Samara Gentle MFIA’s Post

As the world changes, so do the goals of Indigenous youth reconciliation. If we consider a generous age range of 12-18 to define a "youth," we have 6 total years to serve this population before all their challenges start compounding in adulthood. In Canada, our election cycles are four or five years. This is not conducive to supporting young people through the developmental stage of their lives. Even if you have a priority to serve youth and young adults, even the best developments become outdated quicker than other models because young people are sponges to this rapidly changing world. The only way to get ahead of this is by making proactive commitments that will serve the youth of today AND tomorrow. We need new programs, services, institutions, and organizations that are developed in a way that they grow with the evolving needs of youth. TIME is our most valuable resource, and Frayed Feathers works collaboratively with you to sprint towards reconciliACTION. #FrayedFeathers #Indigenous #IndigneousYouth #YouthReconciliation #Reconciliation #GovernmentofCanada #IndigenousPolicy #Policy #Advocacy

The Department of Social Services has released "the Public Consultation on the Disability Royal Commission Summary Report". The responses received relating to Part C – Inclusive Housing were largely supportive of the recommendations with the exception of the future of Group Homes. There was support for: * "Effective housing and disability policy frameworks (Rec 7.33 - 7.34)". * improved "Housing accessibility and tenancy and occupancy protections (Rec 7.35 -7.37)" including increased supply and availability as well as a housing targeted action plan in Australia’s Disability Strategy. * increased oversight of "Safety in SRS and their equivalents (Rec 7.38)". * more inclusive and alternative models "Preventing and responding to homelessness (Rec 7.39 – 7.40)". * "Improving group homes (Rec 7.41)" including addressing conflicts of interest between SIL and SDA services. * improved "Access to alternative housing options (Rec 7.42)" including enhanced SIL and SDA provider roles. There was a divided views on "Phasing out group homes (7.43-7.44)" ranging from support for a phase out, calls for cultural change in services and time for adjustment to retention in the absence of viable alternatives.

Having worked in the youth sector for many years and seen resources for community youth provision dwindle, its so important we invest now to secure positive futures for #children and #youngpeople. No. 2 of these recommendations by the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ) is so critical to the success of all the others. Young people need #safespaces to go, #trustedadults to talk to and meaningful things to do #positiveactivities. Punitive approaches do not work. https://lnkd.in/e8AiWbeH

Advancing Social Protection for Individuals with AlbinismSocial protection is a fundamental human right, yet many individuals with albinism face significant challenges in accessing essential services and support. Duty bearers—governments, policymakers, and communities—play a crucial role in creating inclusive policies that address these disparities.It’s vital that we advocate for:1. Awareness. Increasing understanding of albinism to combat stigma and discrimination.2. Access: Ensuring equitable access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.3. Support: Implementing targeted programs that consider the unique needs of individuals with albinism.Together, we can create a more inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their skin color or condition, has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s hold our duty bearers accountable and push for meaningful change! 💪✨#SocialProtection #Albinism #Inclusion #PolicyChange #HumanRights

Today, on National Child Day, we reflect on Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its guiding principles: protection, provision, and participation. Children, as the most vulnerable population, are deeply impacted by crises worldwide, including conflict, displacement, and systemic inequities compounded by family breakdown with local stressors like immigration, poverty, culture-clashes and more. In these challenging times, safeguarding children’s rights is more critical than ever. At The Regional Diversity Roundtable (RDR), we remain dedicated to building equitable systems where children and youth are not only safe and healthy but also have the opportunity to celebrate their unique identities and contribute to community building. Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in inclusive environments that nurture their potential and honor their individuality. Let us renew our collective commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstance, is supported, protected, heard and included. Learn more about National Child Day and the UNCRC: National Child Day - https://lnkd.in/eG_cUE2f UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - https://lnkd.in/dxkKcRk #NationalChildDay #ChildRights #ARAO #DEI #Inclusion #Diversity #Equity #ChildrenFirst

On this Human Rights Day, we reflect on one of the most fundamental rights: the right to education. Education is not just a privilege but a powerful tool that can eradicate poverty, promote equality, and empower individuals to assert their rights. #coc #humanrights #education

Scotland has abolished youth jails in favour of trauma-informed services and secure care centres. "Locking up children, and not addressing the root causes of their offending, ultimately does not make our communities safer." I have advocated for this approach here in Canada with top officials. Let's do this! Scotland has taken a groundbreaking step by abolishing youth jails for individuals under 18, shifting its focus to trauma-informed, secure care centres. This approach, rooted in therapeutic support and a commitment to understanding the impact of adverse childhood experiences, aims to address the root causes of youth offending. By prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment, Scotland is setting a new standard for youth justice that centers on positive outcomes and support for young people in conflict with the law.

To reach all #UN #GlobalGoals – including #SDG4: inclusive, equitable quality education – girls & boys with #disabilities who are impacted by conflicts, displacement, disasters & protracted crises must be prioritized. 💛Like and share if you agree that no child should be left behind. 👉https://lnkd.in/grD7jCZ

We have joined forces with six other Youth Justice services, and the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, to tackle racial disparity issues in the region. Collectively, we have received funding from the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) to address racial disparities in the system, as part of a pathfinder project. The funding award follows independent reviews, such The Lammy Review (2017), which identified disproportionality in the youth justice system as its biggest concern. The review identified that Black, Asian and other ethnic minority groups are three times more likely to be in custody compared to white counterparts, and that Black children were seven times more likely to enter custody. In the West Midlands, 19% of children aged 10-17 are of Black or mixed heritage, yet 38% of Black or mixed heritage children of the same age are given a caution or sentence. More about the funding and the programme can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eSzf6tcN #youthjustice #yjs #yjb #westmidlands

Recent coverage of youth detention in Queensland has shone a light on the serious and ongoing breaches of children’s rights happening in youth justice systems right across the country. These failures are appalling and unacceptable on their own – but worse still is the fact that by the time a child or young person has contact with the justice system they’ve likely already been failed by multiple systems and safeguards meant to protect them. Young people deserve to have evidence-based, rights-based and trauma-informed support that meets their needs and sets them on the right path to live their best possible lives. Instead, they face significant support gaps and a punitive justice system that fails to ensure their safety at the most basic levels. In our research report, 'Putting Children First: A rights respecting approach to youth justice in Australia', we explore some of the specific system interactions and gaps that have impacted children and young people in the youth justice system, and the outcomes for those young people. Read through below to learn more, and download the full report to read about our vision for a rights-respecting youth justice system: https://bit.ly/44zv6Vc #ChildRights #YouthJustice