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1. • CommentAuthornorthender
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

    
   I have personally seen the very good work CFS does to help at risk aboriginal children find a safe home. Sure mistakes are made, and when they are the results can be tragic. But what of the success stories since First Nations took control of CFS? I think it is time CFS stood up to Lindor and her relentless attacks on its integrity.
   
   Today, the Freep's front page points to a Lindor column going on about how the agency wants to spend up to $140,000 on a campaign "to battle stereotyping of First Nations people" and "to let First Nations children know their heritage was important and the First Nations people should be proud".
   
   Certainly I can see the value in that, as that is the focus of all the volunteer work I do for the children in my community.
   
   I think CFS should spend money earmarked for communications on a series of public service announcements aimed at building confidence and pride in the people who work for the agency and most especially the thousands of young people its serve. IMO, this would be money well spent.
   
   LIndor should NOT be allowed to set the agenda. She might be an award-winning "journalist", but she isn't an expert in caring for children at risk. That is clear.

   Thankful People: Ronnie1060
2. • CommentAuthorpizzaman
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

    
   I have personally seen the CFS workers turn a blind eye to kids living literally in shit in their homes with lice infested dogs.
   
   And most people in the inner city can attest to that.
   
   Its time to dismantle this organization because it does not have the proper capacity to make a significant difference.

   Thankful People: Jimmytufish, Zwikster
3. • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

    
   Was she ever reprimanded for ther article on that family....didn't think so. "sure mistakes are made" should apply to everyone.
   
   Seems like you got a beef with Lindor. Perhaps you should approach the "award winning " journalist and get your point across. May work better then ranting against her, she's got the pen .
4. • CommentAuthornorthender
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

    
   And replace CFS with what?
5. • CommentAuthorpizzaman
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

    
   Something better. Higher skilled workers who posess higher life-skill values would be a good start.
6. • CommentAuthornorthender
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

    

   Posted By: Mr. NobodyWas she ever reprimanded for ther article on that family....didn't think so. "sure mistakes are made" should apply to everyone.
   
   Seems like you got a beef with Lindor. Perhaps you should approach the "award winning " journalist and get your point across. May work better then ranting against her, she's got the pen .

   
   Why attack a positive communications campaign aimed at building pride and confidence in young people being raised without parents. We're always talking about things we can do, and as soon as someone tries, they are shot down.
   
   Anyway. It is just my opinion. I have nothing personal against Lindor. I just don't think one journalist, award-winning or not, should be setting the agenda for a public organization responsible for caring for children without parents. We rarely hear about the good work they do, but they most certainly do have success stories.
   
   I think it is time the public knew more about that.

   Thankful People: Backster
7. • CommentAuthornorthender
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

    

   Posted By: pizzamanSomething better. Higher skilled workers who posess higher life-skill values would be a good start.

   
   Where would you recruit these higher beings from?
8. • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

    
   agree pizza, and less management. As for Natives kids, let their elders and their community spend the money trying to prop up their "pride'. CFS should concentrate on " feed, house, protect."...if you set your criteria to high, you will lose everyhwere.

   Thankful People: Jimmytufish, jim
9. • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
   • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

    
   Oh please North. This statement is as tired as point's volvo.
   
   "We're always talking about things we can do, and as soon as someone tries, they are shot down"
   
   Like I said, pick up the phone and show her your angle. As a journalist she has taken an interest in this issue. Its her job. She's not shooting anyone down. She's just reporting what she sees as more waste.
   
   And don't fret about he frontpage, the Freep had a skateboard biz opening on Princess as front page, kinda tells you something don't it.
10. •  
      CommentAuthorgrumpy old man
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

     
    From another thread...
    
    

    Posted By: grumpy old man 26 minutes ago...From the Sun...
    
    A CFS authority wants to spend $140,000 on an ad campaign to counter media coverage last fall which it feels led some members of the public to believe "devolution was a devastating mistake."
    
    A draft document uncovered by the Opposition Tories from the First Nations of Northern Manitoba CFS Authority proposes to spend cash on a campaign showcasing aboriginals as educated, capable parents. The campaign is in response to coverage which, according to the document, led some members of the public to believe "First Nations people were uneducated, unskilled, and unable to care for their children."
    
    "We were discussing how there are these stereotypes that have been applied to the authority and how devastating they can be. We wanted to alleviate people's concerns about First Nations people being able to take care of their own children," Northern Authority communications manager Rhonda Gordon Powers said yesterday.
    
    The $138,900 for the campaign -- a "very rough estimate" -- would come from the communications budgets of the agencies under the authority's umbrella and would not detract from front-line services, she said.
    ====================================================================================
    This kind of nonsense must end. Is it any wonder the hand is always out asking for more? What right-minded person would even consider this asinine initiative?

