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    <title>IFISC Blog</title>
    <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/</link>
    <description>Insights on Indigenous child welfare, family preservation, and the IFISC certification standard. Published by KFT-Families Society.</description>
    <language>en-ca</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:48:57 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Why Canada Needed an Indigenous-Led Child Welfare Standard]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/why-canada-needed-indigenous-child-welfare-standard/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indigenous children are 7.7% of Canada's child population and 53.8% of children in foster care. IFISC is the first certification standard built entirely by Indigenous practitioners to begin closing that gap.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/why-canada-needed-indigenous-child-welfare-standard/</guid>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>Indigenous rights</category>
      <category>certification</category>
      <category>family preservation</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[53.8%: The Number That Made IFISC Necessary]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/538-percent-the-number-that-made-ifisc-necessary/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Statistics Canada's 2021 Census confirmed that Indigenous children are 53.8% of children in foster care while representing 7.7% of the child population. IFISC was built to address the accountability gap behind that ratio.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/538-percent-the-number-that-made-ifisc-necessary/</guid>
      <category>statistics</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>overrepresentation</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>Canada</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Bill C-92 Means for Indigenous Families — And Why a Standard Is Still Missing]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-bill-c92-means-for-indigenous-families/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bill C-92 gave Indigenous communities the legal right to exercise jurisdiction over child welfare in 2020. IFISC provides the measurable standard that makes that jurisdiction operational at the provider level.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-bill-c92-means-for-indigenous-families/</guid>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>Indigenous law</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>legislation</category>
      <category>family rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Seven Pillars of IFISC: A Framework Built from Lived Experience]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/seven-pillars-of-ifisc-explained/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[IFISC measures child welfare providers across seven pillars: health, rights, Indigenous law, family reunification, culture, community accountability, and crisis intervention. Each pillar was built from what families said was missing.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/seven-pillars-of-ifisc-explained/</guid>
      <category>pillars</category>
      <category>certification</category>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>framework</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Garrett McMartin: Why an Indigenous Entrepreneur Chose to Build a Child Welfare Standard]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/garrett-mcmartin-building-standards-not-startups/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Garrett McMartin is a Semiahmoo First Nation member, entrepreneur, and director of KFT-Families Society. He joined the IFISC board because he believes the accountability tools that build trustworthy markets belong in Indigenous-led child welfare.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/garrett-mcmartin-building-standards-not-startups/</guid>
      <category>Garrett McMartin</category>
      <category>Indigenous entrepreneur</category>
      <category>KFT</category>
      <category>board</category>
      <category>Semiahmoo</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Cultural Safety Actually Means Inside a Foster Home]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-cultural-safety-means-in-a-foster-home/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cultural safety in child welfare means more than cultural activities. IFISC defines it as active language support, facilitated ceremony access, maintained kin connections, and community-verified accountability. Here is what the standard requires.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-cultural-safety-means-in-a-foster-home/</guid>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>Indigenous identity</category>
      <category>family</category>
      <category>placement</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[From a Weekly Circle to a National Standard: The Story Behind KFT-Families Society]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/from-weekly-circle-to-national-standard/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[KFT-Families Society grew from a peer support circle for Indigenous parents navigating child welfare, started in 2019. Seven years of weekly meetings with families shaped every pillar of the IFISC standard.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/from-weekly-circle-to-national-standard/</guid>
      <category>KFT</category>
      <category>history</category>
      <category>family preservation</category>
      <category>origin</category>
      <category>Lori Damon</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How IFISC Certification Changes Placement Decisions for Indigenous Children]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-ifisc-certification-changes-placement-decisions/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[IFISC certification gives judges, MCFD workers, and families a verified, community-backed standard to evaluate child welfare providers. It changes placement decisions by introducing accountability where previously none existed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-ifisc-certification-changes-placement-decisions/</guid>
      <category>placement</category>
      <category>certification</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>courts</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>accountability</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What to Do If MCFD Knocks on Your Door]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-to-do-if-mcfd-knocks-on-your-door/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[If a Ministry of Children and Family Development worker arrives at your home, you have rights before you open that door. Here is what Indigenous parents in BC need to know before, during, and after an MCFD visit.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-to-do-if-mcfd-knocks-on-your-door/</guid>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>home visit</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Your Rights During a Child Welfare Investigation in BC]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/your-rights-during-a-child-welfare-investigation-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[If MCFD has opened an investigation into your family, you have specific rights under the Child, Family and Community Service Act and under Bill C-92. This is what Indigenous parents in BC need to know.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/your-rights-during-a-child-welfare-investigation-bc/</guid>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>MCFD investigation</category>
