2024–2025 Services delivered: northwest prevention initiative

Component: Indigenous child, youth and family community-based well-being

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (CYFSA)

Service objectives

To provide prevention services in 14 First Nations communities in the District of Kenora in northwestern Ontario.

Service description

• Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services will deliver community-based prevention services including services in 14 First Nations communities in the Kenora District
• The prevention services are directed at children, youth and families in the First Nations communities, and have a focus on health promotion, education, empowerment, healing, supporting parents and families, counseling, community development, and preservation of culture

People served

• Community-based child welfare prevention services are delivered in 14 First Nation communities in the Kenora District (northwestern Ontario)

Program/service features

• The initiative focuses on prevention practices for children and youth, parents, families, and communities
• Provision of children and youth with learning experiences for healthy personal growth, development of character, opportunities for adolescent parents who are over-burdened with stress and capacity to live healthy lives
• Programs which empower and heal children, such as cultural and language learning, healing circles, self-help, play groups and self-esteem building
• Preventative programs for youth which encourage and educate youth on sex education, healthy life-style choices, healing, parenting skills, cultural practices, peer interaction, social and recreational activities and Aboriginal community interaction, particularly with Elders
• Co-ordination of temporary co-parenting arrangements by Aboriginal families in conjunction with the healing and strengthening of parents
• Programs that would provide individual and or family counseling and healing through traditional or contemporary methods such as professional and lay counseling, healing circles, spiritual consultation, sweat lodges and family networking
• Programs for community members to build stronger internal community bonds, including forums for community problem-solving, positive identity and esteem, and information on healthy lifestyles
• Enhancing the intergenerational wisdom, cultural values, sense of community and family values
• Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services community-based prevention services workers will develop working relationships with child protection authorities, health services workers, community-based programs, schools, police and other authorities as deemed appropriate

Community planning and goal setting

• The range of prevention services delivered by Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services should reflect meaningful input from First Nations leadership regarding the needs and services that will best meet the identified needs of the individual First Nation
• Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services, in consultation with each First Nation, will develop a process to continually monitor and evaluate the program so that it is responsive to the needs of the First Nation

Services will be

• Reduce child maltreatment
• Increase the capacity of First Nation families to cope with stress and provide the optimum level of care for their own children
• Reduce the need for more intensive and costly protection services
• Support First Nation communities in their efforts to provide improve social services to children and families

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.