Social Work

EXTENDED FAMILY PROGRAM (EFP): The EFP program is intended as an alternative care solution for families. An EFP comprises three components: an extended family placement home/resource file, a child service file, and a family service file.

An EFP file supports parents unable to
care for their children, allowing them
to retain guardianship.

  • Parents can assign trusted individuals for daily care while addressing
    personal challenges.

  • GCFSS offers financial support to interim caregivers if a parent seeks addiction treatment.

  • Applications are accepted from individuals identified as EFP caregivers by family members.

  • EFP caregivers temporarily care for children until the parent can resume their role.

  • Caregivers must complete background checks, medical assessments, home assessments, and provide three references for approval.

RESOURCE PROGRAM: The Resources team recruits and trains caregivers while supporting families with children at home. They work with caregivers to find suitable placements for Gitxsan children when family living isn’t possible. The team ensures care homes are culturally sensitive, safe, and nurturing, with caregivers collaborating as part of a broader care team to meet children’s needs. When a child or youth is unable to live with their parents, its best if they can live with someone they know like:

A relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling), someone with a relationship or cultural bond with the child and family, a person with cultural ties or traditional duties, such as a member of the child’s Indigenous community

  • Reconnect the child with their parents whenever feasible.

  • Prioritize the child or youth in all decisions, ensuring their perspectives are considered regarding matters that impact them.

  • Kinship (Restricted) homes provide care for children who are either known to or related to the foster parents. This agreement is limited to a specific child and concludes once the child departs from the home or is no longer in care.

With an out of care or kinship arrangement, the primary goals are always to:

GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM: Our Guardianship team is dedicated to caring for children and youth who are in permanent care. This indicates that the children’s guardians have undergone court proceedings, resulting in the decision that these children will remain under the director’s care until they turn 19. As GCFSS becomes the technical parent during this period, it takes on all parental responsibilities. Our guardianship team addresses every aspect of the child’s or youth’s needs, including housing, education, personal care, and guidance, while ensuring they maintain connections to their culture, history, and family in the safest possible way.

  • All caregivers have a voice in placement of children in their home, but EFP’s only have the children identified to go into their homes.

  • EFP caregivers also have a relief provided for them if they have needs that require their attention elsewhere.

  • Children in care through the EFP program are assigned a social worker who visits the child every 4 weeks. This ensures the needs of the child are bring met.

  • The parent with the extended family placement requests has a family support services file open in which a plan is put into place that outlines the requirements for reunification.

Additionally, our Guardianship team supports youth as they transition into adulthood. They will conduct any necessary assessments to secure post-majority services and will collaborate with CLBC (Community Living BC) if there are challenges that qualify our children for those services. GCFSS also has a SAJE team that assists children once they reach adulthood, should they not be fully ready. To ensure a smooth transition, the SAJE team introduces the young adult to their new support system as they approach the age of majority (19).