Family Violence Initiative
COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS
HISTORICAL LEGACY
Support for Parents
- Program name:
Mi'kmaq Family PRIDE
- Organization:
Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI
- Location:
Prince Edward Island (On and off reserve)
- Target Group:
Everyone.
- Contact Name:
Marilyn LeFrank RSW Director
- Phone:
902-436-5101 ext: 232
- Email:
- Website:
Program Overview
- History:
The program started in 2005 and is still ongoing.
Program Description
- Goals & Objectives:
To implement initiatives focused on the prevention of child neglect and foster safe living environments and family resiliency.
- Traditional/Indigenous ways:
The Empowering Our Children Program is circle based. The Active Parenting of Teens Program was adapted by an Elder to include the Seven Sacred Teachings. There is a sacred children parenting program which was developed by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. This program was Aboriginal focused and good for parents with children of all ages. Elders are involved when possible to provide cultural support and education and some of the programs are based on, or adapted to, traditional teachings.
- Components of program:
The program promotes parents' self-control and coping mechanisms and helps families mobilize and access supportive services before removal of child from home becomes necessary. It offers in-home support focusing on budgeting, parenting skills or other needs identified by the family. The program delivers educational programs such as the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) "Violence Prevention Toolkit" and a program for children ages 6 – 11 called "Empowering Our Children" designed for children at risk of being harmed by family violence.
- Services/How they work:
Services are provided on site at the facility and off site in various locations across the community.
- Funding:
Funding is provided by MCPEI Tribal Council; and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Relationships and Stakeholders
- Involvement of Target Groups:
The families (clients) are involved from the beginning starting with the planning process through to delivery of services. The work starts when families are asked what they feel they need for services.
- Partners:
Employment Services program; Health program; Aboriginal Justice Program; Health Center staff of Abegweit and Lennox Island.
- Other relationships:
N/A
Details of Program Evaluation
- Evaluation:
No evaluation has been completed.
- Highlights of Evaluation Findings:
N/A
Program Outcomes
- Measures of Success:
There are business plan performance measures which have to be reported on. The evaluator developed a process for evaluating the program.
- Achievements:
Have prevented some children from having to go into care of Social Services. The program created an "Aboriginal Child in Care" kit to assist foster parents and Social Workers in relating to Aboriginal children.
- Challenges:
The public often think that the program is designed for child removal from homes into Social Services agencies because they are funded under Child and Family Services; this is not the case. It has been difficult working with foster homes to develop them into resources that could be used to help the program.
Things to Know to Replicate
- Replication Advice:
The program is considered replicable. People need to understand that there are two streams. One stream is child protection and the other is the in-need or prevention stream. They could offer the dual stream programs or they could do as the Mi'kmaq Family PRIDE and let the province do the protection piece. The First Nations receive less funding and it could be hard to do a dual stream. There has to be a willingness to work with protective programs so that there can be a collaborative relationship.
- Resources:
Adequate funding, properly trained staff and facility space for the programming would be necessary to ensure the program's success.
- Date modified: