2026–2027 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 child welfare 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 in 14 First Nations communities in the Kenora District
• The prevention services are directed at children, youth and families in these communities, and have a focus on health promotion, education, empowerment, well-being, 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

• Child welfare prevention supports for First Nations children and youth, parents, and families in 14 First Nations communities
• First Nations children and youth are provided culturally-grounded learning experiences to support their healthy personal growth, development of character, including opportunities for adolescent parents to strengthen their personal and parenting capacity to support the health and well-being of themselves and their children
• Programs which empower and enhance the health and well-being of First Nations children and youth, such as cultural and language learning, healing circles, self-help, play groups and self-esteem building initiatives
• Preventative programs for children and youth which provide sexual health education, healthy life-style choices, well-being, parenting skills, cultural connections and teachings, peer interaction, social and recreational activities and culturally-grounded community interactions, such as with Elders
• Co-ordination of temporary co-parenting arrangements with other First Nations families in their community to support the health and well-being parents
• Individual and or family counseling through traditional or contemporary methods such as professional and lay counseling, healing circles, sweat lodges and family networking
• Programs for community members to build stronger internal community bonds Initiatives to strengthen community cohesion and connection such as 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 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

• 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.