Searching for Child Abuse Services

Provides legal advice and assistance to individuals who do not have the means to assert or defend their legal rights through the following services:

• Client representation in clinic areas of practice
• Free summary legal advice
• Information and referral
• Law reform advocacy
• Public education
• Specialized legal services

Services are offered in the following areas:

• Birth certificates
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability or Pension benefits
• Canada Child Benefits (CCB)
• Consumer and Credit/Debt issues
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
• Disability Tax benefits
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Employment Standards (ESA)
• Human Rights
• Native Status applications
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
• Ontario Works
• Residential Tenancies (tenants only)

Operates as a program under the Healing and Wellness Branch

• Developed as a new program aimed at supporting healthy and whole Métis families
• Works to reduce family violence, the number of youth involved in the justice system and the number of children in care
• Focus is on providing direct one-on-one client services and educational resources and family wellness planning

Services provided can include but are not limited to the following:

• After school safe places and homework clubs
• Assistance in navigating the community support system
• Assisting children and youth to foster self-identity and to develop life skills
• Court-related supports
• Empowering parents to be their children's best advocates
• Ensuring families have their basic needs met
• Guidance for building healthy relationships and raising awareness of personal safety issues
• Peer support for youth involved in justice and correction issues
• Referrals for employment and training programs
• Supports for children and youth who have experienced or witnessed violence
• Supports for Métis youth to stay in school
• Support in case meetings and conferencing

Delivers child care and protection services and family support services to community members for Weechi-it-te-win Family Services

Alternative Care Program

• Provides assistance and support to children in care
• Provides training for child care providers
• Offers support and guidance in reuniting siblings who are/have been part of the foster care system

Prevention Services

• Teaches parenting skills and assisting children through difficult times
• Develops and administers healthy social and recreational programs for families
• Hosts community forums to address issues such as youth drug abuse, inadequate housing, schooling problems and after school activities
• Organizes elders meetings that address traditional child rearing methods
• Provides information sessions about understanding substance dependency and resulting family violence, and overcoming oppression by understanding cultural realities

Repatriation Services

• Processes requests to have children in external foster care brought back to homes within the community
• Provides advocacy on behalf of the child and family

Outreach Services

• Provides the option to children adopted by outside families to discover their birth family and heritage
• Provides records and information to Tribal Agency and external resources

• Provides mental health services with emphasis on a holistic approach
• Provides support, counselling and accompaniment to hospital for individuals at risk of suicide
• Holds community and school presentations on suicide prevention

Offers individual, family and group counselling for:

• Family violence and support
• Grief
• Parent and child conflicts
• Peer pressure for teens
• Problematic substance use
• Teen violence

Delivers a range of family counselling and child protection services

• Offers community based family counselling for children, teens, men, women and families as a group
• Provides clinical assessments and case management services
• Provides services of traditional healers
• Offers community workshops to raise awareness of issues affecting families including substance abuse and family violence
• Works with other service providers in developing programs and services aimed at high risk groups
• Supports community initiatives that promote family healing such as traditional gatherings

Areas of counselling and therapy can include:

• Anger management
• Conflict resolution
• Depression
• Family breakup
• Grief issues
• Physical and sexual violence
• Self esteem problems
• Suicide issues

Provides services based on following principles:

• Band directed
• Community based and oriented
• Family focused
• Native
• Non authoritarian
• Non judgmental
• Respectful

Coordinates child protection and prevention programs and services that promote the preservation of Indigenous culture

• Enforces and supports the Duty To Report principle, requiring all persons to report suspected child abuse
• Investigates and assesses, in a manner that is culturally appropriate, all reports of child abuse including emotional, physical, sexual and neglect

Alternative Care Program (ACP)

• Facilitates short term and long term placements (foster care) for children requiring out of home care
• Promotes foster care placement in homes of extended family within child's community; if not possible then works to secure placement within Anishinaabe homes
• Processes applications for individuals wishing to become caregiver homes