      <category>CFCSA</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Can MCFD Remove My Child Without a Court Order in BC?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/can-mcfd-remove-my-child-without-a-court-order/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Under BC's Child, Family and Community Service Act, MCFD can remove a child in certain circumstances without a prior court order. Indigenous parents need to know exactly when this applies and what their rights are the moment it happens.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/can-mcfd-remove-my-child-without-a-court-order/</guid>
      <category>child removal</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>court order</category>
      <category>CFCSA</category>
      <category>emergency removal</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is a Gladue Report and How Does It Help Indigenous Families in Child Welfare?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-gladue-report-and-how-it-helps-indigenous-families/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Gladue reports document the systemic factors that affect Indigenous people's lives. In child welfare proceedings, a Gladue report can provide courts with the context that bare facts alone cannot. Here is what Indigenous parents need to know.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-gladue-report-and-how-it-helps-indigenous-families/</guid>
      <category>Gladue report</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>court</category>
      <category>systemic factors</category>
      <category>BC</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Bill C-92 Protects Indigenous Families in Child Welfare]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-bill-c92-protects-indigenous-families/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bill C-92, in force since January 2020, gives Indigenous communities the right to make their own child welfare laws. For Indigenous parents, it creates rights that must be recognized in every child welfare proceeding involving their family.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-bill-c92-protects-indigenous-families/</guid>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>FICYA</category>
      <category>Indigenous rights</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>family rights</category>
      <category>Canada</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is Kinship Care and How Can an Indigenous Family Member Care for My Child?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-kinship-care-and-how-to-request-it/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Kinship care places a child with a relative or someone from their family's community instead of a stranger. For Indigenous families, kinship care is one of the most important tools available to keep children connected to their identity and kin.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-kinship-care-and-how-to-request-it/</guid>
      <category>kinship care</category>
      <category>family placement</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>foster care alternatives</category>
      <category>BC</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Get Your Children Back from Foster Care in BC]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-get-your-children-back-from-foster-care-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Reunification with your children after a child welfare removal is achievable, but it requires a clear plan and consistent action. Indigenous parents in BC have specific rights and resources that can support the path home.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-get-your-children-back-from-foster-care-bc/</guid>
      <category>reunification</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>family reunification plan</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Signs a Foster Home Is Not Culturally Safe for Your Indigenous Child]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/signs-a-foster-home-is-not-culturally-safe/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Cultural safety is not a feeling — it is a set of measurable practices. Indigenous parents have the right to know whether their child's placement is actively supporting cultural identity or quietly eroding it. These are the signs to watch for.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/signs-a-foster-home-is-not-culturally-safe/</guid>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>Indigenous identity</category>
      <category>placement</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>warning signs</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Keep Your Children Connected to Culture While They Are in Foster Care]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-keep-children-connected-to-culture-while-in-care/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When an Indigenous child enters care, the risk of cultural disconnection is real and immediate. As a parent, there are concrete steps you can take during visits and through advocacy to protect your child's cultural identity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-keep-children-connected-to-culture-while-in-care/</guid>
      <category>cultural connection</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>Indigenous identity</category>
      <category>visits</category>
      <category>language</category>
      <category>ceremony</category>
      <category>parents</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Happens at a Child Protection Conference in BC?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-happens-at-a-child-protection-conference-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A child protection conference is a meeting where decisions about your child's safety and care plan are made. Indigenous parents have the right to participate. Here is what to expect and how to prepare.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-happens-at-a-child-protection-conference-bc/</guid>
      <category>child protection conference</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>care plan</category>
      <category>parent participation</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to File a Complaint Against MCFD in BC]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-mcfd-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[If MCFD has acted unlawfully, failed to follow its own policies, or treated your family in a way that caused harm, you have the right to file a formal complaint. Here is the process for Indigenous families in BC.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-file-a-complaint-against-mcfd-bc/</guid>
      <category>MCFD complaint</category>
      <category>BC Ombudsperson</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>accountability</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is the Child, Family and Community Service Act and How Does It Affect Indigenous Families?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-the-child-family-and-community-service-act-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[BC's Child, Family and Community Service Act (CFCSA) is the law that governs when and how the government can intervene in family life. Indigenous parents need to know what it says — and where their rights within it sit.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-the-child-family-and-community-service-act-bc/</guid>
