COVID-19 Department of Family Services update
COVID-19 GN Update - January 25, 2021
Department of Family Services
Due to increased cases of COVID-19 in Arviat, Income Assistance appointments will be done by phone as much as possible with in-person appointments as needed.
This is meant to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community and to keep everyone safe.
Please call your local IAW or the Regional Office listed below to set up an appointment. Please leave a message if there is no answer, you will be called back. You will be advised if the appointment will be in person or on the telephone.
If you do not have access to a phone, please visit the Income Assistance Office during your appointment time. Due to Covid-19 there will be only one person allowed into the Income Assistance Office at a time.
If you are receiving EI, CPP, OAS/GIS, CRB or CRCB please have the amount and the last payment date available for your appointment.
No physical cheques will be issued during the Public Health Emergency in your community. Your Income Assistance Worker will ask you to choose a store, or stores, where you wish your payment to be made on your behalf in your community.
The payment will be available for you at that store after 11:00 am the following day.
Please follow the stores guidelines on social distancing and the number of community members allowed in at a time.
Child Welfare Protection
If you are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of a child and/or youth, call your local Community Social Services Office.
Arviat:
- Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-857-3202 or 867-857-6871
- Family Wellness Supervisor 867-857 3102 or 867-857-6786
RCMP: 867-857-1111
Social services and local RCMP contact information for each community can be found on the Family Wellness section of our website at https://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/child-protection.
Income Assistance Regional Contact Information
- Kivalliq: Toll free 1-800-953-8516 ext 1602
- Kivalliq Regional Office: 1-867-645-5040 ext 1602 or ext 1600
Career Development Information
- Kivalliq: 1-800-953-8516 ext 1611
COVID-19 GN Update - December 11, 2020
Department of Family Services
Adjusted services:
Income Assistance offices across Nunavut, with the exception of Arviat, are open. Due to the current status of COVID-19 in Nunavut, appointments are required.
Please call your local IAW or the Regional Office to set up an appointment. Please leave a message if there is no answer and you will be called back. You will be advised if the appointment will be in person or on the telephone. At this time, most appointments will be done on the phone.
If you do not have access to a phone, please visit the Income Assistance Office and a future appointment will be set up for you. Due to Covid-19 there will be only one person allowed into the Income Assistance Office at a time.
If you are receiving EI, CPP, OAS/GIS, CRB or CRCB please have the amount and the last payment date available for your appointment.
COVID-19 GN Update - December 2, 2020
Department of Family Services
Closed /Cancelled/Suspended services:
Income Assistance offices across the territory will be maintaining the current procedures in place.
Income Assistance appointments will be done by phone as much as possible with in-person appointments as needed. Clients should call their local IAW or the Regional Office to set up an appointment and leave a message if there is no answer, they will be called back.
Department of Family Services Update - November 16, 2020
The Income Assistance Offices are closed for in person appointments. This closure is meant to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community and to keep everyone safe.
Income Assistance will be issued remotely. If you have an appointment or would like to make an appointment for assistance, please call your local office or the Regional Office to set up an appointment. Please leave a message if there is no answer and you will be called back.
Residents of Arviat should be directing all inquires regarding Income Assistance to the Family Services Regional Office in Rankin Inlet 1-800-953-8516 ext 1602 or call the Kivalliq Regional Office: 1-867-645-5040 ext 1602 or ext 1600.
An Income Assistance Worker will call you back at your appointment time to conduct a phone assessment. If you are receiving EI, CRB or CRCB please have the amount and the last payment date available for your appointment.
No physical cheques will be issued during the Public Health Emergency in your community. Your Income Assistance Worker will ask you to choose a store, or stores, where you wish your payment to be made on your behalf in your community.
The payment will be available for you at that store after 11:00 a.m. the following day.
Please follow the store’s guidelines on social distancing and the number of citizens allowed in at a time.
Department of Family Services Update - November 13, 2020
Child Welfare Protection
If you are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of a child and/or youth, call your local Community Social Services Office.
Arviat:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-857-3202 or 867-857-6871
• Family Wellness Supervisor 867-857 3102 or 867-857-6786
Baker Lake:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-793-2839 or 867-793 5126
• Family Wellness Supervisor: 867-793 2839 or 867-793 1348
Coral Harbour:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-645-7608 or 867-645-6756
• Family Wellness Supervisor: 867-645-5064 or 867-645-6547
Chesterfield Inlet:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-793-5126
• Family Wellness Supervisor 867-793-2839 or 867-793-1348
Naujaat:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-462-4020 or 867-222-1385
• Family Wellness Supervisor: 867-793-2839 or 867-793-1691
Whale Cove:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): 867-896-9062 or 867-222-2336
• Family Wellness Supervisor 867-857-3201 or 867-857-6786
Territory-wide contact: 1-844-FW-CHILD (1-844-392-4453)
If you are concerned about the services that a child or youth are receiving or have comments or compliments to share, contact us at 1-855-522-5201 or email us at @email
RCMP: 867-857-1111
Social services and local RCMP contact information for each community can be found on the Family Wellness section of our website at https://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/child-protection.
