Jordan’s Principle
Jordan’s Principle Support is available 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Emergency Jordan’s Principle Call Centre: 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453)
- Rebecca Rochon, Jordan’s Principal Service Coordinator, rrochon@tchss.ca or 250-302-2616
What is covered
Jordan’s Principle responds to the unmet needs of First Nations children, no matter where they live in Canada.
Different levels of government fund different services for First Nations children. As a result, it can be hard to figure out how to access necessary products, services and supports.
Under Jordan’s Principle, we can:
- inform families about the help available for their child and how to access it
- coordinate access to products, services and supports
- provide funding when it’s needed to make sure products, services and supports are accessed without delay
What is funded by Jordan’s Principle
Each child’s situation is unique. Please confirm coverage in advance with Rebecca at 250-302-2616.
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. Some examples of what has been funded under Jordan’s Principle include:
Health
- mobility aids
- wheelchair ramps
- addiction services
- services from Elders
- mental health services
- specialized hearing aids
- traditional healing services
- services for children in care
- assessments and screenings
- transportation to appointments
- medical supplies and equipment
- long-term care for children with specialized needs
- therapeutic services for individuals or groups (speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy)
Social
- social worker
- land-based activities
- personal support worker
- specialized summer camps
- respite care (individual or group)
- specialized programs based on cultural beliefs and practices
Education
- school supplies
- tutoring services
- teaching assistants
- specialized school transportation
- psycho-educational assessments
- assistive technologies and electronics
Who is covered
On November 25, 2020, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) released a ruling about Jordan’s Principle eligibility. A child under the age of majority in their province or territory of residence can access Jordan’s Principle, if they permanently reside in Canada and if the child meets one of the following criteria:
- is registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
- has one parent or guardian who is registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act
- is recognized by their nation for the purposes of Jordan’s Principle
- is ordinarily resident on reserve
If you are a First Nations leader or official, looking for more information about what this means to your nation, please contact Rebecca at 250-302-2616.
Ordinarily resident on reserve means that an Indigenous child:
- lives on reserve
- normally lives on reserve even if the child or one of the members of their household (such as a sibling, parent, extended family living with child) may have been required to spend some time away temporarily from the community to access services such as health care or education where there are no other comparable services available in the community
- was ordinarily resident on reserve immediately prior to accessing Jordan’s Principle
- is a dependent of a family that maintains a primary residence on reserve
- returns to live on reserve with parents, guardians or caregivers during the year, even if they live elsewhere while attending school or to receive medical care or other services
- meets student eligibility requirements in Yukon Territory
A child taken into care of a Child and family services agency or into a kinship or informal agreement is considered ordinarily resident on reserve where:
- the child’s parent or guardian lived on reserve at the time the child was taken into careor
- a child goes into the care of a guardian who lives on reserve
Please contact Jordan’s Principle Coordinator, Rebecca Rochon, if you’re not sure how to help an Indigenous child who needs access to products, supports and services.
Who to contact
Rebecca Rochon – Jordan’s Principle Coordinator, 250-302-2616