Pat Thomas, Social Worker, Guardianship      Jennifer Jenkins, Social Worker, Guardianship

                                                                                                        Rhonda, Gumow, Social Worker,Guardianship       Pam Jack, Social Worker, Guardianship

Guardianship of Children and Youth in Care Services

Some children need on-going care and protection outside their parental home. Provincial Family Court Continuing Care and Temporary Care Orders transfer guardianship from the parents. Kw'umut Lelum is currently the legal guardian for over 60 children. These children are not able to return to the parental home due to a Family Court finding the child in need of protection.

Although the parents rights and responsibilities are transferred to Kw'umut Lelum, this does not mean the child cannot maintain a relationship with his or her family. kwumut Lelum social workers make arrangements for appropriate contact between parent(s) and child, with the child's best interests in mind.

The Family Group Conferencing Program is all about making greater connections to family and how family members may be invilved in meeting the needs of children and youth. At times, family members may agree to meet some of the needs of children and youth too whom they are related. At other times, plans are made with the extended family members allowing a child or youth who is in care, to permanently return back to the family. Either way, children or youth benefit by the involvement of their respective families and comminuty members by participating in Family Group Conferencing.

Roots Are Forever Program

                                                                                                                   Joyce White, Social Worker, Roots Program

In addition, the "Roots Are Forever Program," helps children and youth in care to rediscover their families and community "roots." To find their way back to their roots, children and youth who are in care, are referred by their social worker to the Roots program. With careful guidance and planning, the ultimate goal is to see children and youth take pride in knowing their families and communities.

Our social workers know they cannot work in isolation if they are to achieve permanent and lasting relationships between children in care and their families and communities. We invite the communities to participate in case planning for children who are in care, to help develop lasting connections that meet the child's needs.

When Kw'umut Lelum achieves full delegation of autority, we will inherit responsibility to care for children under Temporary Care Orders, Similiar to a Continuing Care Order, a Family Court may order a child who needs protection to be placed in care of the agency for a short period of time, ranging from three months up to possibly two years.

In order to safely return the child home, greater effort and work must be performed not only by Kwumut Lelum, but by the child's parent(s), the extended family and the community. The parents must be supported to help them eliminate any protection issue. The challenge is for Kw'umut Lelum, the parent(s), the extended family and the community to work together to eliminate the protection concern so the child can return home.

While acting as the legal parent or guardian for children-in-care, Kw'umut Lelum seeks to honor and respect children in ways that they may appreciate and take comfort in. One example is a Christmas Party which allows for participation by children's current caregivers and family. Kw'umut Lelum also recognizes the need to support youth in preparing for adulthood and has created a successful Youth Life Skills program for youth-in-care. as well as a Coast Salish Youth Conference. These activities, and other programs that are described on the following pages, are a reflection of Kw'umut Lelum's commitment to strengthen the families of the nine nations.