Pubdate: Tue, 04 Nov 2003 Source: Penticton Western (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 Penticton Western Contact: http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1310 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADDICTION MAIN CHILD WELFARE THEMES Like their counterparts across the province, aboriginal communities in the Okanagan are looking at how the delivery of child welfare services should change. The Aboriginal Peoples Family Accord is working towards securing more input for aboriginal people, including First Nations, urban aboriginal communities and the Metis, concerning the health and safety of their children and youth. Currently, six APFA zone facilitators are gathering community feedback which will form the first draft of a service plan. This document will be a template for how services should change, including child protection, foster care and youth justice. "By far and away, the main theme of the focus groups is that the first area we need to address is mental health which includes alcohol and drug addictions," said Jim MacArthur, a zone facilitator. "Mental health is really the foundation of rebuilding the rest. There's grief and loss. For example, there are too many 13-year-olds who have been to 10 funerals in their community. Grief also comes from other losses such as moving from their community and dropping out of school." To generate community input, MacArthur is facilitating an early childhood development focus group Nov. 3, a youth justice focus group Nov. 7 and a mental health focus group with the date to be announced. He is also organizing two gatherings, through the Okanagan Nation Alliance, Nov. 27 to 28 and Dec. 3 to 4. MacArthur will also make presentations at a social workers conference Nov. 17 and at an Interior Health Authority conference Nov. 24 in Kelowna. Other zone facilitators in the Interior have indicated a need to revisit programs like youth justice with sentencing circles, making sure children leaving care have the like skills necessary for entering adulthood and the importance of elder's role. "Communities are starting to imagine more culturally empowering and holistic services and supporting these with increased community responsibility," said Leslie Varley, APFA implementation manager. "There is discussion about the need to decolonize and to move away from punitive style programs, like taking children away from families, to empowering programs which help families heal and build strength." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager