SERVICES FOR OUR CHILDREN
ABORIGINAL EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (AECD)
The AECD Program promotes a community minded approach to supporting families through a range of services which includes prevention, early intervention, education, training and outreach. The intent is to provide safe, nurturing environments for children, maximize their growth, and enhance their developmental potential
The AECD Program offers services to educate, support and assist families with children ages zero to six (0-6).
AECD Parent Support offers culturally appropriate, confidential services including:
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Kermode Connections Drop-In Group Fridays 12:00 pm—2:00 pm.
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One-on-one sessions; In house, Outreach, or Home Visits
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Strengthening Early Childhood Learning & Development
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Parenting and family supports
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Strengthening community supports
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Family room (nursing, changing baby, quiet time)
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Free store—clothes (for children 0-6), & some miscellaneous child-focused items
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Provide transportation and/or supports for families to attend KFS community/day trip activities, appointments for medical, MCFD, financial support, etc.
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Referrals to other KFS programs or outside agencies to support parents and children.
THE AECD PREGNANCY OUTREACH PROGRAM
This program provides education and support services to clients of childbearing years, pregnant mothers, post-natal, their families, and newborn care. It includes:
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Drop-In Weekly Group (Tuesdays) 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm -various topics/guest speakers (includes lunch)
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One-on-one in-house sessions /Pregnancy Outreach/Home Visits
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Education/Support to prenatal, maternal and newborn care
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Nutritional Information and support healthy eating (vouchers)
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Develop birth plans and action plans (pre & post natal)
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Provide newborn (essentials) basket
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Provide transportation and/or supports for families to attend KFS community/day trip activities, appointments for medical, MCFD, financial support, etc.
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Family room (nursing, changing baby, quiet time)
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Free store—clothes (for children 0-6 & some adult), & some miscellaneous child-focused items
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Referrals to other KFS programs or outside agencies
ABORIGINAL INFANT DEVELOPMENT (AIDP)
The AIDP Program provides education, support, and assistance to families with children who are ages zero to six (0-6) and are at risk of a disability. Whether it is a delay in development or a designated disability.
AIDP offers culturally appropriate, confidential services including:
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Kermode Connections Group every Thursday 12:00 pm-2:00pm -various topics/guest speakers (includes lunch)
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Other groups offered such as; Mother Moose, Infant Massage, etc.
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Home Visits/Outreach
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Monitor and screen for developmental delays.
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Develop new activities and support parents
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Developmental screening tools such as Nipissing, Ages & Stages, Gesell.
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Assistance with paperwork/appointments,.
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Provide support with meetings with various service providers.
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Assistance with transition to preschool/daycares for parent and child
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Provide transportation and/or supports for families to attend KFS community/day trip activities, appointments for medical, MCFD, financial support, etc.
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Referrals to other KFS programs or outside agencies to support
The AIDP Program promotes a community minded approach to supporting families through a range of services which includes prevention, early intervention, education, training and outreach. The intent is to provide safe, nurturing environments for children, maximize their growth, and enhance their developmental potential
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN (CAPC)
This program promotes the healthy development
of young children from birth to age six (0-6),
who face challenges
that put their health at risk, such as:
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Poverty
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Teen Pregnancy
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Social and Geographical Isolation
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New Immigrants
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Food Security
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Substance Use
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Family Violence
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With funding from PHAC and Northern Development Initiative Trust
NOTE: CAPC essentially does all of the same services as AECD and AIDP
PERINATAL NURSING PROGRAM (PPSUP)
The Pregnancy Nurse Outreach Program provides a safe space, free of judgement and barriers, to receive pregnancy support, prenatal/postnatal care, and well babe visits. This program provides 1:1 substance use, harm reduction support and care, as well as, home, hospital and community pregnancy outreach.
This program honors the agency , resiliency, and self-determination of women and their communities, trusting that they know what they need, and placing individual connection and promotion of wellness, as paramount to supporting woman who live with substance use, and addiction. It is guided by the principles of community health promotion, indigenous harm reduction models, and primary health care.
PPSUP offers culturally appropriate, confidential services including:
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One-on-one Prenatal medical care, referrals and support. Birth support, advocacy, and resources.
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One to one Post partum medical care, referrals and support.
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In house/home visits—Well Babe Visits /check up’s- care, referrals, and resources.
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One to One Pregnancy and substance use support.
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Outreach/Home Visits/Hospital support. Supportive care, resources, birth plans and medical care when living with addiction, using substances, and/or recovering.
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Advocacy, collaboration and referrals to local physicians, Women’s Wellness Clinic, and Labor and Delivery Wards at Mills Memorial and Kitimaat.
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Advocacy transportation and accompaniment to appointments: Prenatal appointments, MSFD, NCFS, Legal Aid, medical clinics, transition homes, recovery facilities.
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1:1 Prenatal and early parenting sessions or classes.
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Pregnancy, post partum and parenting health promotion. Family Centered Support Groups. Guest speakers, inclusive, confidential.
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Referrals to other KFS programs or outside agencies
In 2021 we had the fortune of adding an Elder Liaison to this team who is available to meet with individuals/families and KFS staff to guide and direct us along our journey. The Elder advises on ceremony and feasting protocols, and invites other Elders, Matriarchs and Chiefs. We are in the process of bringing the Circle of Birth Keepers Project to our Friendship Society to provide safe spaces as well as birthing supplies to our families. We will be offering the Indigenous Doula Training October 4 – 8, 2021 for people interested in becoming an Indigenous Doula here in the Northwest of BC.
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
The Kermode Aboriginal Head Start Program is a Preschool Program designed for children ages 3 to 5 of Aboriginal descent. Our program is one of the twelve (1 of 12) Urban Aboriginal Head Start Programs in BC. Our primary focus is to provide services for the children and their families support Early Childhood Development and instill pride in their Aboriginal heritage. Our goal is bringing them to the school readiness stage in order to help ensure an easy transition into Kindergarten.
Our program focuses on the 6 Components of Aboriginal Head Start and we include these components in every day curriculum and activity planning and implementation. The 6 Components are:
1.Culture and Language
2.Education and School Readiness
3.Health Promotion
4.Nutrition
5.Social Support
6.Parent, Elder and Family Involvement
Parent, Elder and Family involvement is the main factor to making our program a success. We believe that Parents are their child’s primary teachers and strongly encourage them to be a part of our program.
Our Staff consists of 7, the Program Manager, the ECE Floor Supervisor, 2 ECE Staff, Bus driver/Maintenance, and the Cook. Our program operates from September to June of each year.
DAYCARE
The Kermode Aboriginal Head Start Daycare is a fully funded daycare designed for children ages 12 months to 3 years and children aged 3 to 5 of Indigenous descent. Our primary focus is to provide services for the children and their families support Early Childhood Development and instill pride in their Indigenous heritage.
Our program focuses on the 6 Components of Aboriginal Head Start and we include these components in every day curriculum and activity planning and implementation. The 6 Components are:
1.Culture and Language
2.Education and School Readiness
3.Health Promotion
4.Nutrition
5.Social Support
6.Parent, Elder and Family Involvement
Parent, Elder and Family involvement is the main factor to making our program a success. We believe that Parents are their child’s primary teachers and strongly encourage them to be a part of our program.