Income Assistance Regional Contact Information
Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Naujaat and Whale Cove:
• Kivalliq: Toll free 1-800-953-8516 ext 1602
• Kivalliq Regional Office: 1-867-645-5040 ext 1602 or ext 1600
Career Development Information
Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Naujaat and Whale Cove:
• Kivalliq: 1-800-953-8516 ext 1611
Adult Learning Training Support (ALTS) students currently enrolled in programs in will continue to receive their training allowances to the end of the fiscal year.
Department of Family Services Update - November 11, 2020
Rankin Inlet Child Welfare Protection
If you are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of a child and/or youth, call your local Community Social Services Office.
Family Wellness (CSSW): (867) 645 5064 or (867) 645 7608
Family Wellness Supervisor (867) 645 5064 or (867) 645 6547
Territory-wide contact: 1-844-FW-CHILD (1-844-392-4453)
RCMP - (867) 645-1111
If you are concerned about the services that a child or youth are receiving or have comments or compliments to share, contact us at 1 855 522-5201 or email us at @email
Social services and local RCMP contact information for each community can be found on the Family Wellness section of our website at https://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/child-protection.
Visits to the Rankin Inlet Group Home
Visits to the Rankin Inlet Group Home will not be permitted at this time. The Chief Public Health Officer has stated that residents of Rankin Inlet are to remain home as much as possible and limit contact with others outside their immediate households.
Rankin Inlet Income Assistance Regional Contact Information
Kivalliq: Toll-Free 1-800-953-8516 ext 1602
Kivalliq Regional Office: 1-867-645-5040 ext 1602 or ext 1600
Rankin Inlet Career Development Information
Kivalliq – 1-800-953-8516
Adult Learning Training Support (ALTS) students currently enrolled in programs in Rankin Inlet will continue to receive their training allowances to the end of the fiscal year.
Department of Family Services Update - November 6, 2020
Sanikiluaq Child Welfare Protection
If you are concerned about the safety and wellbeing of a child and/or youth, call your local Community Social Services Office:
• Family Wellness (CSSW): (867) 266-8738
• Family Wellness Supervisor (867) 857 3201 or (867) 857 6786
• Territory-wide contact: 1-844-FW-CHILD (1-844-392-4453)
If you are concerned about the services that a child or youth are receiving or have comments or compliments to share, contact us at 1 855 522-5201 or email us at @email
Social services and local RCMP contact information for each community can be found on the Family Wellness section of our website at https://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/child-protection.
RCMP - (867) 266-1111
Sanikiluaq Income Assistance Regional Contact Information
Kivalliq: Toll free 1-800-953-8516 ext 1602
Kivalliq Regional Office: 867-645-5040 ext 1602 or ext 1600
Sanikiluaq Income Assistance office: 867-266-8393 or 867-266-8739
Sanikiluaq Career Development Information
Kivalliq – 1-800-953-8516
Adult Learning Training Support
Adult Learning Training Support (ALTS) students currently enrolled in the Office Administration Certificate program in Sanikiluaq will continue to receive their training allowances to the end of the fiscal year.
Department of Family Services Update - June 4, 2020
Minister of Family Services update
- Kivalliq: 1-800-953-8516 ext 1611
Ullaakkut,
As part of the Government of Canada response to the COVID 19 pandemic, seniors who are in receipt of either the Old Age Security (OAS) or the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will receive a one-time tax-free payment.
Those seniors eligible for the Old Age Security Pension will receive an additional $300 and those seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement will receive an additional $200.
This payment will be available to all individuals who are already eligible to receive the Old Age Security pension or the Guaranteed Income Supplement in June 2020. The payments will be automatically applied.
The Government of Nunavut is committed to ensuring our seniors are well provided for. As such, I am pleased to announce that the Government of Nunavut has enacted an exemption regulation for this one-time payment increase to OAS and GIS. This will provide the maximum amount of funds from the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut to seniors on Income Assistance who are vulnerable and financial insecure.
Thank you.
Department of Family Services Update - May 6, 2020
If you or someone you know is a victim of violence and needs access to services and supports, help is available.
If you aren’t able to talk to a local Social Work Office, please call the Department of Family Services at 1-855-522-5201 for a referral. You can also find more information at the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council Facebook page.
If you need support, you have options. Please reach out and contact any of the following:
|
Nunavut Victim Services |
1-866-456-5216 |
|
Family Abuse Intervention Act (FAIA) line |
1-844-534-1038 |
|
Nunavut Kamatsiaqtut Help Line |
1-800-265-3333 |
|
Kids Help Phone |
1-800-668-6868 |
|
Embrace Life Council |
1-866-804-2782 |
|
Alcoholics Anonymous |
1-888-616-4011 |
|
Law Society of Nunavut |
1-888-990-4665 |
|
Tukisigiarvik Centre – Wellness (Iqaluit) |
1-867-979-2400 |
Department of Family Services Update - April 30, 2020
All Family Services programs and services are being conducted via phone – all critical services (such as emergency services for children, youth, women, homeless, and adults with disabilities are available 24/7) remain in place. Contact 867-899-1886, 24/7.