Treatment Foster Care Program

• Provides ongoing support and training primarily to foster families and children placed in care in order to maintain success of program and to prevent breakdown of placement
• Addresses the needs of the child/youth in care in the areas of cultural awareness, independent living skills, academic needs and vocation and life skills training
• Provides individual counselling and group therapy to address issues such as, but not limited to sexual identity, depression, anger management and family of origin issues
• Provides ongoing education to First Nation communities to build their capacity to care for own children and youth

Provides services and support to children in need of care and protection and to help strengthen and heal families

• Investigates all suspected cases of abuse/neglect
• Provides alternative care choices
• Addresses the causes of family breakdown and provides counselling and referrals to restore family health

Child Care Services

Provides substitute care and protection of children when:

• Family situation becomes stressful
• Child is left alone
• Single parent needs a break
• Parents must go away for treatment

Family Support Services

• Provides counselling to families experiencing distress for a variety of reasons including low/no income, violence and relationship deterioration
• Provides referrals to community and traditional support services

Foster Homes

• Coordinates placement of children in foster care
• Promotes child placement in families within the Couchiching community
• Encourages families to become involved by providing care for specialized foster homes (for children requiring more care and attention), regular foster homes (short or long term placement), and emergency foster homes (for children in emergency situations)

Serves as a child welfare agency to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of Métis children, youth, adults, Elders and their families

• Provides prevention-based services and programs to meet the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of children and families
• Offers cultural services including ceremonies, land-based activities and mentorship
• Promotes health and wellness
• Managed by a regional Board of Directors

Services and programs include:

• Cultural services
• Customary care/Alternative care
• Family preservation
• Legal and repatriation services
• Youth services

Works to provide health care services surrounding problematic alcohol and substance use issues and mental health issues

• Provides individual, couples and family mental health counselling
• Provides counselling for problematic alcohol and substance use pre-treatment, out-patient treatment and aftercare services
• Offers referrals to community supports and services

Counselling Team Services include:

• Addiction Support Services
• Anger Management Support
• Community Based Workshops
• Community Support Services
• Crisis Management/Counselling
• Elder Support
• Grief Recovery Programming
• Individual Grief Counselling

Treatment Team Services include:

• Case management services
• Intake, assessment, and program orientation
• Pre-treatment support and programming
• Out-Patient support and programming
• Aftercare support and programming
• Referrals for continuing services with First Nation community service providers, other internal agency programs, and external resources

Provides individual and group counseling for those who are experiencing problems in various areas of living

Addictions Counseling

• Provides assessments for various addictions for individuals
• Conducts case management studies
• Offers referrals to appropriate helps
• Provides therapeutic intervention and aftercare
• Provides public education to raise awareness of addictions

Family Violence

• Addresses and provides counseling for all forms of family violence including elder abuse, child and spousal abuse and sexual assault
• Provides referrals to other community services

Individual Counseling

• Provides counseling for many life issues including bereavement, mental illness, disability and traumatic childhood issues

Marital and Family Counseling

• Provides counseling for conflicts in family relationships, sexual issues, separation and divorce matters and communication skills

Partner Assault Response

• Offers a 12 week group education and counseling program on domestic violence and non-abusive ways of resolving conflict
• Offers victims/partners of the offender support including safety planning, referrals to community resources and information on offender's progress

Problem Gambling

• Provides individual and family counseling to deal with the harmful effects of problem gambling

Member agency of Support Services Network for Male Survivors in Ontario (North Region)

• Offers counselling services to children and youth struggling with mental health issues
• Provides supportive mental health therapy including individual assessment and treatment planning
• Coordinates community outreach programs for youth
• Provides referrals to local and out of town community service providers
• Locates community resources when needed

Individual counselling can be provided for but not limited to:

• Anger management
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Self-esteem
• Stress management

Provides information and assistance to support participation in and understanding of the criminal court process

