NIȽ TU,O is dedicated to keeping Coast Salish children with their families and in their communities.

We are also a C4 delegated aboriginal agency

What is a Delegated Aboriginal Agency (DAA)?

A DAA is an agency that has negotiated and recieved the authority from the Provincial Director of Child Welfare through a delegation agreement to take over the administration of all or parts of the Child, Family and Community Service Act that the Ministry of Child & Family Services used to deliver. NIȽ TU,O has a C4 delegation agreement that enables it to offer voluntary and guardianship services and to recruit, train and support family home caregivers.

How long has NIȽ TU,O been an agency?

NIȽ TU,O celebrates 25 years of service to our communities in 2022.

Who is in charge at NIȽ TU,O?

NIȽ TU,O is legally a society and operates under the rules of the SOCIETIES ACT. This means that the agency is guided by a Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors is made up of community members that have been appointed by the seven communities we serve. The Board of Directors is responsible for hiring the agency’s Executive Director (ED) and approving the policies, mission statements, and budgets of the agency. The ED is accountable to the board for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the agency and hiring the staff (managers, administration staff, social workers, and family support workers) who deliver our services.

Does NIȽ TU,O do child protection investigations?

At this time NIȽ TU,O does not assess child protection reports. Child protection reports concerning families who live in the communities we serve are followed up on by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). MCFD are the decision-makers with regard to assessing and responding to child protection reports, determining if children need protection, and approving safety plans including deciding who can care for a child and what issues a family may need to work on in order to reduce any risk to their child(ren). NIȽ TU,O provides Family Strengthening Programs to reduce or eliminate child protection reports in the Coast Salish communities we serve.

When will NIȽ TU,O start doing child protection work in the communities?

NIȽ TU,O is in the process of getting our C6 delegation which will allow us to take over the child protection work in the communities. We are actively seeking Band Council Resolutions (BCR’s) from the local band councils of the Nations we serve so that we can move forward with obtaining C6 delegation from the Province of B.C.

How can I find out about NIȽ TU,O workshops or groups being held in my community?

Please check out our website calendar by clicking on the “Calendar” button on our home page.

Is the information I share with NIȽ TU,O confidential?

All information shared with a Social Worker or Family Support Worker is confidential and cannot be shared without the written permission of the client. The only exception to this policy is if a client shares information that indicates that they may be a danger to themselves or to others or that a child may be in need of protection. Intake is confidential – when you call our office, if you ask for Intake you do not have to give your name to the receptionist. You will be forwarded to a Social Worker who will assist you with your questions.

I don't see the question that I had listed in this section; what do I do?

Call us. We will be happy to direct you to the right person to provide you with the information that you are looking for.

What happens when I call?

Intake is confidential – when you call our office, if you ask for Intake you do not have to give your name to the receptionist. You will be forwarded to a Social Worker who will assist you with your questions.

About Us

Originally formed by representatives of the Esquimalt, Beecher Bay, Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Songhees, Tsawout, Tseycum, and T’Sou-ke First Nations in 1997, NIȽ TU,O CFSS was formed in response to concerns about the number of Coast Salish children in the foster care system.

The following seven South Island Coast Salish Communities have submitted a BCR (Band Council Resolution) to have NIȽ TU,O CFSS provide services to their children and families: Beecher Bay, Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Songhees, Tsawout, Tseycum and T’Sou-ke. NIȽ TU,O provides two distinct streams of services. Both streams of services are designed to keep Coast Salish children with their families and in their community.

The first stream of services is Family Strengthening Programs for any member Nation youth or parents that could benefit from additional support. The second is the types of Support Services previously provided by the Ministry of Child & Family Development (called delegated services). As a Delegated Aboriginal Agency (DAA), currently delegated at C4, NIȽ TU,O provides the following delegated services:

Guardianship and care for children in continuing care
Voluntary support services to families
Voluntary care or special needs agreements
Recruitment, training, and support for caregivers
Youth Agreements
Respite Services
Extended Family Program
Agreement with Young Adults

Vision & Mission

Vision
Our Vision for the NIȽ TU,O Child and Family Services Society is to rebuild healthy families, communities and Nations that is based on who we are as NEW̱ (people).

Mission:
1. NIȽ TU,O Child and Family Services Society is to provide programs and services that are built on a foundation of our SNEPENEḴ (teaching) of our SELW ȺN (Elders).

2. Our trained staff will support children and families in a culturally safe manner with confidentiality and professionalism.

3. Our families will assume their roles and responsibilities within the extended family and community.

4. Our Board of Directors are our voice and commitment to each of the seven (7) member communities that we serve.

5. Our programs and services are coming from the perspective of NUTSUMAT SHQWALUWUN (working together with one mind).

Philosophy

We believe in:
 Our culture and values of NEW (our people).
 In our traditional teachings that come from the land, air and water.
 Meeting the needs of our children and their families physically, emotionally,
spiritually, culturally and psychologically.
 Providing prevention programs and services to our young children, youth and
families, while building trust each step of the way.
 Practicing confidentiality, respect and integrity while building capacity and
education our children, families, leadership and communities about their rights
and responsibilities.
 Children staying with their families and extended families
 In exerting our rights and responsibilities for our children and families with
external agencies and government.

The Facilities

NIȽ TU,O is located in an award-nominated Coast-Salish longhouse stylized building at Mt. Newton Cross and the Pat Bay Highway.

Recently extensively renovated, the new building truly facilitates the breaking down of barriers and strengthening of Coast Salish communities by providing a safe place to deliver culturally appropriate programs and services to families and children.

Numerous design elements support the organization’s mission and day-to-day work, from gardens blooming with native plants to large-scale design features and thoughtful details throughout. For instance, the prominent Basket Weave both shelters the walkway between entrances and demonstrates unmistakable Coast Salish pride.

Team

NIȽ TU,O has grown to a team of over 30 staff, the majority of whom are Indigenous.

Staff members include Associate Community Service Managers, Family Support Workers, Social Workers, Team Assistants, and Community Wellness Facilitators.

To learn more about joining NIȽ TU,O, please visit our Careers Section

Ashley Morris

Executive Director

Risako Ota

Administrative Manager

Hayley Heaps

Associate Community Services Manager

Social Worker Team

William Husack

Associate Community Services Manager

Family Support Worker Team

Shannon Campbell

Associate Community Services Manager

Community Wellness Facilitator Team

Board of Directors

The Board is made up of people chosen by the Chief and Council of Beecher Bay, Pauquachin, Songhees, Tsartlip, Tsawout, T’Sou-ke, and Tseycum First Nations.
Board executive as of November, 2024:

Rose Dumont

CHAIR

Abraham Pelkey

VICE-CHAIR

Alva Bob

TREASURER

Margaret Charlie

SECRETARY

Members of the Board

NATION	MEMBERS
Beecher Bay First Nation	Sheeba Sawyer, Miranda Metge
Pauquachin First Nation	Rebecca David, Alva Bob
Songhees Nation	Margaret Charlie, Ronald Sam
Tsartlip Nation	Gordon Elliott, Joseph Seward
Tsawout Nation	Abraham Pelkey, Samantha Etzel
Tseycum First Nation	Tanya Jimmy, Vacant
T’Sou-ke Nation	Rose Dumont, Bonnie Hill