Lu`ma Native Housing Society – Andrea Foster and Sheldon

Lu’ma Native Housing Society
www.lnhs.ca
Aboriginal Children’s Village
Lu’ma Native Housing Society
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship &
Housing program
www.lnhs.ca
Youth Aging out of Care in Western Canada alone
Alberta: Over 700 Youth age out of government Care annually at age 18
• Aboriginal children comprised 62-79% of all 8,552 children in care.
(Alberta Children and Youth Services, 2009).
BC: Over 1,000 Youth age out of government Care annually at age 19
• Over 50% are Aboriginal.
( VACFSS, 2014).
Saskatchewan: Over 500 Youth age out of Care annually at age 16
• Over 300 Aboriginal youth transitioned out of foster care at the end of the 2008/09 - Estimate is based
on regional out-of-home caseload data from the Ministry’s ACI database and INAC on-reserve caseload numbers as of March 31,
2009.
Manitoba: Over 1,100 Youth age out of fostercare at age 18
• 1,593 Youth are in care age 15 - 17 yrs, -75% are Aboriginal. Predominantly First Nations. A smaller number are
Métis, Non-status or Inuit. 1/4 of the youth in care are non-Aboriginal. -“Strengthening our Youth, A Report on Youth
Leaving the Child Welfare system, Alice McEwan-Morris, Nov 2006
3,300-3,500 Youth transition out of foster care every year in Western Canada
(estimate based on government figures).
50-80% are Aboriginal depending on which province.
Presently, what are the outcomes for Youth transitioning out of Care?
For youth from the foster care system of the same age:
50% did not complete high school,
50% are unemployed,
60% are pregnant or are an unwed parent (among females), and
30% are on public assistance.
65% are homeless
? % are incarcerated - Anne Tweddle, "Youth Leaving Care Report", September 2005
“The results can be devastating. Research shows that without adequate transitional
supports, young people leaving care are less likely to graduate from high school and
attend post-secondary education. They are more likely to have mental health problems,
become parents at an early age, experience trouble with employment, be involved in
the criminal justice system, receive social assistance, experience homelessness or have
substance abuse issues. The costs of our society not helping them are far higher than
the costs of providing adequate support at a time when they need it most. “
– MaryEllen Turpel-Lafond. “On Their Own”, pg 3 April, 2014
What are the costs of Doing Nothing
and maintaining the status quo?
* Homelessness
Social &
Economic
Costs of:
* Incarceration
= $300,000 estimated over a lifetime
* Social Assistance
x 3,500 Youth Aging out this year
* Teen pregnancy
=
* Addiction treatment
$10.5 Billion+
* Mental Illness treatment & Care
* Suicide
Loss in Productivity
over this Year’s co-hort’s lifetime
Jim Casey Initiative
– Authentic Youth Engagement
Guiding Principles:
Preparation
Support
Opportunity
Logic
Model
- Aboriginal
Youth
Mentorship
& Housing
program
Strategies &
Activities
A set of strategies and activities
will help create the conditions
that are necessary in a
community in order to improve
outcomes for Aboriginal youth
transitioning from foster care
into adulthood successfully.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Youth Advocacy Board
Aboriginal Youth as Effective
Self-Advocates
Program Development
Community Stewardship
Community Partner Council
Core Program
When Partnerships, a
Mentor, and systems are
effectively supporting
Aboriginal Youth, they will
IDENTITY
Self-Esteem & Confidence, Self Awareness & Exploration
have improved Outcomes
Family & Connection with Community, Aboriginal Awareness in the following Areas:
RELATIONSHIPS
Developing Trust, Respect, Boundaries, Conflict Resolution
Roles of Individuals, Building Support, Love & Affection
LIFE SKILLS
Communication, Active Listening, Decision Making,
Problem Solving, Self-Motivation, Time Management,
Creating Social Capital, Understanding Policies
EDUCATION
JUSTICE
Community Partnership Board
Resource Development
Aboriginal Youth as Partners
Crime Prevention, AntiGang, Date Rape, Sexual Exploitation
Personal Progress Rubric
Communication on Best Practice
Youth as Evaluators
& Communicators
INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Financial Passport
Door Openers
Working with Educators
CULTURAL INTERFLUENCY
Respect for Cultural Protocols
RELATIONSHIPS
Aboriginal Youth have adults
in the Community to rely
on for a lifetime of support
High School Completion, Education Counselling, Educational
EDUCATION
Institutions' Info Workshops, Career Cruising & OccupationalAboriginal Youth acquire
Research, Exploring Strengths & Interests
education & training that
enable them to obtain &
HOUSING
Homeless Prevention, Tenancy Coaching, Ready to Rent
retain steady employment.