11. • CommentAuthorpizzaman
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    lets get back to basics.
12. • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

     
    feed, house, protect is pretty basic.
    
    
    Hmmm, wonder if thats what residential schools were intended to do, including educate. Those damn Catholic do gooders, i guess everyone makes mistakes even if intentions were honorable.
13. • CommentAuthornorthender
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    Like I said over and over again, building respect and pride in oneself, community, possession, place etc is the most important element in a healthy community. If you all know a better way to raise children in care, please share your views.
    
    And don't say volunteers need to raise the money to produce a campaign, or give more of their time etc...
    
    Feeding, housing and clothing is only part of the equation. I have to go to work now.
14. •  
      CommentAuthorJimmytufish
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    Seems to me if they have to "promote" themselves, something is wrong. Their work should speak for itself imo.
    
    In addition, the funding fudging sure seems like a crock...it'll come from a different pocket of the same pants so where's the difference?
15. • CommentAuthorMr. Nobody
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    LOL North...like I said, the criteria will dictate the level of success. You need to take a break north, you may have fallen into the hole. Society can't cure all the ills, but they can make the basic necessity's available.
16. •  
      CommentAuthorBubberMiley
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited

     

    Posted By: pizzamanSomething better. Higher skilled workers who posess higher life-skill values would be a good start.

    
    Maybe you should apply.
    No, you probably couldn't handle the job. It's much easier to sit at the sidelines, like Lindor, second-guessing every decision with 20/20 hindsight.

    Thankful People: smjpilot
17. • CommentAuthorcj3470
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    <blockquote><cite>Posted By: pizzaman</cite>I have personally seen the CFS workers turn a blind eye to kids living literally in shit in their homes with lice infested dogs.
    
    And most people in the inner city can attest to that.
    
    Its time to dismantle this organization because it does not have the proper capacity to make a significant difference.</blockquote>
    
    <p>When it's dismantled, what do we do with the kids who are being abused? Do we just leave them where they are? I have to wonder if any of the people who talk about dismantling CFS, have ever seen CFS in action and know the mandates the workers work under. Not just what has been reported on TV, or in the newspaper.
    
    <p>I've seen it on many different sides. A man who had fought CFS to adopt a baby girl who had been taken from her crack addicted mother, was murdered. CFS then had to place that child in a safe home, so they found loving responsible family on the reserve that the baby girl's family came from and placed her there.
    
    <p>A woman who keeps having baby after baby so that welfare won't make her go to work, and so that her cheques will increase, has had her children taken away numerous times. Each time she does what she's asked in order to get her kids back, then falls back to her old ways when she's not being "watched by the system" anymore. She always blames CFS when her kids are taken from her. It never occurs to her that her drug addiction, drinking, etc... may be the problem.
    
    <p>When I was going through some major health issues and needed some help in caring for my kids, but being a single parent, on a limited income, I didn't have many choices. The Family Centre of Winnipeg couldn't help as much as they would have liked due to funding cuts from the government, so the suggested asking CFS for some assistance. Apparently the fact that you aren't physically capable of taking care of your children doesn't matter, as long as they have food available to them, aren't bruised with broken bones, and there's a roof over their head. CFS told me that I fell through the cracks of their system. Because I was a parent who obviously needed help, but I had no "parenting" issues.
    
    <p>There are many kids out there that need CFS, if you take it away, they will be left with nothing. Some of these kids don't have any adult support other than their CFS worker. That worker may be the one sitting in court all day, making sure the child gets to medical appointments, etc... when the parents can't or won't.
    
    <p>I agree, CFS needs some changes made, but dismantling it would only hurt the children.
18. •  
      CommentAuthorSputnik
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    In terms of the native community...
    
    Why not orphanages run by native elders, spiritual leaders and teachers?

    Thankful People: Zwikster, Mr. Nobody
19. •  
      CommentAuthorcancelbot
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    Moderator
    What would be interesting to know is the Northern Authority's total budget, and the amount that is allocated to PR/advertising. On its own, $140,000 does not seem like a crazy amount of money to spend on PR, but if the organization's total budget is $2 million, then maybe it is.
    
    A little context is necessary here.
20. • CommentAuthorFreethinker
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008

     
    I don't think that anyone is advocating the dissolution of CFS agencies, but what is under scrutiny is the devolution of providing the mandate to aboriginal agencies. It should not be a surprise to anyone that the new agencies would be under close scrutiny when this happened several years back. But the question is whether or not that process is working better than what was in place before.