      <category>CFCSA</category>
      <category>BC child welfare law</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>legislation</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Find Indigenous Legal Help in BC for Child Welfare Matters]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-find-indigenous-legal-help-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indigenous parents in BC facing child welfare proceedings have access to free and low-cost legal resources. Here are the organizations that can help, what they offer, and how to reach them.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-find-indigenous-legal-help-bc/</guid>
      <category>legal help</category>
      <category>Legal Aid BC</category>
      <category>West Coast LEAF</category>
      <category>Indigenous legal resources</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>duty counsel</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is a Family Reunification Plan and How Do You Make It Work?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-family-reunification-plan-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A family reunification plan is the document that outlines what you need to accomplish before MCFD will return your children. Understanding how to read it, negotiate it, and execute it is essential for every Indigenous parent in BC with children in care.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-family-reunification-plan-bc/</guid>
      <category>reunification plan</category>
      <category>care plan</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>family reunification</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Request an Indigenous Cultural Support Worker from MCFD]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-request-an-indigenous-cultural-support-worker/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[An Indigenous cultural support worker can accompany you to meetings, advocate for your cultural rights, and help ensure your child's placement supports their cultural identity. Here is how to request one and what to do if the request is denied.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-request-an-indigenous-cultural-support-worker/</guid>
      <category>cultural support worker</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>Indigenous services</category>
      <category>cultural rights</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>advocacy</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is a Temporary Custody Order in BC Child Welfare?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-temporary-custody-order-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[If MCFD applies to court for custody of your child, a Temporary Custody Order (TCO) is the most common first legal step. Here is what it means, how long it lasts, and what your rights are when one is issued.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-temporary-custody-order-bc/</guid>
      <category>temporary custody order</category>
      <category>TCO</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>court</category>
      <category>child protection</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Preparing for Child Protection Court as an Indigenous Parent in BC]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/preparing-for-child-protection-court-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Child protection court is formal, fast-moving, and unfamiliar to most parents who appear there for the first time. Indigenous parents need specific preparation to participate effectively and protect their rights.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/preparing-for-child-protection-court-bc/</guid>
      <category>child protection court</category>
      <category>family court</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>court preparation</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>legal process</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Free Support Resources for Indigenous Parents Navigating Child Welfare in BC]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/free-support-resources-for-indigenous-parents-child-welfare-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indigenous parents in BC do not have to navigate the child welfare system alone. This is a directory of free and low-cost resources — legal, cultural, peer, and community-based — available right now.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 12 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/free-support-resources-for-indigenous-parents-child-welfare-bc/</guid>
      <category>resources</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC child welfare</category>
      <category>support</category>
      <category>legal aid</category>
      <category>peer support</category>
      <category>cultural support</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How to Choose a Culturally Safe Foster Provider for Your Indigenous Child]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-choose-a-culturally-safe-foster-provider/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[If your child must be placed outside your home, you have the right to advocate for where they go and who cares for them. Here is what cultural safety looks like in a foster provider, and the questions to ask before a placement is made.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-choose-a-culturally-safe-foster-provider/</guid>
      <category>foster provider</category>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>placement</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>IFISC certification</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Indigenous Family Preservation: What the Research Actually Shows]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/indigenous-family-preservation-what-research-shows/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Research on Indigenous child welfare in Canada consistently shows that family preservation produces better outcomes than removal. Here is what the evidence says and what it means for how providers should be working with Indigenous families.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/indigenous-family-preservation-what-research-shows/</guid>
      <category>family preservation</category>
      <category>research</category>
      <category>Indigenous child welfare</category>
      <category>outcomes</category>
      <category>evidence</category>
      <category>TRC</category>
