FIRST NATIONS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
WHAT IS THE FNCFS PROGRAM?
FNCFS is First Nations Child and Family Services, a community social service program dispensed by the Grand Council de la Nation Waban-Aki.
Some other Waban-Aki organizations also provide child and family services, such as the CPE (early childhood centre), the CPDA (police force), the Band Council and the Health Centre. All of these are important partners and share common objectives while offering complimentary services. This is why these stakeholders are constantly working to coordinate community actions in order to best meet the needs of child, family and community services.
WHAT CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IS OFFERED?
The main services (FNCFS) to be deployed will be first line, which can sometimes be called community prevention services. The community intervention to be gradually done through this approach seeks to create social and community conditions favorable to the full development of children, youths and families. In brief, services will be offered to contribute to the social development of Odanak and Wôlinak, in order to favor child safety and development.
ARE THERE EXAMPLES OF PREVENTION SERVICES?
Here are examples of prevention services that has been offered until now to the communities of the Abenaki Nation:
- Access to first line services and personalized follow-up (voluntary basis)
- Access to a family centre on each community
- Parent groups, support groups and other groups that developped a particular project
- Training on various subjects (parental skills, family budget management, educational or community activities, etc.)
- Child-parent, child-grandparent and family activities or excursions
- Visits from speakers selected or suggested by the community
- Other suggestions and special requests coming from citizens or partner organizations.
Don’t hesitate to contact any member of the team to obtain information or share your suggestions.
«IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD.»
OUR TEAM
The executive director of the GCNWA ensures the administrative part of human resources and oversees the hiring of staff. He is also in charge of agreements with different partners outside the community and official communications. The Executive director supports the Child and Family Prevention Services manager in decision-making. The executive director provides the direction and vision in the medium and long-term.
The communications officer of the GCNWA has already been hired to the team and her job description is oriented towards youth and family projects. Thereby, the communications officer devotes her time to the mobilization, advertizing and information surrounding the project. Under the responsibility of the Child and Family Prevention Services manager, the communications officer supports the interveners in their communications and advertizing needs.
Michel is responsible for the management of social services and front-line services to the child and the family of the Waban-Aki Nation. He advises members of the FNCFS team on clinical intervention aspects and on interaction strategies between different resources in the communities and the FNCFS. In addition, he ensures that the methods meet a community-based approach and finally, he also advises the team on the most effective ways to implement the various projects developed.
As social services assistant, Valérie is actively involved in the creation, development, financing and organization of social and community services. In addition, as a community worker, she is responsible for organizing prevention and promotion activities within the community of Wôlinak. She is also responsible for the homework assistance program and the W and Niona projects, as well as the Youth Zone (Espace Jeunesse) in Wôlinak.
The community workers have the mandate of strengthening community ties by organizing prevention and promotion activities and through community intervention. They offer their services to the whole community, by prioritizing targeted problems and clients. They plan and lead meetings and/or prevention and promotion activities in collaboration with the other interveners. Jenny is assigned to the community of Odanak. She is in charge of the homework assistance and of the W project.
Laure collaborates to the prevention and promotion of activities for the communities of Wôlinak and Odanak and she leads them as well. She is responsible for the parental role component of the project and ensures the coordination of activities related to this issue. She also accompanies families and parents with special needs in their efforts by offering “parental coaching” and regular monitoring. Laure is also the main clinical counsellor of the FNCFS team.
Audrey meets the needs of individuals, families and groups from the communities of Odanak and Wôlinak to enable them to understand and solve their behavioural and social issues. She works with individuals with bio-psycho-social difficulties, provides individual follow-ups and participates in prevention activities.
David meets the needs of individuals, families and groups from the communities of Odanak and Wôlinak to enable them to understand and solve their behavioural and social issues. He works with individuals with bio-psycho-social difficulties, provides individual follow-ups and participates in prevention activities.
Mathieu is there to meet the needs of individuals in the community of Wôlinak aged 60 and older. He meets individually with the elders and participates in their activities. For situations requiring assistance, accompaniment or referencing, Mathieu is your contact.
Stéfanie is there to meet the needs of individuals in the community of Odanak aged 60 and older. She meets individually with the elders and participates in their activities. For situations requiring assistance, accompaniment or referencing, Stéfanie is your contact.
Kim is responsible for assisting a student in school. She is also in charge of the Espace Jeunesse d’Odanak.
Caroline is in charge of the community kitchen.