The Department of Opportunities and Social Development works with community-based partners and service providers to support children, youth and families throughout Nova Scotia. The department also works with Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services of Nova Scotia (MFCS), who support the safety and wellbeing of children, youth and families living in Mi’kmaw communities around Nova Scotia.

CFW practice framework

The CFW practice framework informs the work of Child and Family Wellbeing team members, partners and community-based service providers to support the safety and wellbeing of children, youth and families in Nova Scotia. It guides CFW services and decision-making to strengthen families and keep children and youth safe.

The CFW practice framework:

• recognizes that healthy children, healthy families and healthy communities are interconnected and that there is an interdependence between all three in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of a child or youth
• focuses on prevention, support and family preservation. Highlights the safety and wellbeing of children, youth and families as a shared responsibility with and within community
• recognizes that children, youth and families have the strengths and skills to thrive, especially when they are connected to and supported by their community
• identifies the importance of trusted relationships and collaborative partnerships with and within the child, youth or family’s community which includes Elders and knowledge keepers, spiritual and community leaders, friends, neighbours, schools, health care providers, community partners and staff. Acknowledges that not every child, youth or family has had the same experience while accessing CFW services and that makes an individualized approach based on pro-equity, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices even more important when supporting children, youth, and families

Vision: Communities support the safety and wellbeing of children, youth and families

Safety means that children, youth and families are free from harm.

Wellbeing means that children, youth and families are supported to achieve positive mental and emotional health and have positive social experiences. 

Community can mean different things for each child, youth or family.

Communities of geography are made up of people who live near a child, youth or family. 

Communities of interest are made up people with a common understanding and interest in empowering children, youth and families. Child and Family Wellbeing team members, partners, and community-based service providers are part of this community and share the responsibility of supporting the wellbeing of the child, youth or family.

Cultural communities are made up of people with similar learned and shared experiences because of their race, nationality, ethnicity or religion.

Guiding principles

The CFW practice framework guiding principles inform decision-making in Child and Family Wellbeing.

Guiding Principles infographic (PDF)

Practice standards

CFW social workers and other CFW team members follow the same practice standards when working with and supporting children, youth and families. These practice standards allow CFW team members to meet families where they are and tailor support based on each individual child, youth and family’s circumstances.

Practice Standards Infographic (PDF)

Engaging children, youth and families as experts in their own lives

Through the engaging children, youth and families as experts in their own lives practice standard, families can expect:

• shared understanding of what’s happening and why
• discussions that centre around the best interests of the child or youth
• having a voice in planning and decision-making that affects them
• a safe space to ask questions and offer feedback and opinions throughout the planning process
• planning that recognizes and builds upon a family’s strengths

Keeping families together with their community

Through the keeping families together with their community practice standard, families can expect:

• support and services that focus on preserving, uniting and supporting families
• assistance in identifying extended family and community connections to be part of a family’s support network
• a better understanding of what support and services are available and how to access them
• support in accessing resources that are culturally attentive and responsive
• help to remove any barriers that are preventing community connections being made

Engaging in reflective practice

Through the engaging in reflective practice standard, families can expect:

• that CFW team members to have a better understanding of what is happening for the child, youth or family
• more information about the process, what to expect and answers to questions
• respectful and professional interactions with CFW team members and service providers
• CFW team members understand the experiences of children, youth and families and how those experiences are different depending on race, gender expression, culture, religion, language, disability and other parts of a person’s identity
• CFW team members and service providers who listen, learn and adjust the way they work based on feedback and reflection
• relationships to get stronger over time, with more trust

Building and maintaining relationships

Through the building and maintaining relationships practice standard, families can expect:

• working relationships that encourage them to provide input and opinions
• to be valued and heard through the process
• to work with people who have a genuine interest in understanding a family's unique needs, wants, strengths and goals
• to be included as a genuine partner in finding solutions and supports
• stronger connections with people in the community
• more check-ins on progress and plans that adjust and adapt based on input from the child, youth or family   

Valuing community as part of a family

Through the valuing community as part of a family practice standard, families can expect:

• a broader definition of “community” and how much support is available
• having a strong network of people who can provide both informal and formal support
• a sense of belonging within their community
• access to resources and information in their community
• to work with resourceful people who have a deep understanding of what is available in the community and who can mobilize resources to support families

Embracing individuality and diversity

Through the embracing individuality and diversity practice standard, families can expect:

• that supporting the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing of all family members is part of the plan
• that their beliefs, values, race gender, identity, history, goals, language, reality and world view are understood and respected
• planning that is unique and tailored to their strengths, challenges and needs
• to be connected to culturally attentive and responsive support and services
• that CFW team members understand that trust is something earned over time, and the importance of being intentional about both earning and keeping a family’s trust

Advocating for and with children, youth, families and communities

Through the advocating for and with children, youth, families and communities practice standard, families can expect:

• support from CFW team members 
• professionals who are there to support them
• more opportunities for their voice to be heard
• access to the right services at the right time
• programs and services in their community that better meets their needs

Child and family wellbeing policies

Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), a division of the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, is a part of the community that is responsible for the safety and wellbeing of children, youth and families in Nova Scotia. The department provides services and support under provincial legislation including but not limited to the Children and Family Services Act (CFSA) and Children and Family Services Regulations (Regulations), Intercountry Adoption Act, Adoption Records Act, as well as federal legislation, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, Métis children, youth and families.

Child and Family Wellbeing Policy Manual (PDF)

Related legislation

• Children and Family Service Act (PDF)
• Children and Family Services Regulations
• Intercountry Adoption Act
• Adoption Records Act
• An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, Métis children, youth and families

Related information

• Child and Family Wellbeing Practice Framework (PDF)
• Policy Manual (PDF)