Abinoojii Community Action Program for Children – Ages 1 – 6

Abinoojii is an Ojibwe word meaning “Child”. The CAP-C program supports community development and healing. CAP-C delivers community based, culturally relevant programs that aim to improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Indigenous children.

Akwe:go – Ages 7-12

The Akwe:go is a Mohawk word meaning “All of Us”. This program is grounded in cultural traditions providing a sense of belonging for Indigenous children. The program offers a variety of strategies such as one-on-one activities, group activities, and family circles to encourage positive behaviours and well-being. The program supports individualized goals to enhance the child’s area of need; supporting social skills, educational intervention, individuals with disabilities, violence prevention, children in care or at risk of being in the care of children’s aid society, 2SLGBTQ+ supports, and positive nutrition and physical practices. The Akwe: go program provides a space where Indigenous children can feel safe to be themselves and accepted. An added component is the Student Nutrition Program (SNP) which seeks to improve the ability of children and youth to concentrate and succeed, both in school and daily life, by providing healthy meals and snacks.

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) – Ages 0 – 1

The CPNP promotes healthy nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding stages, while encouraging healthy lifestyle choices through culturally based support and education for parents and caregivers.

Ganigohi:yo – Ages 7-17

The Ganigohi:yo program (Cayuga for “a good mind”) is dedicated to empowering Indigenous children and youth in discovering and honouring all aspects of their mental well-being while promoting resiliency and positive self-efficacy. This program includes voluntary holistic healing, therapeutic counselling, early intervention, crisis intervention, and supportive services, family support, plans of care, referrals, advocacy, and one-to-one mental health support.

Healthy Living Kids – Ages 6 to 16

The Healthy Living Kids program is designed to increase the participation of Indigenous children and youth in sports, physical fitness, physical recreation, and other health-related activities that promote healthy lifestyles and behaviours.

Indigenous Child & Family Advocacy with the Unity Team

The Unity Team is a unique partnership between FACS Niagara, Niagara Chapter Native Women, Fort Erie Friendship Centre and Niagara Regional Native Centre designed to embed Indigenous voices within the child welfare response to strengthen Indigenous family well-being and safety. Goals of the Unity Team:

• Reduce the admission of Indigenous children and youth in care with FACS Niagara by improving the supports provided to Indigenous families promoting stable, healthy, and lifelong family connections.
• Redirect child welfare referrals to local Indigenous-based community service providers by implementing the joint FACS Niagara Indigenous wrap-around services at the first point of contact of an Indigenous child or youth involved with the child welfare system.
• Increase Indigenous-specific residential care options (foster homes and kinship care) for Indigenous children and youth who are not able to remain in their own homes.
• Provide a collaborative planning approach for Indigenous children and youth in care.

Indigenous Child & Youth Mental Health – Ages 7-15

The Indigenous Child & Youth Mental Health (ICYMH) program provides culture-based programs and services to children and youth struggling with mental health and addictions challenges, while focusing on reducing the impacts of poor social and mental health factors and domestic violence issues such as; anger management, grief support, bullying, parenting and peer support, advocacy, Indigenous dispute resolution, and cultural sensitivity.

Mijua’ji’j Indigenous Healthy Babies, Healthy Children – Ages 0 – 6

Mijua’ji’j is a Mi’kmaq word meaning baby or child. The Indigenous Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program combines traditional and mainstream programs and services such as: home visits, crisis intervention, parenting strategies, and community referrals, to best support the healthy child development of Indigenous families.

Odrohyageweh “Clear Skies” EarlyON – Ages 0 – 6

The EarlyON Program is a way to support families in celebrating and honouring their children up to 6 years of age with holistic support to ensure children have the best opportunity to grow up healthy and resilient. Drop-in welcome.

Wasa-Nabin – Ages 13-18

The Wasa-Nabin Program (Ojibway, meaning “to look ahead) is a self-development program for Indigenous at-risk youth. This program is grounded in cultural traditions, providing a sense of belonging. By accessing the services and supports offered by the Wasa-Nabin program, youth will learn goal setting, leadership skills development, and how to make health choices ultimately leading to healthier lifestyles and personal success. The Wasa-Nabin Coordinator incorporates traditional cultural teachings and values within one-on-one client-oriented and group programming to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, foster responsible decision-making, and influence critical thinking. An added component is the Student Nutrition Program (SNP) which seeks to improve the ability of children and youth to concentrate and succeed, both in school and daily life through the provision of healthy meals and snacks.

Cultural Resource Coordinator

The Cultural Resource Coordinator (CRC) program provides children, youth, and families access to cultural knowledge through a range of approaches, fostering positive Indigenous identity. The CRC program plays a significant role in building and maintaining the cultural foundations essential to well-being and resiliency. Services are culturally reflective and prevention-focused, prioritizing need for culturally appropriate supports. All services promote connections with community, culture and tradition, and reflect holistic, strength-based approaches that support opportunities for urban Indigenous children, youth, and families.

Indigenous Language Revitalization Program (ILRP)

The Indigenous Language Revitalization Program (ILRP) is designed to implement the usage of Indigenous languages within our community, through community-based Indigenous language programming. The ILRP provides access to culture and land-based Indigenous language activities to support the development of language within our community, working towards integration of Indigenous languages into daily operations.

Indigenous Traditional Foods and Harvesting Program

The Traditional Foods and Harvesting Program combines the sustainable and culture-based production and conservation of traditional foods to promote food security and amplify local traditional knowledge. The program is a combination of land-based teaching, the ceremonial cycles of First Nations, and traditional Indigenous food.

