Police

PROTOCOL
BETWEEN
SURROUNDED BY CEDAR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
AND ALL
CAPITAL REGION POLICE DEPARTMENTS

PURPOSE
The purpose of this protocol between Surrounded By Cedar Child and Family Services (SCCFS) and all the Capital Region Police Departments (herein after to include the Police Departments of Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich; the RCMP Detachments at Sooke, West Shore, Sidney / North Saanich, and the Military Police at CFB Esquimalt, to be referred to as the "Parties") is to build a relationship that ensures the safety and well-being of urban Aboriginal children living in the Capital Region.

STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS
The Parties recognize the statutory requirements of SCCFS as the legal guardians of urban Aboriginal children in continuing custody of the Director and to comply with orders of the Court.

GOALS
1. To establish regular meetings, the subject of which will be the management of issues arising from the implementation of this protocol and the review of the protocol document. The Police Diversity Advisory Committee or another mutually agreed upon process may be utilized as the appropriate forum for issue discussion and management.

2. To respect the legal responsibility for all people living in British Columbia to report any suspected incident of child abuse or neglect by reporting to a fully delegated child protection social worker. In the Capital Region, the report should be made to the Ministry of Children and Family Development until such time that SCCFS attains level 15 delegation.

3. To share and disclose information between SCCFS and the Police based on the legislative requirements of the Child, Family and Community Services Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and other relevant legislation and policies which pertain to information management. In matters concerning the RCMP, information will be treated in accordance with the federal Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.

4. To invite representatives of each organization to cultural sensitivity training opportunities or other applicable training opportunities that may arise.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
In matters of dispute around manner of service provision, the safety and well being of the urban Aboriginal child or youth will take precedence over the course of resolving disputes.

Disputes should be resolved at the level in which they occur following a process that clearly identifies the basis of the dispute. When a dispute arises, verbal communication will be the first course of action between the individuals for whom the dispute has arisen. If required, within 14 days of the dispute remaining unresolved, a letter clarifying the issue and the rationale of the individuals raising the concern must be completed. If the matter cannot be resolved at the line worker level or the level at which the dispute occurred, the supervisors of those involved will endeavour to resolve it.

If within 30 days, the matter remains unresolved, and the above process has been exhausted, the matter should be referred to the CEO of SCCFS and the Chief, Officer in Charge or NCO of the Police Department involved.

REVIEW AND AMENDMENT OF PROTOCOL AGREEMENT
Either party to this agreement may request in writing a meeting to clarify a section of this protocol. Any revisions agreed to must be made in writing to either party and attached as an appendix or where necessary revision to and re-endorsement of the protocol.

As SCCFS expands its level of delegation, this protocol may be amended to outline emerging and ongoing interface processes agreeable to the parties in this agreement.

CONTACTS FOR EACH AGENCY
SCCFS will be responsible for contacting and following through in a timely manner all notification, in the best interests of planning with urban Aboriginal children and families.

The contact for SCCFS is:
Name: Shelly Johnson
Title / Position: Chief Executive Officer   Signature     Date
Phone Number: (250) 383-2990