Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy

Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy (AHWS) is to foster improvements in the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal individuals, families, communities and Nations through:

provision of equitable access to primary health and healing services and programmes, including prevention, treatment and support, that are culturally appropriate and culturally competent;
building on the strengths and enhancing the capacities of Aboriginal communities; and,
promotion of equitable, violence-free relationships and healthy environments.

AHWS is managed by a Joint Management Committee (JMC), a unique consensus decision making model with both Aboriginal and government representation. The following Provincial Ministries have representatives on the JMC: Ministry of Community and Social Services, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Ontario Women's Directorate of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. The OFIFC has two representatives on the JMC. Additionally an OFIFC representative sits on all sub committees of the JMC. These sub committees are; Research and Evaluation, Policy and Planning, Specialized Projects and the Aboriginal Healthy Babies and Healthy Children's Working Group.

Programme Summary

Aboriginal Healing & Wellness Coordinators (HWC)

The HWC's ensure that the healing and wellness needs of the Aboriginal community are addressed by implementing the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy at the local level in order to reduce family violence, promote healthy lifestyles, culture based programming and healing.

The coordinators provide an array of different services to meet the needs of their communities, such as; crisis intervention, healing/talking circles for men, women and children; education, prevention and promotion workshops for community members and agencies; cultural awareness; cultural teachings; and peer counselling both one on one and family.

Aboriginal Health Outreach Workers (HOW)

The HOW's ensure that the health needs of the Aboriginal community are addressed by undertaking health promotion, education, referrals and linking with Aboriginal cultural resource people and mainstream health providers.

Children's Mental Health Demonstration Projects

The Children's Mental Health Workers' (CMHW) support Aboriginal Children's mental health wellness. The goal is to decrease youth involvement in gang activity, violence, drug and alcohol abuse and address mental health/addiction issues that were often a result of high incidences of family violence.

Focus on Success

"It is focused on the whole family, which, you know, meaning the parent, the children, the aunties and uncles and everybody in the family. AHWS programmes helped me belong and trust people. They helped with identity to pass onto my children. AHWS programmes were geared towards my needs, Aboriginal needs and gave me balance in my life."

Development

To strengthen service delivery of the primary goal of the Reduction of Family Violence as identified by the JMC community consultations.
To continue to advocate for full time Kizhaay Anishinaabe Niin workers to be located in all Friendship Centres.
To begin the development of focused education and prevention work as it pertains to sexual violence against Aboriginal woman within Kanawayhitowin programme.
To continue to move forward the 2007 Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Aboriginal Woman to address policy and programme considerations.