Apatisiwin Employment & Training

Apatisiwin is a Swampy Cree word meaning “employment, training, and jobs”. This program offers a variety of employment and training programs and services designed to provide urban Indigenous individuals opportunities to better their economic lives through culturally based services. The mission of the program is to provide strength and promote self-resilience and enhance the unity of Indigenous individuals as well as to increase and improve opportunities for meaningful employment.

Corrections Literacy Initiative

The Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and Ministry of the Solicitor General have partnered to launch the Literacy & Basic Skills Corrections Literacy Initiative (CLI). The CLI is a pilot that involves delivery of LBS programming in sixteen correctional institutions. The program provides selected service providers with resources to expand their LBS programming to designated facilites.  

Literacy & Basic Skills – Ages 18+

Located in our St. Catharines office, this program offers adult literacy training and upgrading in a wide range of subjects. Learners can enhance the skills that are required to deal with all aspects of daily living, while learning about Indigenous culture. It is our goal to provide individualized, leaner-centred instruction that focuses on personal well-being as well as academics. Indigenous and non-Indigenous are welcome.

This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario and through the Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement.

Soaring Eagles Alternative School Program

In partnership with the Niagara Catholic District School Board, Niagara Regional Native Centre launched the Soaring Eagles Alternative Secondary and Elementary School located at the St. John’s Conservation site in Fonthill, Ontario. Transportation is provided.

Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound

The Urban Indigenous Homeward Bound (UIHB) program offers a four year education-to-employment program designed to address the unique barriers that Indigenous mothers face in finding meaningful employment. This program focuses on enhancing the well-being and prosperity of both the mothers and their children by providing tailored support, skills training, and employment opportunities. Through a combination of education, mentorship, and practical work experience, we empower Indigenous mothers to achieve their career goals and build a brighter future for their families.

Health Outreach

The Health Outreach program delivers advocacy and support to ensure that the health needs of our community are met in a cultural and wholistic way, addressing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of individuals. These services are available on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting.

Indigenous Healing & Wellness

The Indigenous Healing & Wellness program is designed to bring our community back into balance. We specifically focus on improving Indigenous health and reduction of family violence through traditional teachings, healing circles, land-based learning, and ceremony.

Indigenous Healthy Living

The Healthy Living program is designed to increase our community’s participation in sports, physical fitness & recreation, and other health-related activities that promote healthy life styles and behaviours.

Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin

Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin is a culturally relevant program that supports healthy relationships for Indigenous men and youth. It’s an opportunity for developing a clear understanding of violence against Indigenous women and working towards reducing and eliminating this completely through traditional cultural teachings and practices, networking, and partnership building. Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin is an Ojibwe phrase that translates to “I am a kind man”. Kindness and approaching one’s medicine walk with clear vision takes time and healing.

Life Long Care

The Life Long Care program aims to bring a culturally based approach to health and wellness tailored personally to each of our community members. Our focus is on providing support for all Indigenous participants regardless of age, people with disabilities, chronically ill, elderly, or those who require an acute, chronic continuum of care. The LLC program promotes an integrated response to community participation, independent living, and improved quality of life, as well as ensuring quality of care and appropriate support systems for caregivers.

Abbey House Transitional Home

Abbey House is a transitional home where women with or without children who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or facing other trauma & crisis situations can stay for up to one year, pending review. Abbey House opened in March 2007 and was named in honour of Maxine Abbey – one of the foundation members of the Niagara Regional Native Centre. The Abbey House Transitional Housing program provides a safe opportunity to create a nurturing, stable and culturally based living environment that encourages and empowers individuals to make positive, long lasting change. By incorporating traditional Indigenous healing and wellness practices, the Abbey House program supports it’s participants internal growth by helping them to walk in balance mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As they develop a culturally connected foundation for themselves, this growth is also reflected externally through increasing their abilities, skills, and confidence to earn college diplomas, start careers, and achieve economic self sufficiency.

Community Addiction Services of Niagara (CASON)

Cason provides comprehensive alcohol, drug and gambling/gaming/internet addiction treatment for individuals and their families. For more information, visit: www.cason.ca  

Indigenous Community Justice Program

The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres’ Community Justice Program (OFIFC) is an initiative developed in response to needs expressed by Indigenous people who have been involved the court system (youth and family, and criminal) and to the broad over-representation of Indigenous peoples in the mainstream justice system. The Indigenous Community Justice Program (ICJP) is built on the Aboriginal Court-worker Councils’ Support Coordinator Program, and is available where communities that have undergone a comprehensive needs assessment and funding has been made available.

Indigenous Criminal Court Worker

Assists self-identifying Indigenous individuals who are in contact with the Canadian legal system, providing advocacy and support as well as assistance in understanding and navigating rights, options and responsibilities when appearing before the courts.

Indigenous Justice Outreach Worker

Provides continuous support to Indigenous clients involved in the justice system, for both Indigenous Community Justice Program participants and/or referrals from the court. Aftercare services are offered to participants, with the aim of reducing recidivism.

Indigenous Specific – Intimate Partner Prevention Program

The objective of the Intimate Partner Prevention program is to deliver programs and services to the accused impacted by intimate partner violence through the Indigenous Community Justice Program (ICJP). This is a regional program supporting Indigenous Specific IPVP referrals. The ICJP was designated as an Indigenous Specific Intimate Partner Violence Program in May 2021. This designation mandates the program to offer supports to the accused involved in the Indigenous Community Justice Program.

Indigenous Victim Support Advocate

The Indigenous Victim Support Advocate (IVSA) assists victims/witnesses with court appearances and provide support while in court, when requested. The IVSA assists with issue coordination such as; safety planning, obtaining emergency housing, obtaining emergency food, obtaining emergency transportation, peer to peer counselling, healing circles, and other services required as needed.