• services begin once police have laid charges and continue until the court case is over
• information about victims' rights, the criminal justice process and their specific case (e.g., court dates)
• needs assessment and referrals to community agencies
• crisis intervention, emotional support, victim advocacy
• facilitates victim's input and liaises with Crown Attorneys, police, regarding bail, safety, resolution of charges, release conditions, publication bans, testimonial aids, trial preparation and court orientation
• information and support on Victim Impact Statements, Statement on Restitution
• facilitates access to court orders, such as bail conditions, probation orders, peace bonds
• debriefing and follow-up support

Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund

Provides financial and court-based supports to enable victims of crime and families of homicide victims to attend court, including:

• Travel arrangements and expenses
• Language interpretation
• Real-time captioning or other equipment for victims with disabilities

Responsible for a broad range of child welfare services

• Provides in-home support, counselling, education and advocacy
• Protects children through prompt investigations of abuse and neglect
• Provides alternate placements for children unable to reside within their own families
• Prepares and places children for adoption
• Provides pregnancy counselling
• Assists adolescents to move to independence
• Provides extended care and maintenance to former crown wards
• Provides counselling and care to developmentally challenged children
• Recruits, trains, orientates, and supports foster parents
• Supports and counsels adoptive parents
• Assists adult adoptees searching for birth parents

Bereavement Counselling

• Provides individual counselling with family involvement
• Offers counselling based on client needs

Oversees programs and services to provide residential care for children who cannot be cared for by their biological parents including:

Adoption

• Assists birth mother in making informed choices
• Offers support before and after baby's birth
• Completes home studies on prospective adoptive families
• Provides support to families waiting to adopt a child and after the child joins the family
• Assists in recording non-identifying information with the Adoption Disclosure Register
• Offers support and assistance if a reunion is requested between biological parent and child placed into adoption

Foster Care

• Facilitates arrangements to provide a temporary home for children who are separated from their family
• Retains legal responsibility for the child
• Provides initial orientation and ongoing training
• Reimburses for all expenses incurred for welfare of child including living, medical, clothing, school and extra-curricular expenses
• Provides access to a full range of therapeutic and relief services
• Offers support from the local Foster Parents Association and meetings with other foster parents

Kinship Care

Offers two types of family care options:

• Kinship Care places a child who is in the care of the agency with a member of their extended family
• Kinship Service allows services to be provided for a child who is not in the care of the agency and remains within his/her family

Assists children, adolescents and their families who may be experiencing emotional, social, and/or psychological problems in their school, family and/or community life

• Provides consultation, training and public education
• Supports and guides parents concerned about child's early development and/or behaviour
• Works with Toronto Sick Children's Hospital to offer psychiatric counselling via video conferencing

Services provided are tailored to the needs of each client, and may include:

• Development of treatment plans
• Individual, family, and group counselling
• Linkages with health, financial, educational, services in the community
• Psychological assessments
• Suicide risk support services (24 hours)

Provides assistance with concerns related to:

• Attachment
• Bullying
• Communication skills
• Family functioning
• Grief
• Loss/separation/divorce
• Relationships
• Sexual abuse
• Social skills

Provides services for children and youth whose emotional needs are so great that they cannot be met within the foster care system

• Offers 24-hour supervision to children in residential units
• Develops an individual plan of care for each resident and provides treatment as identified in the plan
• Provides case management and clinical services
• Coordinates clinical supports, such as tele-psychiatry, children's mental health and psychological services according to the individual needs of the youth
• Ensures youth attend the regular school system or receive alternative education depending on the individual needs of the youth

Services provided for issues that can include:

• Anxiety Disorders
• Attachment Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity
• Childhood Depression
• Oppositional Behaviour
• Running
• Separation

Offers services and support to families and children at risk for delay or who have been diagnosed with a developmental, physical or sensory disability

• Provides home visits with flexible hours to assist with the challenges of parenting
• Offers developmental screening and assessments
• Develops individual early intervention programs as required
• Provides one-on-one and group parenting programs for behavioural issues
• Assists with coordinating health, financial and educational services in the community
• Assists with the transition to school for special needs children
• Facilitates recreational and life skills programming
• Provides individual and family counselling
• Offers referrals to various supports and services related to optimal growth and development for children with special needs

