CAB Success Stories
The Caring Across the Boundaries training has been attended by representatives from over 150 agencies to date! Here are a few of their stories.
In January 2005 a collaborative relationship was established between the Program Director of the Chilliwack Hospice Society and the Aboriginal Liaison for the Chilliwack General Hospital Hospice Palliative Care Team. This partnership has resulted in a co-facilitated workshop on 'Children and Grief' at the Aboriginal Health & Wellness Conference (February 2005) and having an Elder speak on Aboriginal traditions to hospice volunteer trainees. Some very exciting news is the 'Sharing the Journey' two-day conference to be held at Chehalis Indian Band's Healing house, Lhawathet Lalem on October 26 and 27. Two participants, who took part in the initial January CAB training, will be participating in this conference.
Sharing Facilities and Resources...
The CAB training attended by Chilliwack Hospice Society was hosted by Xyolhemeylh Child and Family Services and was held at the Tzeachten Hall. At the training, Sto:lo community representatives expressed that community resources such as the Tzeachten Hall could be shared with the voluntary sector. Plans are underway to see if some of the Chilliwack Hospice Society volunteer training sessions can be held at the Tzeachten Hall in October 2005.
Following up on a First Step can lead to big things...
The Scouts Canada Vancouver, BC participant from the CAB training held in Chilliwack, BC followed through on his First Step which was to contact Xyolhmeylh Child and Family Services for developing a partnership. A meeting was held with Xyolhmeylh C&FS staff to discuss a mentorship program for First Nations children and youth.
The Scouts Canada participant from the Kahnawake CAB session initiated contact with staff of Kahnawake Shaikotiia'takenhhas Community Services who had also attended the training. As a result, a few of the children the agency works with will be attending Scouts Canada Camps this summer and efforts are being made to start up an after school program for the fall.
Collaboration has many forms...
At the CAB session in Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia, the Pictou Landing First Nation and Mi'kmaw Child and Family Services extended the circle of caring by inviting all voluntary sector agency participants to attend their monthly interagency meetings. The meetings are a time to learn about community resources and share information. The invitation has been well received as several voluntary sector agencies have attended the meetings!
The spirit of collaboration and sharing was continued by the Tearmann Children's Outreach participant who presented a workshop on meditation and relaxation at the Women's Health Day event hosted by the Pictou Landing First Nation.
Boys and Girls Club of Canada - Aboriginal Mentorship Project
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society have come together for a joint initiative called the Aboriginal Mentorship Project. The project will establish a framework for mentoring programs for Aboriginal children and youth across Canada both on and off reserve.
Putting Collaboration on the Policy Agenda
Due to the efforts of the its CAB participant, the board of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver has passed a resolution to place the improvement of the lives of Aboriginal children and families on the agency's strategic plan. The advancement of this agenda will be used as an indicator of the agency's effectiveness. The Elizabeth Fry Societies of Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Kingston have taken similar action and adopted the resolution as part of their strategic plans. In addition, the agency will be charting provincial and local statistics on the charge rates of Aboriginal women and youth as a health indicator.
Circle Mural Family Resource Programs Canada
Following his attendance to the CAB pilot session in Kananaskis, AB, FRP Canada's executive director invited the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society to do a keynote address for his agency's annual general meeting. In May 2005, FRP Canada hosted a conference which included a CAB training workshop. The workshop was attended by 27 participants from across Canada!
Access to Training and Resources...
The hosts of the CAB session held in Chilliwack, BC Xyolhemeylh Child and Family Services and session participant, the Red Cross, share their story of access to training and resources. Xyolhemeylh C&FS was able to access the Red Cross' Sexual Abuse training and will also be taking part in another Red Cross training initiative called 'Walking the Prevention Circle'. This is a train the trainers program which will be provided to members of the agency's Community Care Committee.
The possibilities are endless!!
More examples of collaborations that have been initiated by CAB participants:
Two major national voluntary sector organizations have received approval from their board of directors to explore funding sources to integrate Caring Across the Boundaries as a core element of their staff training program.
A First Nations community has established an inter-agency committee that brings voluntary sector and First Nations child and family service providers together on a regular basis to plan joint initiatives.
A seniors group and Elders organization have arranged joint meetings to build relationships and explore how they could jointly support young people and children.
A voluntary sector serving new Canadians has included a regular column on Aboriginal peoples in their newsletter to educate members on the contributions of, and challenges facing, Aboriginal children and families.
A voluntary sector participant has delivered relaxation workshops to First Nations women and girls.
A First Nations community has included voluntary sector organizations in their cultural ceremonies to promote cross cultural understanding and relationship building.
