Winnipeg: December 18th, 2015 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Southern First Nations Network of Care is pleased to announce and officially recognize the new governing board of directors for Southeast Child and Family Services.  On March 4, 2008, the Agency was placed under an Order of Administration following a review of the Agency conducted under Section 4.1(1) of the Child and Family Services Act by the Southern First Nations Network of Care.  The Southern Network has stated it has every confidence that the Agency is in a strong position to fulfill its mandate in ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of the First Nation children and families it serves.

The Southern Network credits the First Nation leadership of the eight communities served by SECFS to returning the responsibility for the Agency back to the communities.  Present to the day’s event are the eight new board members, one representative for each of the eight First Nations served by SECFS, namely, Berens River First Nation, Poplar River First Nation, Pauingassi First Nation, Little Grand Rapids First Nation, Hollow Water First Nation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Bloodvein First Nation, and Black River First Nation. The First Nations are located on the south east region of Manitoba with half of the communities being remote, fly-in communities.

Board Chairman Ian Bushie said “Our board team has been preparing for this day for over a year, and it has finally come.  We look forward to providing a community-focused approach to governing the agency and working together with our leadership to return our children to the care of their families and community, and finding innovative ways to strengthen our families to keep them intact”.

Bobbi Pompana, CEO of the Southern Network, and Issie Frost, Administrator for the Southern Network, officially lifted the Order December 18th, 2015, enabling the SECFS Board of Directors to be responsible to oversee the Agency and assume the responsibility for the care and safety of the children and families of the SECFS.