B.C. First Nation secures federal funding for plan to keep children out of foster care

Liz McArthur - CBC News

The Huu-ay-aht First Nation of Canada "has secured federal funding to help keep their children out of foster care," according to this article from CBC News. "The money will be spent over the next five years to implement 30 recommendations from a social services report completed last year." The funding will support family strengthening programs, pregnancy and "baby-welcoming" programs, outreach, an elders council, and anti-violence education. 

"In March," says the article, "the Huu-ay-aht declared a public health emergency over the number of their children in foster care. At the time over 20 per cent of Huu-ay-aht children were in care, most in non-Indigenous homes." The Huu-ay-aht began funding this programming  on their own last year and advocated for additional contributions from the federal and provincial governments.