Akwe:go Urban Indigenous Children’s Program:
The Akwe:go Program aims to improve the quality of life of urban indigenous children (aged 7-12) through the delivery of culturally appropriate activities and services. Program objectives include:
- Social Supports: to address self-esteem, victimization, and peer pressure issues;
- Children In Care: to increase access to culturally appropriate services for children in care and their families;
- Health and Physical Development: to address inter-related health impacts of poverty, diabetes, and obesity;
- Institutional Interventions: to provide school suspension supports, access to literacy initiatives, and to encourage healthy relationships with peers and authority figures; and
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and/or Other Disabilities: to provide access to tutoring/mentoring, supervised physical activities, and parent support.
Brittany Massier
Akwe:go Coordinator
(705) 746-5970 ext. 103
705 773 8189 cell
Community Action Program for Children:
The Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) is a community-based program that promotes the healthy development of young children (aged 0-6 years). The program also encourages partnerships that strengthen capacity and increase support for vulnerable children and families. Unlike the other programs offered at the Parry Sound Friendship Centre, CAPC is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Because of this, CAPC programs vary by location; however, they all share the following guiding principles:
- Children first;
- Equality and accessibility;
- Community-based;
- Strengthening and supporting families;
- Flexibility; and
- Partnerships.
At the Parry Sound Friendship Centre, you can expect: parent/child groups (i.e., “Tiny Tots”), parenting classes and home visits. For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Massier CapC Coordinator (705) 746-5970 705 938 4717 Cell cpa@psfc.ca
Healing and Wellness Program:
The Healing and Wellness Program’s primary focus is to reduce family violence and improve health. Key objectives include assisting individuals with accessing emergency services (i.e., supporting entry into safe bed or detox programs), providing crisis intervention (i.e., creating safety plans to respond to the high rates of suicide), offering traditional supports (i.e., facilitating sharing and healing circles) and providing peer counselling to community members affected by violence. Unlike our children and youth services, this program supports individuals of all ages. Services are offered both in a group format and on a one-to-one basis.
For more information, please contact:
Matthew Rutledge Healing & Wellness Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 108 705 938 4716 cell dmckay@psfc.ca
Cultural Resource Program:
The Cultural Resource Program supports all junctures of cultural service provision and planning within the Parry Sound Friendship Centre. The Cultural Resource Coordinator works with our Elders and Traditional People to provide access to teachings, ceremonies and cultural healing. Urban Indigenous children, youth and families are a priority for this program; however, services are open to all individuals. This program also aims to promote cultural awareness, safety and competency within the community at large. At the Parry Sound Friendship Centre, you can expect: language classes, sharing circles, ceremonies and various workshops (i.e., beading workshops, drum making workshops, etc.,).
For more information, please contact: Lisa Ross Cultural Resource Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 106 705 774 4588 crc@psfc.ca
Indigenous Combined Courtwork Program:
The Indigenous Combined Courtwork Program assists accused offenders to better understand their rights, options and responsibilities when appearing before the courts. It is important to note that the program does not provide legal advice; the Coordinator will, however, act as an advocate who speaks on the accused offender’s behalf while involved in the justice system. Below are some examples of the way assistance is provided:
- Accompaniment in court;
- Assistance in the completion of court forms;
- Explanation of charges, court orders, and functioning of the justice system;
- Advocating for offences to be diverted; and Responding to issues caused by communication barriers between Indigenous people and the administration of the justice system.
For more information, please contact:
Mackenzie Hanna Indigenous Combined Court Worker 705 746 5970 ext. 104 705 773 9558 cel mhanna@psfc.ca
Life Long Care Program:
The Life Long Care Program provides services to individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, chronic health issues, and to those that are frail and/or elderly. The goal of the program is to assist individuals in stabilizing their health. Available supports include: coordination of medical appointments (including transportation), social interaction to prevent isolation (i.e., “Wiisinadaa”, home/friendly visits, security checks, etc.,), and referrals to external community agencies. The Life Long Care Coordinator is also able to assist with: caregiver support (i.e., respite), obtaining medical equipment/supplies, locating a family doctor, and transitioning from ODSP to Old Age Pension.
For more information, please contact:
Cynthia Paul
Life Long Care Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 107 705 938 4533 Cell
Urban Indigenous Healthy Living Program:
The Urban Indigenous Healthy Living Program promotes and supports healthier lifestyles. Specifically, the program aims to increase participation in sport, recreation and physical fitness, and to provide nutrition and smoking prevention/cessation supports. Examples of available services that support these aims include: fitness classes, weight management support groups, and smoking cessation workshops. The program also focuses on developing youth leadership skills by encouraging young people to be healthy living role models in their communities; this is accomplished through training, mentoring, and community event involvement. Although youth leadership is a priority, the program is designed to provide service to individuals of all ages. For more information, please contact: Melanie Sanford Urban Indigenous Health Living Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 109 msanford@psfc.ca
Health Outreach Program:
Similar to the Healing and Wellness Program, the aim of the Health Outreach Program is to to reduce family violence and improve health. This program strives to fulfill its mandate through ensuring that the health needs of community members are addressed in a cultural, holistic way (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs). Key objectives include connecting individuals with mainstream and traditional health services, providing crisis intervention, offering traditional supports, and providing peer counselling to community members affected by violence. Secondary objectives include health promotion and education. Services are available to individuals of all ages, and are offered both through groups and on a one-on-one basis.
For more information, please contact: Matthew Rutledge Health Outreach Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 108 705 938 4716 cell
Youth Life Promotion Program
The YLP Coordinator works with Youth 13 to 24
The Youth Life Promotion program is founded on principles of self-determination and cultural reclamation for urban indigenous youth. A core aspect of Youth Life Promotion Are Youth Culture Camps. The camps will provide youth with access to water and land-based activities. One-to-one supports will be provided to individuals to prepare them for participation in group based activities as required.
Another core aspect of Youth Life Promotion involves facilitating access to and knowledge exchanges with Elders and traditional knowledge keepers. These knowledges and ways of being are inherently active and will blend learning with being on the land.
The goal of this program is to support he holistic development and provide a continuum of care services for youth at-risk, including addressing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.
Objective of program:
- Gain access to supports to nurture and sustain mental well-being;
- Access new ways of knowing, understanding, problem-solving and decision-making;
- Be immersed in indigenous knowledges and ways of being;
- Gain access to ceremonies, medicines, languages, teachings and traditional foods; and,
- Gain access to water and land-based skills and cultural practices
For more information, please contact: Delta Desjarlais Youth Life Promotion Coordinator (705) 746-5970 ext. 105 705 774 3754 cell ylp@psfc.ca
Cultural Competency Initiative:
The Cultural Competency Initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the Urban Indigenous Community and mainstream service providers. The Cultural Competency Coordinator works with our Elders, Traditional People, and Service Providers to develop and create a full cultural competency program and accompanying events. This program also aims to promote cultural awareness, safety and competency within the community at large.
For More Information, please contact:
dmckay@psfc.ca