Capital Project Management and Operational Readiness

Project Background

In Alberta, over 60% of the children in the child welfare system are Indigenous. With a high demand for existing beds in group care homes and a lack of culturally relevant spaces, Indigenous children are often placed in care outside of their community.

In response to this crisis, a Nation engaged MNP to explore the feasibility of constructing and operating an on-reserve group home for their children and other Indigenous children in care to reconnect with their culture and traditional land.

Solution

MNP brought together the Nation’s Chief and Council, the group home board, Nation Elders, and the DFNA to understand the community’s needs. Research, including data requests and interviews, was also gathered from federal and provincial governments and group home operators to ensure a holistic and comprehensive understanding of requirements and costs. MNP’s Indigenous Services and Accounting teams analyzed the information to determine the project’s feasibility.

Once construction was underway, MNP conducted activities to ensure operational readiness, including incorporation into a legal entity, developing board structure and policies, developing bylaws, job descriptions for a management team, and assisting with recruiting the executive director.

Outcomes

The Nation has begun construction of their on-reserve group home. MNP has continued to support the project as the client’s representative during the construction phase, which includes assisting contractors with community engagement for the building design and certifying payments. MNP also supported the Nation in developing policies and procedures needed to receive and maintain accreditation.

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