Coordinator; Child Well- Law Development and Jurisdictional Readiness

Position: Coordinator (Child Well-Being Law Development and Jurisdictional Readiness)

Department: Health and Wellness

Classification Level
: PS-2

Employment Status
:
Fulltime (Year 1 of 5-year Strategy)

Purpose

M’Chigeeng First Nation is committed to strengthening community wellness and is undertaking a multi‑year initiative to develop a Nation‑based Child Well‑Being Law and a culturally grounded community‑care model rooted in prevention, self‑determination, and Anishinaabe values. As a vibrant and united community of the Anishinabek of the Three Fires Confederacy, M’Chigeeng is guided by a vision of being a proud, progressive, and Ojibwe‑speaking Nation where people are healthy, self‑reliant, and grounded in their responsibilities to Mother Earth.

To support this work, M’Chigeeng First Nation requires dedicated roles that will lead engagement, planning, research, coordination, and capacity development. Year 1 represents a critical readiness phase focused on community engagement, needs assessment, data gathering, and intergovernmental coordination to prepare for exercising jurisdiction under the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program and An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children, youth and families.

These roles will ensure that the development of the Child Well‑Being Law and community‑care model is community‑driven, culturally informed, and aligned with M’Chigeeng’s long‑term vision of self‑governance, family wellness, and sustainable service delivery.

The Coordinator is responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing Year 1 of M’Chigeeng First Nation multi‑year initiative to develop a Nation‑based Child Well‑Being Law and a comprehensive Community Care Model grounded in culture, prevention, and self‑determination. Year 1 priorities include community engagement, research, service review, model development, governance planning, and foundational law and policy work to support readiness for jurisdiction under An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families and the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program.

The Coordinator reports directly to the Director of Health and Wellness.

• Coordinate and oversee the work of up to three project staff, providing day‑to‑day direction, support, and accountability for Year 1 priorities, deliverables, and timelines outlined in the Child Well‑Being Law Development Work Plan.
• Support onboarding and orientation of project staff, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, reporting expectations, and culturally grounded practices.
• Ensure team activities are carried out in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, practice standards, and project reporting requirements.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive Community Engagement Plan.
• In collaboration with the Community Engagement Facilitators, coordinate engagement sessions with youth, parents, caregivers, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, internal departments (health, education, social services), and external service providers.
• Facilitate surveys, focus groups, sharing circles, and readiness assessments.
• Document findings and prepare Engagement Session Reports and a Comprehensive Needs Assessment Report.
• Maintain culturally respectful engagement practices, confidentiality, and data integrity.

• Conduct a jurisdictional scan of First Nation child welfare laws and models across Ontario and Canada.
• Prepare a Jurisdiction Scan and Literature Review, Service Gap Analysis Report, and draft Community‑Based Model Framework.
• Identify Anishinaabe laws, teachings, and governance principles relevant to child and family well‑being.
• Prepare the Cultural Framework, Guiding Principles Document, and draft Community Care Model.

• Support development of foundational elements of the M’Chigeeng First Nation Child Well‑Being Law.
• Identify legal and policy priorities for future drafting phases.
• Coordinate engagement with legal and technical advisors.