      <category>Canada</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Neighbor Called MCFD on Me — What Happens Now?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/my-neighbor-called-mcfd-what-happens-now/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A report to MCFD from a neighbor or anyone else triggers a process you need to understand. Here is exactly what happens after a report is made, what MCFD is required to do, and what your rights are from the first contact.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/my-neighbor-called-mcfd-what-happens-now/</guid>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>report to MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare investigation</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Wants to Drug Test Me — Do I Have to Agree?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wants-to-drug-test-me-do-i-have-to-agree/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[MCFD often requests drug or alcohol testing during a child welfare investigation. Understanding what you are legally required to do, what happens if you refuse, and how to protect yourself is critical before you respond.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wants-to-drug-test-me-do-i-have-to-agree/</guid>
      <category>drug test</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>investigation</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Can MCFD Talk to My Children at School Without Telling Me?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/can-mcfd-talk-to-my-children-at-school/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[MCFD has the legal authority to interview children at school without parental consent in certain circumstances. Here is what the law allows, what your children's rights are, and what you can do when this happens.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/can-mcfd-talk-to-my-children-at-school/</guid>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>school interview</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>investigation</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Says My Home Is Unsafe — What Does That Mean Exactly?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-my-home-is-unsafe-what-does-that-mean/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When MCFD tells you your home is unsafe, they are making a specific legal assessment that triggers defined next steps. Understanding exactly what they mean, what the standard is, and how to respond can determine whether your family stays together.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-my-home-is-unsafe-what-does-that-mean/</guid>
      <category>unsafe home</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>home assessment</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>safety plan</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Is Threatening to Remove My Children If I Don't Leave My Partner]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-threatening-removal-if-i-dont-leave-my-partner/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Being told to choose between your children and your partner is one of the most devastating things MCFD can say to a parent. Here is what the law actually requires, what your options are, and how to protect yourself and your children.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-threatening-removal-if-i-dont-leave-my-partner/</guid>
      <category>domestic violence</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>relationship</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Child Said Something at School and Now MCFD Is Involved — What Do I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/my-child-said-something-at-school-mcfd-involved/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When a child discloses something at school that triggers a mandatory report to MCFD, the investigation that follows is stressful and fast-moving. Here is what to expect, what your rights are, and how to respond effectively.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/my-child-said-something-at-school-mcfd-involved/</guid>
      <category>school disclosure</category>
      <category>mandatory reporting</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Wants to Do a Home Inspection — What Are They Actually Looking For?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-home-inspection-what-are-they-looking-for/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A home visit from MCFD is not a white-glove inspection. Understanding what they are legally assessing, what the actual standards are, and what you can do before they arrive can make a significant difference.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-home-inspection-what-are-they-looking-for/</guid>
      <category>home visit</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>home inspection</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Says My Housing Situation Puts My Children at Risk — What Are My Options?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-housing-puts-children-at-risk/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Housing instability is one of the most common reasons MCFD cites for child welfare involvement. But poverty is not neglect under BC law. Here is what the legal standard actually is, what MCFD can and cannot do, and what resources exist to address housing quickly.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-housing-puts-children-at-risk/</guid>
      <category>housing</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>poverty</category>
      <category>neglect</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>homelessness</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Says My Mental Health Puts My Children at Risk — What Can I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-mental-health-puts-children-at-risk/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A mental health diagnosis or a mental health crisis does not automatically mean your children are at risk. Here is what MCFD must demonstrate, what your rights are, and how to build a record that shows you are a safe parent.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-mental-health-puts-children-at-risk/</guid>
      <category>mental health</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>diagnosis</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Children Were Just Taken by MCFD — What Do I Do in the First 24 Hours?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/children-just-taken-first-24-hours/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The first 24 hours after your children are removed are the most critical in the entire child welfare process. Here is exactly what to do, in order, to protect your rights and your children's safety.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/children-just-taken-first-24-hours/</guid>
      <category>removal</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>children taken</category>
      <category>first steps</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>crisis</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Won't Tell Me Where My Children Are — What Can I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wont-tell-me-where-my-children-are/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[After a removal, you are legally entitled to know where your children are placed. If MCFD is withholding this information, here is how to compel disclosure and what to do when you cannot get an answer.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wont-tell-me-where-my-children-are/</guid>
      <category>placement disclosure</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>removal</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Can I Visit My Children While They Are in Foster Care?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/can-i-visit-my-children-in-foster-care/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Contact between children and their parents during foster care is a right — but one that MCFD can shape and restrict. Here is what you are entitled to, how to request more contact, and what to do if visits are being denied without justification.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/can-i-visit-my-children-in-foster-care/</guid>
