Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

HISTORICAL LEGACY

Support for Parents

Program Name:

Mi'kmaq Family PRIDE

Organization/Community:

Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI

Location:

Prince Edward Island (On and off reserve)

Website:

www.mcpei.ca/node/28

Goals and Objectives:

To implement initiatives focused on the prevention of child neglect and on fostering safe living environments and family resiliency.

Target Group Description:

Everyone.

Program Description:

The program promotes parents' self-control and coping mechanisms and helps families mobilize and access supportive services to prevent situations requiring the removal of children from the home. It offers in-home support focusing on budgeting, parenting skills and 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. Elders are involved where possible to provide cultural support and education and some of the programs are based on, or adapted to Traditional teachings.

Program Successes/Impact:

Improving parenting skills to prevent situations where children went into care of Social Services. Creation of an "Aboriginal Child in Care" kit to assist foster parents and Social Workers in relating to Aboriginal children.

Key Lessons/Challenges:

Community confusion that the program involves the removal of children from their homes into Social Services agencies because it is funded under Child and Family Services, rather than that its goal is to support parents in keeping their children in the home where possible.

Program in operation since:

2005.

Program:

Ongoing.