Department of Family Services Update - April 6, 2020
For FANS students:
Unless your program of study continues into May, FANS funding ends on April 30, 2020. Your last payment was deposited in your account on April 15, 2020.
As a result, the FANS Office is recommending that you return to your home community.
You have until May 1, 2020 to book your travel home. After this date, we cannot guarantee that FANS will pay for your travel home.
You can book your travel home through Top of the World Travel by emailing @email
Please be aware that, as per FANS policy, if you miss your flight, you will be responsible for paying for your own travel home. So, please make sure you understand your flight itinerary.
FANS will be sending out additional information next week on sources of funding for living expenses after April 30, 2020.
Department of Family Services Update - April 6, 2020
Income Assistance Services across Nunavut
As of March 23, 2020, the department is providing services to clients by phone.
April Income Support payments will be made using March income support assessments.
April cheques have been printed and appointments have been set for clients to pick them up. Appointments are scheduled so that there is only one person in the office at a time.
Department of Family Services Update - March 30, 2020
Out-of-territory students wishing to return to their home communities in Nunavut have started their 14-day isolation period in Ottawa (31 students) and Winnipeg (15 students).
Ongoing services:
- Student funding: all student funding will be extended to the end of April.
Adjusted services:
- Charter to Kitikmeot communities left Iqaluit on Saturday for all in-territory students. The charter landed in every community intended. Any students who have not previously identified the need to return home and require to, will now have to go through regularly scheduled flights with all existing restrictions or processes, e.g. 14 days isolation through Yellowknife if there is no immediately connecting flight.
Department of Family Services Update - March 24, 2020
- Nunavut students who want to return to Nunavut during the travel ban must undergo a 14-day isolation period at one of two locations in southern Canada. Please contact @email for direction.
Department of Family Services Update - March 23, 2020
Deputy Minister of Family Services update regarding student travel back to Nunavut, March 23, 2020
Family Services, Health, Education, and Community & Government Services have been working together to ensure the safe return of students from southern-based educational institutions to their home communities across Nunavut.
Those students who wish to return home now, will require immediate isolation in central points for a 14-day period prior to an arranged charter plane to return to Nunavut. The two host facilities for students will be located in Ottawa and Winnipeg. Kivalliq and Kitikmeot Region students will muster in Winnipeg to commence a 14-day period once the last student arrives in to the facility. Baffin/Qikiqtani Region students will muster in an Ottawa facility, and likewise – once the last student arrives into the facility a 14-day period will commence. A charter from each of those cities will then return the students to Nunavut.
During the period of quarantine in Ottawa and Winnipeg, the students will have access to tools to complete their studies, will have access to health professionals who will check in to ensure their health needs are met. (There will also be an oversight group tasked with monitoring and addressing issues coming out of this operation)
Message to Students: If you wish to get home as soon as possible, please be packed and ready to get to one of the two mustering points. There will be maximum baggage amounts for both the commercial airlines and for the final chartered flight.
For those with special needs or requirements, they should be identified with the travel team member that contacts you.
And for those that are remaining to complete their terms in place, but wish to return home afterward, FANS will cover until the first available arrangements can be made home.
It is my understanding that for the other populations returning to Nunavut, there are avenues to take. For the travel coverage, usual FANS process would continue.
Emails will be sent out to students today asking them to provide FANS the necessary level of details and giving them the information, they need.
Department of Family Services Update - March 20, 2020
Adjusted services:
- Community Social Service Workers (CSSW) are on “Emergency on call” at this time. Anyone needing to speak with a CSSW should use the after hours contact number for their community.
- Family Services are requesting that all Income Assistance, Career Development and Family Wellness clients refrain from dropping into our offices without appointments.
- All clients should call and set an appointment time and date in order to limit large gatherings in our waiting areas.
- Income Support clients who are the Head of household are encouraged to come alone to their appointments, we are asking that you not bring anyone else (spouse or children).
- Any client who is sick or out of town (i.e. on medical leave or currently undergoing treatment) should call their Income Assistance Worker so that the worker can make arrangements to bring your cheque to the store(s) or to have a family member pick it up.
- Any client who is sick or out of town (i.e. on medical leave or currently undergoing treatment) should call their Income Assistance Worker so that the worker can make arrangements to bring your cheque to the store(s) or to have a family member pick it up.
Department of Family Services update, March 19, 2020
The GN is working with shelter societies to enable extended hours as well as utilize potential additional spaces to enable more social distancing. There are only three shelters in Nunavut that currently closed during the day.
Unless otherwise stated, remaining departmental services are expected to operate as usual. Updates are provided daily.
FANS and ALTs
- Students should remain at their school location until such time that the semester is officially ended. At this point, classes are suspended, not cancelled.
- Student residences remain open, and students are permitted to stay at the school’s residence until the end of April. The schools are also continuing their food services.
- To ensure that there is no financial hardship for our out-of-territory students, those who receive funding from FANS or ALTS will continue to receive funding for as long as they are away from home.
Adjusted services:
- All Income Assistance, Career Development and Family Wellness clients are asked to call to arrange an appointment, instead of dropping by our offices:
- Every client should call and set an appointment time and date in order to limit large gatherings in our waiting areas.