Governments of Canada and Ontario and Chiefs of Ontario signed a Joint Commitment to Policy and Funding Reform for First Nations Child and Family Services in Ontario to improve outcomes and opportunities for all First Nations children, youth, and families and to reduce the number of children and youth in care. This recognizes, in particular, the need to shift focus to more comprehensive approaches that support better outcomes by focusing on an expanded range of prevention services.

As part of this work, Canada, Ontario, and First Nations are also completing an Ontario Special Study, which will provide options for new First Nations child and family well-being policy and funding approaches that are child-centered, community-directed, and support better outcomes by focusing on prevention. It is expected that the outcomes required from this joint commitment will be completed within 12-18 months.