PARTNERSHIPS & RESOURCES
RESEARCH, EVALUATION &
COMMUNICATIONS
Improved Aboriginal
Youth Outcomes
WELLNESS
7 Sacred Teachings, Emotional Mental Physical & Spiritual
Health, Planned Parenting, Healthy Sexual Relationships
Physical Fitness , Cultural Physical Activities, Accessing
Healthcare, Cooking, Nutrition, Hygiene, Alcohol & Drug
Awareness, Grief & Loss, Suicide Prevention, Self-Defense
SKILLS & TRAINING
EMPLOYMENT
Aboriginal Youth support
themselves by obtaining &
retaining employment
FINANICIAL STABILITY
Aboriginal Youth manage
budgets & achieve their
financial goals.
HOUSING
Office Computer Skills, First Aid, Food Safe, WHIMIS, First
Aboriginal Youth have safe,
Host, Researching Educatonal Programs, Career Cruising,
stable & affordable housing
Leadership Skills, Advocacy Skills, Communication Training & access to transportation
for work & school.
EMPLOYMENT
Job Readiness, Resume Skills, Interview Skills
HEALTH
Job Hunting, Work Experience, Community Stewardship
Aboriginal Youth have their
physical, emotional, mental,
FINANCIAL LITERACY
Budgeting, Financial Planning, Youth Passport,
& spiritual needs met.
Taxes, Financial Stability, Community Partnerships
SOCIAL CAPITAL
Aboriginal Youth have,
CULTURE
Cultural Connections, Practices, Teachings, Language
sustain & capitalize on a
Cultural Arts, Music, Dance, Ceremony, Coming of Age
diverse network of their
connections to achieve
GOAL SETTING
Creating Workplans, Vision Boards, Educational Plans
life goals.
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship
& Housing program
• Indigenization of Best practices
• Aboriginal staff
• Interweaving of cultural protocols & teachings
• Authentic Youth Engagement
– Youth as partners, peers and advocates
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship
& Housing program
Mandate
* To provide Aboriginal Youth transitioning out of foster care with mentorship & housing;
* Support the transition from foster care to adulthood, overcoming personal barriers;
* To connect Youth with community partners and adult allies; and
* To be the supportive extended family our Youth often do not have.
Mission
To end Aboriginal Youth homelessness by empowering our Youth to invest in their future by building social,
educational and financial capital.
To facilitate growth of our Youth and ensure they attain the knowledge of
living in a holistic manner, taking care of their physical, emotional, spiritual and mental needs.
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship
& Housing program
Features Mandatory participation in:
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One-on-One Mentorship to overcome individual barriers
Core Program Weekly workshops & seminars
Field trips: cultural, educational, pre-employment & community stewardship
Aboriginal Youth Advocacy Board
Housing
‘Youth Financial Passport’
Program Evaluation
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship
Core Program – 12 keys for success
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Relationships
Identity
Life Skills
Education
Housing
Justice
* Wellness
* Skills Development & Training
* Employment
* Financial Literacy
* Culture
* Goal Setting
Aboriginal Youth Mentorship
& Housing program
Lu’ma Native Housing Society
www.lnhs.ca