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$1.5 million to Support Well-Being and Health of Treaty 8 Families

March 3, 2011

Edmonton - Rural Alberta Development Fund Board of Directors has approved funding for the Family Service Delivery Framework Implementation, which will enable Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta to implement and test their Children's Agenda Framework. The Framework was developed at the direction of the Chiefs of the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta in 2003 in an effort to provide enhanced access and participation of children, youth and family to integrated services on and off the reserve.

"First Nation communities face many of the same challenges as other rural communities – geography and community size can limit residents' access to services," said Honourable Jack Hayden, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Implementing the Children's Agenda Framework will help eliminate some of these obstacles and contribute to the health and quality of life in these regions."

Through the Family Service Delivery Framework Implementation project, the Framework will be tested over two years in Sucker Creek First Nation, Bigstone Cree Nation and Loon River First Nation. This process will include a focus on using existing funding and programming in new and innovative ways, enhancing culturally relevant programming, increasing services that support early childhood learning and developing sustainable youth programming.

Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the University of Calgary will then evaluate the test sites and make final recommendations before the Framework is made available to other Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta communities.

"This project is a prime example of a transferable project," said Jann Beeston, Chair of the Board of Directors, Rural Alberta Development Fund. "Not only will the Framework be implemented in other Treaty 8 communities, but it also creates a roadmap that can easily be shared with other communities and adapted to fit their unique needs."

"The Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta organization is very pleased to have the Children's Agenda Framework approved for funding through the Rural Alberta Development Fund," said Grand Chief Noskey. "The Chiefs are very focused on enhancing the future for our children and with this Framework being developed by and for First Nations, the future can only be better for our future generations. We are excited to be involved in this initiative."

Funding from Rural Alberta Development Fund will support staffing, community engagement and the evaluation process. The project is expected to be complete in March 2013.

Rural Alberta Development Fund is a not-for-profit company that inspires innovation, collaboration and growth across rural Alberta. In 2007, it was capitalized with $100 million by the Government of Alberta as part of its Rural Development Strategy. So far, $77.5 million has been committed to 71 projects. Applications are now being accepted for the remaining $22.5 million, which must be committed by March 31, 2012.

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For more information, contact:

Courtney Mosentine
Director of Communications
Rural Alberta Development Fund
780.436.9585
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ann Nipshank
Children's Agenda Manager
Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta
780.444.9366
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)