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.