Hosting Delegation: A Sharing Opportunity

Through Alberta Children’s Services, the Delegation Training Program is an opportunity to provide casework staff with the skills and knowledge they need to provide intervention, as required by the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.

This training is 4 weeks long, mostly in-classroom training, with one module of working with Aboriginal Communities. ATC’s CFS has hosted the Aboriginal component of this training twice from our office in Fort McMurray. In total, 36 students have come to Fort McMurray.

The most recent training had 15 students from across Alberta. For the first teaching, Delegation students were taken to Fort McKay First Nation. There they learned about culture, language and traditions of the North. They learned about some of the unique aspects of the community, including the importance of air quality control, the environment around the community, and the progressive nature of Fort McKay First Nation leadership.

The group also toured the community, visiting the new youth centre, getting a glimpse of what it’s like to live in Fort McKay and cultural traditions of its people.

Providing an interactive platform for learning gave these students a better understanding of some of the challenges and realities faced by Indigenous peoples from Northern Alberta. As a result, caseworkers have a deeper understanding of their potential clients' experiences, offering better service to them.