Recently, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) featured an excellent article by the First Nations Health Consortium explaining the importance of Jordan’s Principle. This legal ruling is a crucial part of honouring our commitment to First Nations children and youth, and we at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary (AFCC) are proud to be a key resource for families navigating this process.
What is Jordan’s Principle?
As the article highlights, Jordan’s Principle is a child-first legal ruling named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. It ensures that all First Nations and Inuit children can access the public services they need—spanning health, education, and social supports—without delay or denial. It is a legal obligation to ensure First Nations children are not disadvantaged by jurisdictional disputes between governments.
Services covered can include, but are not limited to:
- Mobility aids and medical equipment
- Mental health services
- Educational assistants and tutoring
- Cultural and recreational programs
How AFCC Provides Support
Understanding and accessing Jordan’s Principle can be a complex process for families. AFCC’s Jordan’s Principle Program provides direct, one-on-one support to help families navigate these challenges. We are here to ensure your child gets the care they are entitled to.
Need help with an application? Our team is available to assist you at the AFCC Indigenous Hub (316 – 7 Avenue SE) every Tuesday and Thursday. We can help with applications, provide letters of support, and help you understand service eligibility.
We believe that by working together, we can ensure every First Nations child in Calgary has the opportunity to live a healthy, happy, and thriving life.
To read the original article from the CPSA, please click here.