      <category>visits</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>contact</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Children Have Been in Care for Six Months — What Happens Next Legally?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/children-in-care-six-months-what-happens-next/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Six months is a critical threshold in BC child welfare proceedings. Here is what changes at six months, what MCFD is required to do, and what decisions are approaching that you need to prepare for.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/children-in-care-six-months-what-happens-next/</guid>
      <category>six months in care</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>court</category>
      <category>reunification</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>timeline</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Wants to Place My Children With a Non-Indigenous Family — Can I Stop This?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wants-to-place-children-with-non-indigenous-family/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indigenous children have specific legal protections regarding cultural placements under both BC and federal law. Here is what you can do when MCFD proposes a placement that does not reflect your children's cultural identity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-wants-to-place-children-with-non-indigenous-family/</guid>
      <category>placement</category>
      <category>non-Indigenous</category>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Can't Afford a Lawyer for My Child Welfare Case — What Are My Options?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/cant-afford-lawyer-child-welfare-case/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Legal representation in child welfare proceedings is not only for people who can pay. Here is every free and low-cost legal resource available to Indigenous parents in BC, and how to access them before your first court date.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/cant-afford-lawyer-child-welfare-case/</guid>
      <category>legal aid</category>
      <category>lawyer</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>affordable legal help</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>court</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Missed My Court Date for My Child Welfare Case — What Do I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/missed-court-date-child-welfare-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Missing a court date in a child welfare case is serious but not irreversible. Here is what happens when you miss a hearing, what MCFD can do as a result, and the steps to take immediately to limit the damage.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/missed-court-date-child-welfare-bc/</guid>
      <category>missed court date</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>court</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous parents</category>
      <category>legal process</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[What Is a Supervision Order in BC Child Welfare and How Does It Affect My Family?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-supervision-order-bc/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A supervision order allows your children to remain at home while MCFD monitors your family. It is less severe than removal but comes with real conditions and consequences. Here is what it means and how to navigate it.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/what-is-a-supervision-order-bc/</guid>
      <category>supervision order</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>court order</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Is Applying for a Continuing Custody Order — What Does That Mean for Me?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-applying-for-continuing-custody-order/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A Continuing Custody Order is MCFD's application for permanent legal custody of your children. It is the most serious step in BC child welfare proceedings. Here is what it means, what the legal process looks like, and what you must do right now.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-applying-for-continuing-custody-order/</guid>
      <category>continuing custody order</category>
      <category>CCO</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>permanent custody</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>court</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[The Court Ordered Me to Take Parenting Classes — Will This Actually Help Me Get My Children Back?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/court-ordered-parenting-classes-will-it-help/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Parenting classes are one of the most common conditions in BC child welfare cases. Here is what they actually demonstrate to MCFD and the court, how to choose the right program, and what else you need to do alongside them.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/court-ordered-parenting-classes-will-it-help/</guid>
      <category>parenting classes</category>
      <category>reunification</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>court conditions</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Do I Get a Court Order Changed in a BC Child Welfare Case?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-change-a-court-order-bc-child-welfare/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Court orders in child welfare cases are not permanent by default. Here is how to apply to vary an order, what the court requires to change conditions, and when a variation is most likely to succeed.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-change-a-court-order-bc-child-welfare/</guid>
      <category>vary court order</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>court</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>supervision order</category>
      <category>custody order</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Says I Need to Complete a Program Before My Children Can Come Home — Which Programs Actually Matter?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-complete-program-before-children-return/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Reunification plans in BC child welfare typically require completing specific programs. Here is how to identify which conditions carry the most weight, how to document your completion, and how to avoid completing programs that do not move your case forward.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-says-complete-program-before-children-return/</guid>
      <category>reunification plan</category>
      <category>programs</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>conditions</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Supervised Visits With My Children Keep Getting Cancelled — What Can I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/supervised-visits-keep-getting-cancelled/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Consistent contact between parents and children during foster care is a legal requirement that MCFD must actively support. If your visits are being cancelled repeatedly, here is how to document the pattern and hold MCFD accountable.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/supervised-visits-keep-getting-cancelled/</guid>