• Gives immediate legal assistance on family law issues to individuals who appear in court without a lawyer
• Provides information about legal rights, obligations and basic court procedure
• Helps negotiate or settle issues
• Reviews or prepares court documents to be filed
• Helps determines if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

Provides assistance in:

• the courtroom for child protection hearings
• garnishment and support hearings
• requesting adjournments
• arguing motions
• hearings for issues such as custody, access, or support where the issues are not complicated

• Provides immediate legal assistance to individuals appearing in court without a lawyer
• Informs individuals about legal rights, obligations and the court process
• Provides assistance in the courtroom for bail hearings and sentencing
• Assists with diversions, guilty pleas and adjournments
• Helps determine if further duty counsel services are required or if the matter requires Legal Aid Ontario's assistance in retaining a lawyer

May provide assistance in specialized courts including:

• Aboriginal persons (Gladue) court
• Domestic violence
• Drug treatment
• Mental health

Note: Criminal Duty Counsel cannot assist with trials

• Offers on-site early intervention and crisis intervention
• Provides needs assessment, safety planning and referrals to community services
• Offers enhanced support for vulnerable victims
• Provides assistance with applications to VQRP+

Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+)

Provides assistance with emergency expenses related to the eligible incident, including:

• home safety
• accommodation
• meals
• transportation
• basic necessities
• dependent care costs
• counselling
• traditional Indigenous health services
• cellular phones
• vision care
• dental care
• aids for victims with disabilities
• interpretation services
• crime scene cleanup
• government/medical documents
• funeral expenses

Additional assistance for victims of human trafficking includes:

• storage locker
• tattoo removal
• treatment at a recovery facility

Note: No direct reimbursement to victims for above supports

Financial support also available for:

• victims who sustained serious physical injuries during a crime
• parents of child homicide victims
• spouses of homicide victims

Volunteers

• Recruits individuals to provide support to victims
• Provides individuals with specialized training at no cost

Volunteers will:

• Assist in developing a personalized safety plan for the victim
• Provide information about legal assistance and programs
• Offer referrals to long-term service providers within the community
• Provide temporary practical and emotional support

Provides a culturally based program to support and address concerns of Indigenous youth who are at risk of negative behaviors

Addressing Violence

• Provides education on how to end violence in Indigenous communities
• Teaches about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse

Education

• Encourages youth to remain in school and provides support for obtaining high school diploma
• Offers homework assistance and time at the Centre to complete homework with access to computers and Internet

General Social Supports

• Provides individual counselling for areas that youth may be struggling with such as socialization and peer pressure
• Offers Native craft classes and regalia making sessions
• Teaches Native dancing, singing and drumming
• Allows the youth to participate in Elder's Circles

Healthy Living and Physical Development

• Holds individual and group educational sessions on healthy lifestyle choices including good nutrition and traditional food preparation
• Supervises non competitive recreational activities

Justice Intervention

• Accompanies any youth registered in agency programs to court proceedings if requested

Youth in Care

• Provides cultural education and support for youth living in foster homes within community

Provides mobile crisis intervention services to individuals affected by family violence

• Provides immediate on site intervention or telephone assistance
• Dispatches call to police when deemed necessary
• Ensures victims receive support and assistance to secure their safety
• Arranges meeting family members at centre or agreed upon location to discuss possible crisis resolutions
• Provides advocacy on behalf of individuals and families dealing with various agencies
• Provides information and referrals to appropriate resources and services

• Offers community based family counselling for children, teens, men, women and families as a group
• Provides assessments and case management services
• Provides services of traditional healers
• Offers community workshops to raise awareness of issues affecting families including substance abuse and family violence
• Supports community initiatives that promote family healing such as traditional gatherings

Also offers the following family support services including but not limited to:

• Advocacy and referral to external agencies
• Assistance in the planning of child's and family's needs
• Emergency financial assistance for basic needs only in cases where the welfare of child/children is at-risk
• Home visitation arrangements and supervison to enable parents to visit with their children living in alternative care