Jordan’s Principle Service Coordination

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) provides Jordan’s Principle Service Coordination throughout the Syilx Territory to help First Nations children and families access the products, services, and supports they need. Our Service Coordinators help improve timely access to health, social, education, and cultural supports by guiding families through the Jordan’s Principle process, gathering required documentation, and advocating on their behalf.

Our goal is to streamline the process and help ensure your child’s needs are met in a timely manner.

About

Jordan’s Principle is a human rights principle and child-first initiative that promotes substantive equality for First Nations children. Substantive equality means providing additional support when it is needed so First Nations have an equal opportunity to thrive.

Jordan’s Principle helps ensure First Nations children receive the products, services, and supports they need without unnecessary delays or disruptions.

The Government of Canada has committed to facilitating access to products, services and supports for First Nations children while resolving jurisdictional issues that may delay access to care and services.

ONA Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinators support First Nations children, youth, families, caregivers, communities, and service providers throughout the Okanagan Region.

Jordan’s Principle funding may be available for eligible First Nations children and youth under the age of majority (19 years of age in British Columbia) who permanently reside in Canada. Eligibility includes children who are registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act, are recognized as members by their First Nation, or meet other eligibility criteria established by Indigenous Services Canada.

Jordan’s Principle funding may be available for a wide range of health, social, educational, and cultural supports and services. It also recognizes the unique needs of First Nations Two-Spirit, LGBTQIA+ children and youth, and children with disabilities. Examples of supports that may be funded include:

Infographic panel layout listing HEALTH, SOCIAL, and EDUCATION services with bullet points.

To begin the process, contact the ONA Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinators by phone or email. A Service Coordinator will complete an intake with you to better understand your child’s needs and determine the information required to support your request.

During the intake, you may be asked to provide:

Child information: Name, date of birth, address, and Status number (if registered)
Parent or guardian information: Name and contact information
Details about the request: Your child’s unmet need, the product(s) or service(s) being requested, and how long the support is needed
Previous funding history: Information about any previous requests submitted through programs such as Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) or private insurance, including the outcome
Supporting documentation: Recommendations, referrals, or assessments from health, education, or social service professionals, when applicable
Consent: A signed consent form, provided by your Service Coordinator

Once all required information has been gathered, your Service Coordinator will submit the request to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), work with ISC throughout the review process, and support you through approvals, service coordination, or appeals if needed.

ONA Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinators work alongside children, youth, families, caregivers, communities, and service providers to help navigate the Jordan’s Principle process and access the supports they need.

Our team can:

Expedited payout process after approval
Help determine eligibility and assist with Jordan’s Principle applications
Reduce the stress of navigating the Jordan’s Principle process
Connect families with available provincial and federal resources
Work collaboratively with service providers to coordinate supports
Advocate for children, youth, families, and communities
Assist families in gathering the information and documentation needed to support a request
Provide guidance and support throughout reconsideration and appeals, when needed

If you require support with an urgent Jordan’s Principle request outside regular business hours, assistance is available through the Jordan’s Principle National Call Centre, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Jordan’s Principle National Call Centre

Phone: 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453)
TTY: 1-866-553-0554

On weekends and statutory holidays, the BC Region Duty Phone is available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PST for urgent and time-sensitive requests.

BC Region Duty Phone

Phone: 1-778-951-0716

Abenaki director Alanis Obomsawin tells the story of Jordan River Anderson who spent all five years of his short life in hospital while the federal and Manitoba governments argued over who was responsible for his care.

Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger

Jordan was born in 1999 with multiple disabilities and stayed in the hospital from birth.

When he was 2 years old, doctors said he could move to a special home for his medical needs. However, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who should pay for his home-based care.

Jordan stayed in the hospital until he passed away at the age of 5.

In 2007, the House of Commons passed Jordan’s Principle in memory of Jordan. It was a commitment that First Nations children would get the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Payments would be worked out later.

Today, Jordan’s Principle is a legal obligation, which means it has no end date. While programs and initiatives to support it may only exist for short periods of time, Jordan’s Principle will always be there. Jordan’s Principle will support First Nations children for generations to come.

This is the legacy of Jordan River Anderson.