Island Lake First Nations Family Services
Family Enhancement Program
Anishininew Family Enhancement Program (Urban)
Purpose
The purpose of Island Lake Anishininew Family Enhancement Program (AFE) is to provide preventative services to children and families from the Island Region.
Goal
The goal of the AFE program is to promote a "Good Life, Mino-Pimatithowin" by strengthening Island Lake families. This is achieved through the development of culturally appropriate prevention programs and by hosting various cultural activities and events.
Description
The Family Enhancement Program is a voluntary short-term program to assist families who are in need of support services to prevent them from entering the child and family services system.
- The Family Enhancement Program is a strength-based program. Rather than focusing on the negative aspects, the Family Enhancement Workers focus on the positive attributes of the family.
- Existing resources and supports are utilized to assist the families. This includes extended family members, schools, leadership, elders, and other community resources.
- Less family disruption as apprehension of children is the last resort.
- Case planning occurs based on the needs of the family. Families are part of the case planning process.
- Family Enhancement Workers work one-on-one with families that allows a trust building relationship to develop.
Services provided
- Family Support (respite, support worker)
- Family Mediation
- Individual and family counselling
- Elder Services
- Cultural Teachings (medicine picking, berry picking, ribbon skirt making, baby bundles, nibi gathering ceremony)
- Advocacy (with other collaterals such as, Jordan's Principle, Schools, Hospitals - Health Care, EIA, Community Leadership, justice, employment, etc...)
- Mentoring
- Money Management Training
- Transportation (bus tickets, taxi slips)
- Food Hampers
- Back to school BBQ (provided back to school backpacks with school supplies)
- FE Christmas Party
- Recreational Activities (for children & youth such as, red river ex, graduation celebrations,
- Family Activities (BBQ, Mother's Day Luncheon, Father's Day BBQ)
Ongoing events
- Domestic Violence Workshop
- Healthy Women's Workshop
- Grief and Loss Workshop
- Indigenous Traditional Parenting Program
- Anger Management
- Drugs/Alcohol Awareness
- FASD awareness workshop
- Diabetes Awareness Workshop
- Beading Nights
- Recreational Activities (games night, pumpkin carving, children's matter walk, thanksgiving dinner, Brokenhead trail tour, corn maze, gingerbread house making, Christmas party)
Staff
- 1 Family Enhancement Supervisor
- 3 Family Enhancement Workers
- 1 Administrative Assistant
