Evaluation of the Implementation of the Enhanced Prevention Focused Approach in Quebec and Prince Edward Island for the First Nations Child and Family Services Program - Follow-up Report Status Update as of December 31, 2014

1a. Headquarters will develop an annex to the AANDC Social Development Performance Measurement (PM) Strategy at the sub-program level (2.2.4) for Child and Family Services. This annex will clearly articulate details, expectations, expected results and indicators associated with the sub-program's activities, including the EPFA.

1b. Headquarters will return to the EPMRC in April 2014 to seek approval for the sub-program PM Strategy Annex (to be appended to an amended version of the program's PM Strategy) and to table its annual update on the Social Development PM Strategy.

Status: Completed - Closed

Update As of 30/06/2014

1. SPPB completed a condensed version of the 2011 Social Development Performance Measurement Strategy, which includes program-specific annexes. Annex E is specific to the FNCFS sub-program, and provides information on early results, secondary data sources and updates to indicators, which includes EPFA.
2. SPPB provided its annual update on the 2011 Social Development Performance Measurement Strategy to the Evaluation Performance Measurement and Review Committee April 25, 2014. The condensed version of the 2011 Social Development Performance Measurement Strategy was presented and approved. This product will be updated annually and posted to the internet in August 2014.

AES: Recommend to close- Fully implemented. Closed.

2. Regional staff and Headquarters improve the monitoring and reporting of the EPFA by:

1. providing guidance and monitoring of the agencies' implementation of a results-based management approach that integrates planning, resources, activities and performance measurements to improve decision making, transparency, and accountability.
2. ensuring that prevention activities are reported based on the expected outcomes for the EPFA, and that expenditures on prevention activities are tracked and reported.

1. Recognizing all partners' respective roles and responsibilities, the Department will articulate its views in an accountability framework to clarify roles and responsibilities of tripartite partners including expectations for AANDC funding recipients. As well, AANDC Program officials will continue to work with provincial counterparts on issues of accountability, compliance, oversight and monitoring of on reserve FNCFS agencies as provinces are primarily responsible for the delivery of child and family services regardless of residency.
2. AANDC will ensure that all expected outcomes for EPFA are reported and expenditures tracked following the launch of Phase 2 of the CFS IMS April 1 2014. Indicators will be analyzed per region, and per agency. This will provide a detailed analysis of investments provided under EPFA and resulting outcomes.

Status: Request to close

Update/Rationale:

As of 31/12/2014:
Quebec: HQ and region continue to work together to understand and analyze the impacts of Bill 24, including participating in tripartite working meetings (December 11, 2014) to address specific issues and identify next steps to ensure ongoing progress.

2a. Temporary and permanent regional human resources were identified and started focussed work on analysing the financial impacts and other potential impacts of Bill 24.

Further discussions took place about rolling out compliance reviews in 2015-2016 using nationally consistent FNCFS tools and criteria.

2b. The development phase of the FNCFS Information Management System is completed. The maintenance phase is now providing data as planned. Program requests this portion of the recommendation be closed.

PEI: 2a and 2b: Program requests that the portion of these recommendations that relates to PEI be closed given that that the recommendation has been addressed in that province.

AES: Close - Fully Implemented.

AANDC will participate in tripartite meetings with provinces and agencies on EPFA implementation, which will include reviewing the costing associated with EPFA. AANDC HQ will also continue to liaise with Regions through monthly conference calls and regular meetings to review financial pressures that may arise during EPFA implementation. These meetings and discussions will allow HQ to determine whether pressures can be addressed and forecast future costing, while also allowing HQ and Regions to develop possible mitigation strategies for arising issues.

Status: Request to close

QC:
Update/Rationale:

As of 31/12/2014:
QC: The historical EPFA funding formula has been reviewed and clarified for subsequent financial administration improvements and better tracking of funding pressures given multiple changes taking place in the province of Quebec and impacting FNCFS.

AES: Close - Fully Implemented.

PEI:
Update/Rationale:

PEI: Funding formula was reviewed and clarified in PEI. Late in 2014, AANDC met with the Province and MCPEI. AANDC continues to work with MCPEI and the Province to discuss CFS-related issues. A meeting with the health committee of the Policy and Planning Forum of PEI is being planned to discuss coordination of health and CFS programming in the area of mental health. Program requests that the portion of this recommendation relating to PEI be closed given that that the recommendation has been addressed.

Status: Request to close

Update/Rationale:

As of 31/12/2014:
AANDC continues to engage with FNCFS agencies to validate which types of networks are useful to them. A tripartite committee was created as well as three sub-committees. Each committee and sub-committee meets on a monthly basis. The next meeting is planned for January 2015.

AES: Close - Fully Implemented.