Child and Family Centre

 

Nshiime Child and Family Centre:

 

Is committed to providing an environment where the Anishinaabe culture and language are alive. We use the teachings, the community and our natural surroundings in order to enhance the binoojiinyag kinoomaadwin (teaching of the children). We invite our elders and other community programs to share their knowledge with the children. Nshiime Child and Family Centre maintains a close connection to the community by hosting and participating in many community events.

 

At the Nshiime Child and Family Centre we strive to provide a healthy and safe environment where children are encouraged to try new things and explore the world around them in order to learn through their play. Our daily routine includes healthy meals and snacks, personal hygiene (toileting, washing hands, brushing teeth), and time for quiet rest or sleep. Our staff strictly follows the Ministry of Education and Health and Safety standards. The staff also endeavors to model safe and healthy behaviours for the children. We allow children to explore and take safe risks, according to their skill level, while being closely monitored and supported by staff.

 

Children of Nshiime:

 

We encourage children to develop the skills needed to problem solve and communicate with their friends in a positive way. We view children as being competent, capable, curious and rich in potential. Staff members are always close by to help them find the words needed to have successful interactions. We respect that each child has a voice and emotions that should be heard and validated. Staff members engage children in conversation to model positive communication skills.

 

Parents of Nshiime:

 

Our goal is for parents to feel comfortable in the centre and feel that they have a positive relationship with their child’s caregivers. The staff aims to greet parents and children in the morning. We share information at the end of the day, whether through conversation or in writing (often using the Hi Mama Program), to provide updates, feedback, or stories from the day. We encourage positive and open communication between parents and staff in order to best meet the children’s needs.

 

Staff of Nshiime:

 

As a staff, we try to create a friendly and warm environment. Staff members are encouraged to maintain positive communication with each other. We are provided with time to meet with our teams, as well as with our supervisor, in order to connect, share thoughts, concerns, ideas and brainstorm together. As a team we help each other when needed, offering support and feedback. Our staff meetings are also a time for us to communicate, keep each other up to date, and plan for upcoming events. Professional Development days, workshops, conferences and training provide opportunities for continuous learning for staff. Resource staff is available to provide support for children, staff and parents.

 

Nshiime’s Learning Environment:

 

As Nshiime we feel strongly that children should be provided with a variety of materials and experiences in order to encourage curiosity. We carefully observe children while they play in order to provide activities that will interest them and help them to build necessary skills. We foster the children’s learning through exploration, play land inquiry. This is emergent curriculum. We use the How Does Learning Happen document as a reference for program planning.

 

Children are given the opportunity to explore and learn from their environment (indoor and outdoor). These opportunities help foster co-learning between the children and the staff. Every room creates a learning environment where each child will be stimulated to learn and be successful. Staff are ready to adapt activities to meet the needs of all our children. We encourage each child to be independent and help them develop confidence by being supportive, providing tools or tricks, and having the children help each other.

 

Nshiime Child and Family Centre documents and captures children’s progress through pictures and videos. We use an online program called Hi Mama in order to share these and other information with parents and to document children’s achievements.

 

Nawash Native Child Welfare

 

As Anishnaabeg, we hold a sacred Responsibility to protect and care for children, to support and sustain our families, and nurture a healthy community environment by providing a rang of community-based and culturally appropriate services for children and families. It is our intent that all our children remain connected to our heritage, our culture, and our First Nation.

 

Family Support Program

 

The Family Support Program provides various voluntary services to Band members families. It acts as a liaison between families and off-reserve child welfare agencies. This program also offers parenting programs twice per year as well as parenting information to those who request it. The Family Support Program also provides a Foster Care component. We offer support and assistance to foster parents and children in care within our community. This component also helps in the recruitment of new foster parents within the community. Foster Care is an important step in keeping Band member children within their home community.

 

Child Support Program

 

Works in accordance with the Family and Children’s Services Act, specifically Section X – Indian and Native Child and Family Services. Works primarily within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding to advocate, provide support services, & referrals for children in care. Will run a personal safety program for school aged children from Jr kindergarten to grade 7.

 

Nawash Youth Group

 

Teens between the ages of 13-18 make up this group. We provide many different activities through this program such as Teen’s Night, Drop In, workshops, fundraisers and cultural activities. During different times of the year we attend conferences, workshops, and other recreational activities off reserve. Workshop topics range from issues such as health, social, personal, career, and life skills training. We offer pre-parenting sessions yearly. Our Teen’s night is held Wednesday nights at the community centre. During this time the youth participate in a variety of recreational activities. Drop In is open Friday nights at the Native Child Welfare building. Some of the equipment available include: 48″ TV, VCR/DVD player, pool table, board games, a computer and kitchen facilities. Transportation is available home after each event.

 

Right to Play

 

The objective of the PLAY Program is to build on the strengths of Aboriginal youth and their communities, while supporting the value of culture and identity. The PLAY Program is a multi-faceted program that is tailored to specific needs of each community, is designed in partnership with the community and aim to support children and youth to develop and strengthen essential life-skills. Prior to implementation, community members participate in a thorough needs assessment that guides the design of the program. The PLAY program is being implemented in partnership with First Nation communities, Tribal Councils And variety of Aboriginal organizations across Ontario.