      <category>supervised visits</category>
      <category>cancelled visits</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>contact</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[MCFD Is Transitioning My Children Back Home — What Should I Expect?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-transitioning-children-back-home/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A transition plan marks the beginning of reunification but it is not the end of MCFD's involvement. Here is what the transition process looks like, what MCFD will be watching for, and how to make the return home as stable as possible.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mcfd-transitioning-children-back-home/</guid>
      <category>reunification</category>
      <category>transition home</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>return home</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Children Say They Don't Want to Come Home — What Are My Rights?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/children-dont-want-to-come-home-what-are-my-rights/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When children in foster care express a preference to stay in their placement, it complicates reunification but does not end your parental rights. Here is what the law says about children's views, what drives this preference, and how to respond.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/children-dont-want-to-come-home-what-are-my-rights/</guid>
      <category>children's views</category>
      <category>reunification</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Child Is in Foster Care and Losing Their Indigenous Language — What Can I Do?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/child-in-care-losing-language/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Language loss in foster care is one of the most documented forms of cultural harm to Indigenous children. It is also legally recognized as a harm that MCFD is required to prevent. Here is how to formally demand cultural and language supports for your child.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/child-in-care-losing-language/</guid>
      <category>language</category>
      <category>Indigenous language</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>cultural rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Child's Foster Family Knows Nothing About Our Nation — Who Do I Complain To?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/foster-family-knows-nothing-about-our-nation/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A foster placement that is culturally disconnected from your child's nation is a placement that is failing your child. Here is who has jurisdiction to act, how to make a formal complaint, and what to demand as an alternative.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/foster-family-knows-nothing-about-our-nation/</guid>
      <category>culturally inappropriate placement</category>
      <category>foster family</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>cultural safety</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>complaint</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Can My Child Attend Ceremony and Cultural Events While in Foster Care?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/can-child-attend-ceremony-in-foster-care/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Your child's right to participate in ceremony, cultural events, and spiritual practices does not stop because they are in foster care. Here is the legal basis for that right and how to enforce it when MCFD or a foster family resists.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/can-child-attend-ceremony-in-foster-care/</guid>
      <category>ceremony</category>
      <category>cultural events</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>Indigenous children</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>cultural rights</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[How Do I Get My First Nation Involved in My Child Welfare Case?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-get-first-nation-involved-in-child-welfare-case/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Under Bill C-92, your First Nation has specific rights to be notified and involved when a member's child enters the child welfare system. Here is how to trigger that involvement and what it can mean for your case.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/how-to-get-first-nation-involved-in-child-welfare-case/</guid>
      <category>First Nation</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>jurisdiction</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>nation involvement</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Child Is Being Raised in a Different Religion in Their Foster Home — What Are My Rights?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/child-raised-in-different-religion-in-foster-care/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Indigenous children in foster care have the right to their own spiritual and cultural practices. When a foster placement imposes a different religious framework, that is a cultural rights violation. Here is how to identify it and what to do.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/child-raised-in-different-religion-in-foster-care/</guid>
      <category>religion</category>
      <category>spiritual rights</category>
      <category>foster care</category>
      <category>cultural rights</category>
      <category>Indigenous children</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am Leaving an Abusive Relationship — Will MCFD Take My Children?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/leaving-abusive-relationship-will-mcfd-take-my-children/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Leaving an abusive relationship should never cost you your children. Here is what BC law actually says, how to navigate MCFD involvement while leaving, and what protections exist for Indigenous parents in exactly this situation.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/leaving-abusive-relationship-will-mcfd-take-my-children/</guid>
      <category>domestic violence</category>
      <category>leaving abuse</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
      <category>safety</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am Struggling With Addiction — Will MCFD Take My Children?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/struggling-with-addiction-will-mcfd-take-my-children/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Addiction does not automatically mean your children will be removed. What matters to MCFD and the courts is whether your children are safe — not whether you use substances. Here is what the law actually says and how to protect your family.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/struggling-with-addiction-will-mcfd-take-my-children/</guid>
      <category>addiction</category>
