June 11, 2024

A free online certificate course about the main concepts, approaches and practices relevant to conducting evaluation of youth sector programs and initiatives.

A young professional lady holding a certificate standing amongst co-workers in an office
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Book - Walking Together The Future of Indigenous Child Welfare on the Prairies

 June 11, 2024

Walking Together is the seventh title in the Voices of the Prairies series. Developed by the Prairie Child Welfare Consortium, this edited collection brings together accomplished Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars from the prairie provinces

A group of kids walking together outside with the trees and sunshine. They are about 6 years old and all wearing back packs
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Self-Care for Caregivers

 June 11, 2024

This Self-Care Starter Kit explains why it’s important to take time to look after yourself, and how you can build a self-care plan to improve your quality of life.

A smiling lady who is sitting at a desk infront of her laptop
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How to Get Started with Prevention Services for Child Welfare (FNCS)

 June 6, 2024

An informative and helpful infographic on how to get started with prevention services for child welfare from First Nations Child & Family Caring Society

A desk with pens and a calculator and white sheet of paper with the words Start Here large and bold
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Bent Arrow’s Experiences with an Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families

 June 5, 2024

Bent Arrow partnered with PolicyWise on a wisdom-seeking journey. The purpose was to learn, document, and share Bent Arrow’s experiences with the implementation of An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Children, Youth and Families.

sage bundle with colored feathers and smoke drifting up
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Building Stronger Child Welfare Systems Together (“Reconciliation Talks” Blog)

 June 1, 2024

As non-Indigenous agencies, our role is to support and collaborate with Indigenous communities, acknowledging their expertise and authority in child welfare matters.

Two feathers tied together with a cord
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