About Us
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) is a multi-service urban Aboriginal agency providing holistic, culture-based programs and services for Aboriginal children and families. NCFST strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, healing, and self-determination for children and families in the Toronto urban Aboriginal community. We do this by implementing a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Aboriginal people, the extended family and the right to self-determination.
Established in 1986, by Elders, knowledge keepers, grassroots leaders, and community members, NCFST has been supporting Aboriginal children and families in Toronto for more than three decades. In 2004 NCFST was directed by the Aboriginal community to accept a child welfare mandate to decolonize Aboriginal child welfare in the City of Toronto. NCFST continues to do this work through the integration of holistic, culturally-based prevention services that are child centered, family focused, and community driven.
Guided by the vision of providing holistic, culture-based integrated services with the guidance of the Aboriginal community, NCFST offers a full range of prevention programs, treatment and healing services, early years programs, youth programs, and cultural and recreational programs to all members of Toronto’s urban Aboriginal community.
Mission Statement
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto strives to provide a life of quality, well-being, caring and healing for our children and families in the Toronto Native Community.
We do this by creating a service model that is culture-based and respects the values of Native people, the extended family and the right to self-determination.
Service Model
Founded in 1986, our service model was developed through four days of ceremony by Aboriginal Elders, knowledge keepers and community leaders. It directs us to develop a holistic and sustainable multi-service organization to support the quality of life of Aboriginal children and their families in Toronto. The community that came together to create NCFST was responding to the impacts of residential schooling and a European model of child welfare on Aboriginal children and families. Our service model directs us to develop and deliver integrated services for healing, wellness, and family supports sufficient to provide Aboriginal children and their families with multiple pathways to a quality life. We do this by developing programs and services that are grounded in Aboriginal values, knowledge, best practice and worldview.
Leadership Council
In Spring 2022 the Board of Directors together with the Leadership Team at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) made the decision to transition away from a hierarchical leadership structure toward a governance model better aligned with the traditional governance strategies of this territory, The Great Lakes Region. Throughout 2023 and 2024 the Interim Leadership Council undertook this transformative work, supported by Knowledge Carriers, the Elder’s Advisory Council, and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies led by Dr. David Newhouse. In Autumn 2024, the Governance Model development was completed and is now in practice. Core tenets of the model include Indigenous consensus-based decision-making processes and a renewed understanding and expression of our shared values, the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
Leadership Council members are:
Melissa Hamonic – Director, Governance & Strategy
Jennifer Turner – Director, Child and Family Wellbeing
Jessica Wilson – Director, Holistic Services
Veronika Bencze – Director, Finance and Administration
Neha Wasu – Director, Human Resources