First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Settlement
About the Settlement
On April 19, 2023, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the Moushoom and Trout Class Action plaintiffs reached a final settlement agreement, totalling more than $23.34 billion. This agreement intends to compensate those harmed by the discriminatory practices and underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and those impacted by the federal government’s narrow interpretation of Jordan’s Principle.
To learn more about this Settlement, please visit FNChildClaims.ca.
Castlemain’s role
Castlemain works directly with Class Counsel and the Administrator (the parties) to provide Notice to Class Members. The court-approved Notice Plan outlines how we work with the parties to communicate with Class Members at each stage of the Settlement.
Communications support
We design and deliver national communications campaigns to raise awareness of both the Settlement and the supports available to Class Members.
We provide this notice to Class Members in a variety of ways to ensure the message is as widespread and accessible to reach the most amount of Class Members. This includes everything from direct mail, website updates, paid media campaigns, organic social content, videos, and community outreach.
Claims Helper Program
Castlemain’s works with the Administrator to provide Claim Form assistance to Class Members, as outlined in the Settlement Agreement Schedule I, Framework for Supports for Claimants in Compensation Process.
Claims Helpers provide free one-on-one support to help Claimants fill out their Claim Form, understand how to access the identification and documentation they need, and connect to local cultural and wellness services and supports.
The Castlemain team includes around 160 in-person and virtual Claims Helpers across Canada to support Class Members in English, French, and Indigenous languages (where possible).
The majority of Claims Helpers are First Nations, and all Claims Helpers are given specialized training to ensure they understand the context and impact of the First Nations child welfare system in Canada. Claims Helpers receive training in trauma-informed and culturally safe practices to create a safe, judgment-free space where Class Members can seek assistance with confidence.
For more information on the Claims Helper Program, please visit FNChildClaims.ca/Help-Resources/Claims-Helpers/.