Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations children.
About Jordan’s Principle
Jordan’s Principle states that any public service ordinarily available to all other children must be made available to First Nations children without delay or denial.
Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.
Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.
Objectives
Jordan’s Principle:
- Applies to all First Nations children that live within the community.
- Is not limited to children with disabilities; and under Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) policy, non-status children on-reserve are being considered eligible for coverage under Jordan’s Principle.
What is covered?
The services covered by Jordan’s Principle are as diverse as the First Nations children it serves. Any government-provided service available to all other children, including service assessments, is included in Jordan’s Principle coverage. If a service is not necessarily available to other children or is an exceptional service, the child will still have their needs evaluated to determine if the service will ensure substantive equality.
Examples of the services covered by Jordan’s Principle include, but are not limited to:
Health:
- Mobility aids
- Wheelchair ramps
- Services from Elders
- Assessments and screenings
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Mental health services
Social:
- Social worker
- Land-based activities
- Respite care (individual or group)
- Specialized programs based on cultural beliefs and practices
- Personal support worker
Education:
- School supplies
- Tutoring services
- Teaching assistants
- Psycho-educational assessments
- Assistive technology and electronics
If a service is not necessarily available to other children, or is an exceptional service, the child will still have their needs evaluated to determine if the service will ensure substantive equality. If this is the case, the government department first approached will pay for the service to ensure the child’s needs are met.
Source: https://www.afn.ca/policy-sectors/social-secretariat/jordans-principle/