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When kids come into care
Understanding the options to protect and support your children
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Tikinagan investigates all reports that a child may be in need of protection
Tikinagan is a part of your community. We are here to help you, not judge you. Working closely with your First Nation Representative, we work together to keep our children connected to the family, community, and culture.
Supervision Agreement/Anihnih-shib
If a child can be protected within the family, the First Nation makes a First Nation Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin Declaration (Mi hii kun), which together with a Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin Supervision Agreement (Anihnih-shib). This sets out terms and conditions to guide the family, with the goal of permitting the child to remain in the home while ensuring that the child is protected.
Pure Customary Care/Migizi
When a child cannot be protected within their own family, the First Nation will make every effort to locate an extended family member or other member of the First Nation who will be able to care for the child under a traditional, pure customary care agreement. This can be a short-term, long-term or permanent agreement (Migizi).
Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin Care Agreement
When a child cannot be protected within their own family or through a Migizi Agreement, Tikinagan or the First Nation may remove the child from the home and the First Nation may declare the child to be in Tikinagan care by enacting a Mi hii kun.
The child is then in the care of the agency under the authority of the First Nation rather than under provincial court authority. The First Nation may also make a Safe Home Declaration placing the child in a Community Safe Home, pending the completion of a home study.
Tikinagan will work with the First Nation and family as a part of the planning process.
Making decisions
When the Worker has completed the investigation, Tikinagan has several options, such as: closing the file to Tikinagan services or deferring services to your local Band Representative Program for continued supports. The Worker might call a meeting with you to make decisions about what’s best for your child. The meeting could include you, your child, your family, other employees at Tikinagan, and a representative of your First Nation leadership. We will talk to you about decisions and let you know what’s happening in person or over the phone, or you can ask for a letter.
The Answer Lies Within the Community
We want to keep our children at home, even when they can’t be with their parents. That is why Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin works to keep children in their home communities. We do this by using safety plans and supervision agreements for children to be placed with extended family or in foster homes located in the child’s community or a nearby community. By means of a Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin Care Agreement, our children are placed where they can be safe close to home while their parents are regaining their stability. There is no court involvement in the Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin model.
What happens when Tikinagan visits my home? Click here to learn more.