Family Finding Services

Native Child and Family Services of Toronto’s Family Finding Services Team is dedicated to building and maintaining family support networks for children and youth who are separated or at risk of being disconnected from their home, traditional communities and culture. The Family Finding Services Team ensures that the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental well-being of Aboriginal children, youth and families remains healthy and strong by exploring and nurturing crucial family and community networks meant to last a lifetime.

Family finders seek to empower and improve outcomes for our children and youth by encouraging decision making and planning with parents and caregivers who are unable to provide immediate care while on their journeys of healing and recovery. Our practice is grounded in admission prevention network building through the identification of relatives or supportive adults who may be estranged or unknown to our families.

We recognize that the families we work with may have relocated to other communities across the province and Canada and may have lost touch with significant relationships.  By reaching out and reconnecting, the Family Finding Services Team seeks to re-establish important bonds, especially with those who are willing to provide permanent, meaningful relationships for children and youth in our care or in need of alternative care placements.

Recognizing that successful transitions to independence and adulthood are strengthened by extended family and relations,  the Family Finding Services Team also works closely with family, bands and Aboriginal communities on behalf of youth who are under Extended Society Care, Voluntary Youth Service Agreements (VYSA) and Continued Care and Support for Youth (CCSY) by building upon existing family or adult supports that youth have identified as important or significant to them.