      <category>substance use</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am Homeless or Couch-Surfing — Will MCFD Take My Children?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/homeless-will-mcfd-take-my-children/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Homelessness is not neglect under BC law. MCFD must offer supports to families experiencing housing instability before removing children. Here is what your rights are, what MCFD is required to do, and what resources can help you get housed quickly.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <category>homelessness</category>
      <category>housing</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>poverty</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am in Jail — What Happens to My Children?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/in-jail-what-happens-to-my-children/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Incarceration triggers immediate questions about your children's care. Here is what happens legally, what rights you retain, and how to ensure your children are placed with family rather than entering the child welfare system.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/in-jail-what-happens-to-my-children/</guid>
      <category>incarceration</category>
      <category>jail</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
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      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Have a Mental Health Diagnosis — Will That Affect My Child Welfare Case?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/mental-health-diagnosis-child-welfare-case/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A mental health diagnosis is not grounds for child removal in BC. What matters is whether your diagnosis affects your ability to parent safely right now. Here is how to demonstrate parenting capacity with a mental health condition.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/mental-health-diagnosis-child-welfare-case/</guid>
      <category>mental health diagnosis</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>parenting capacity</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am a Young Parent — Is MCFD More Likely to Remove My Children?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/young-parent-mcfd-more-likely-to-remove/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Young parents — especially young Indigenous parents — face disproportionate scrutiny from MCFD. Here is what the research shows, what your legal rights are, and how to protect your family from bias in the child welfare system.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/young-parent-mcfd-more-likely-to-remove/</guid>
      <category>young parent</category>
      <category>teen parent</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>bias</category>
      <category>parent rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Grandchildren Were Taken by MCFD — How Do I Become Their Caregiver?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/grandchildren-taken-how-to-become-caregiver/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[As a grandparent, you have the legal right to be considered as a kinship caregiver for your grandchildren. Here is the process for applying, what MCFD will assess, and how to navigate the system to keep your grandchildren in the family.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/grandchildren-taken-how-to-become-caregiver/</guid>
      <category>grandparent</category>
      <category>kinship care</category>
      <category>grandchildren</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>family placement</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Sister's Children Were Removed by MCFD — How Can Our Family Get Custody?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/sisters-children-removed-how-can-family-get-custody/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When a sibling's children are removed, extended family members can apply to be kinship caregivers. Here is how to navigate the process, what MCFD will assess, and how to act quickly enough to prevent placement with strangers.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/sisters-children-removed-how-can-family-get-custody/</guid>
      <category>kinship care</category>
      <category>extended family</category>
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      <category>MCFD</category>
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      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>family placement</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[I Am a Kokum and I Want to Raise My Grandchildren — What Does BC Law Say?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/kokum-wants-to-raise-grandchildren-bc-law/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Grandmothers have always been central to the raising of children in Indigenous communities. BC law and Bill C-92 recognize this role. Here is how to formally assert your right to care for your grandchildren through the child welfare system.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/kokum-wants-to-raise-grandchildren-bc-law/</guid>
      <category>kokum</category>
      <category>grandmother</category>
      <category>kinship care</category>
      <category>grandchildren</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
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      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous families</category>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
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    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[Can My First Nation Intervene in My Child Welfare Case Under Bill C-92?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/first-nation-intervene-child-welfare-bill-c92/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Bill C-92 gives First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governing bodies the right to be involved in child welfare matters concerning their members — and in some cases, to exercise jurisdiction over them entirely. Here is what that means and how to trigger it.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/first-nation-intervene-child-welfare-bill-c92/</guid>
      <category>Bill C-92</category>
      <category>First Nation jurisdiction</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>MCFD</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>Indigenous self-government</category>
      <category>nation rights</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title><![CDATA[My Band Office Isn't Helping Me — What Other Indigenous Resources Exist?]]></title>
      <link>https://ifisc.org/blog/band-office-not-helping-other-indigenous-resources/</link>
      <description><![CDATA[When your band office is unresponsive, under-resourced, or not equipped to help with child welfare matters, there are other Indigenous-led resources that can step in. Here is a full directory of alternatives across BC.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="true">https://ifisc.org/blog/band-office-not-helping-other-indigenous-resources/</guid>
      <category>band office</category>
      <category>Indigenous resources</category>
      <category>child welfare</category>
      <category>BC</category>
      <category>support</category>
      <category>First Nation</category>
      <category>urban Indigenous</category>
      <category>peer support</category>
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