Kina Gbezhgomi's support services will support families at risk and provide individual or family counseling on a mutually consensual basis. Child and Family services assist with problem solving, encouragement and empowerment of family units that will facilitate making healthy choices for their families.

One of the roles of the Child and Family Service Worker is to create a climate of trust and respect in which individuals can feel safe and supported when dealing with issues that will prevent intrusive child welfare intervention. Therefore, workers will also encourage support systems that exist in the community by providing advocacy and essential services that will prevent and/or reduce the necessity of protection services.

The services provided by the Child and Family Service Workers are:

• Networking/Collaborative Assistance
• Assessment and Referral - Child and Family Service Workers will assess family units to determine the strengths and needs of the family system.
• Advocacy and Liaison Services - To promote and affirm the efforts of the family to address child welfare related concerns, child and family services will act as their advocate.
• Supportive Services - Child and Family Service Workers will encourage families to utilize appropriate resources available within any of the First Nations.
• Educational and Life Skills Development - Child and Family Service Workers will provide educational resources and tools for families who require assistance in dealing with child behavior management, relationship building, problem resolution and communication techniques.
• Tangible Support Services - Are temporary / emergency measures which will stabilize a crisis situation and reduce the risk of child protection intervention.
• Emergency After Hours Services
• Plans of Care Assistance - Child and Family Service Workers will assist the Children's Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitou to facilitate the development of appropriate plans of care for children in conjunction with the band representatives and parents on child protection matters (Protocol agreement).
• Plans for Service - Child and Family Service Workers will implement a plan for service with families to ensure effective services are provided based on the strengths and needs of the family.

Child and Family Service Workers will provide factual information on the Charter of Rights and an individual's rights and responsibilities when dealing with different government agencies. Where no appropriate services are available to meet the needs of the child, they will ensure that referrals are completed to external service providers and programs. They will implement and ensure a coordinated and cooperative strategy in response to the needs of clients within any of the First Nations we serve. They will maximize the general helping capacity of social service providers through linking the client to the appropriate social service agency.

Emergency After Hours

After Hours Service will encompass crisis intervention services after regular business hours including weekends and holidays. After Hours Services will respond to clients on an emergency basis including new referrals for and on-going involvement with children and families with the objective of support, counseling, advocacy and placements on their behalf. This service will assist at the onset of a child protection investigation, apprehension and placements of Native children in agency foster care homes.
The After Hours Service will ensure that the child(ren)'s needs are met: physical, emotional, social, educational, and spiritually. In the instances that an approved foster home is not available, preference will be given to place the child with extended family members, or in culturally appropriate environment; either in their own community or in a neighbouring First Nation. The After Hour Service will align itself with the implementation of the agency's Foster Care Program. Placements can be on an emergency basis.

For more information, contact June at (705) 859-2100