Family Violence Initiative

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

ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

Alternatives to Gangs

Program Name:

Pohna: Keepers of the Fire

Organization/Community:

Native Counselling Services of Alberta

Location:

Edmonton, Alberta

Website:

www.ncsa.ca

Goals and Objectives:

To prevent recruitment of youth into gangs and organized criminal networks and redirect youth involved in criminal and gang activity away from further engagement in gangs and violence.

Target Group Description:

Aboriginal youth ages 11 – 17.

Program Description:

By focussing on the development of healthy relationships and lifestyles, the program helps young men and women move away from or avoid abusive or violent relationships. Clients work one on one with a youth support coordinator who helps them to identify their strengths, interests, concerns and hopes for the future; helps develop support plans to meet their goals and overcome challenges; helps youth navigate and reconcile relationships and challenges with systems (i.e. family, school, children's services, justice system); helps youth access supports and services; advocates for youth; creates circles of support to bring service providers together to provide integrated support services and acts as a mentor, confident and auntie/uncle for youth. All youth support coordinators are Aboriginal and many have experienced similar challenges to those of the youth which creates shared history and connection with the youth.

Program Successes/Impact:

Successfully advocating for and helping youth navigate through external systems, and developing positive relationships with youth and families, creating a sense of hope that youth can make positive changes in their lives.

Key Lessons/ Challenges:

Navigating and reconciling youths' relationships to the systems (social service, justice), and dealing with the intergenerational trauma and impact on relationships between parents and youth.

Program in operation since:

2010.

Program:

Ongoing