Child Safety

 

The Child Safety team provides intake, assessment/investigation, and family services, as well as prevention supports.

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Our Child Safety team also works closely with our Le’lumilh and Cultural Permanency teams to secure Out of Care services for children. Working with the family, we are able to prevent a child from coming in to care by finding safety with an extended family member.

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When there are concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, Kw’umut Lelum child safety social workers will first and foremost ensure the child is safe from harm and neglect. Our delegated social workers are here to help our families and children.  When there are any concerns around the safety or wellbeing of a child, the first step we take is called the intake process.

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Some concerns we receive from parents, children, families or community members might include possible abuse or neglect; parents who, for reasons of health, mental health, or intellectual capacity are unable to care for their children; youth who are in conflict with their parents or caretakers; children or youth who may be a danger to themselves or others; and youth whose special care needs are beyond the resources of their families.

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The social worker will speak to the person with the concern and assess what steps need to be taken – whether advice and information sharing, referral to community resources and supports, referrals to Kw’umut Lelum supports, or the need for further investigation by a child safety social worker.

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We work together with our Nations, families, schools and other agencies to figure out a plan that supports the parents and caregivers while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the child.  Traditional Family Circle Planning is used to ensure that all individuals and/or family members are included when issues of concern arise for either a child in care or as part of a child safety intervention.  

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A collaborative planning and decision-making approach is used to develop a safety plan for the child that honours each child’s culture and utilizes their Indigenous community.

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This approach can either be in the form of a Family Group Conference or a Traditional Decision-Making Process with the child’s immediate family, extended family and other community members with ties to the family.

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