1. Program for 10-12 years old and their parents IMPROVING WELL-BEING OF INDIGENOUS FAMILIES OF INDIGENOUS FAMILIES

2. 2 Funded by PHAC (2011-2015)

3. PROGRAM GOALS: Youth social & life skills Parenting skills Family relationship 14 weekly sessions (2½ hours): Welcoming words; last session follow-up Ice breaker game Dinner Breaking out session: youth / parents Practicing skills together Gifts / home task Program delivery: Facilitators autonomously follow a guiding manual 3

4. INVOLVEMENT Local collaborators: Advisory committee to culturally adapt the manual Elders (may assist facilitators) 2 trained facilitators (or +) 1 coordinator 1 cook Participants (max 10 families): 10-12 years old youth With their parents or care takers 4

5. MAIN GOAL: MAIN GOAL: INCREASING PROTECTIVE FACTORS for mental health promotion Positive relationships between child and his parents foster healthy families and communities. Learning skills for managing daily life stressors prevent or delay the use of unhealthy social behaviors (smoking). Cultural continuity factors (language, health services provided by local members) enhance well-being among communities and prevent suicide. Training local facilitators for autonomous delivery of the program encourage community empowerment. 5

6. WEEKLY THEMES 1- Welcome Feast 2- Cultural History 3- My Family 4- A Good Way of Life 5- Help Seeking / Giving 6- Stress and Anger Management 7- Healthy self, healthy relationship 8- Problem Solving 9- Being Different 10- Peer Communication 11- Refusal Skills 12- Building Social Support I 13- Building Social Support II 14- Celebration Feast / Blanket ceremony

7. Weekly Objectives 7 THEMEFAMILIESYOUTHCARE TAKERS 1- Welcome FeastTo feel welcome; to learn about the program; to think about family values Ex: values through Sacred tree story Discuss healthy /traditional family values 2- Cultural HistoryTo gain a sense of pride. Ex: traditional ways of life as told by Elders Learn about historical events and traditions; ask questions Discuss importance of language and traditions; their link to health 3- My FamilyTo communicate in respectful ways Developing skills: Ex: listen with the heart Discuss and practice the Family Talking Circle 4- A Good Way of LifeTo identify good ways of life at each age Developing skills: Ex: Learn from mistakes Identify stage of life and positive things coming up 5- Help Seeking / GivingTo learn skills and practices (offer tobacco) Developing skills: 4 Steps to solve problems Write a list of family goals; know resources 6- Stress and Anger Management To view anger as a natural / normal emotion Temper gauge; reaction to anger Identify own emotions and those of children 7- Healthy self, healthy relationship To identify signs of depression To recognize the consequences of bullying Discuss monitoring internet and phone use

8. Weekly Objectives Weekly Objectives – Cont’d 8 THEMEFAMILIESYOUTHCARE TAKERS 8- Problem SolvingTo take STEPS as a solving method for problems… Such as: Peer pressure, following the rules Such as: Time management, conflicts 9- Being DifferentTo see differences as unique (not unequal) To be more sensitive to others with differences Identify ways to combat discrimination 10- Peer CommunicationTo learn skills for having trusting relationships Discuss qualities needed of a good friendship Prepare children for success; quality time 11- Refusal SkillsTo learn different ways to say no. Discuss peer pressure; learn refusal techniques Monitoring children: traditional VS new ways 12- Building Social Support I To identify the positive influences (interactions) Large group discussion: who can help with stress? Trust building actions; traditional teachings 13- Building Social Support II To talk on the strengths of the community Think of own role for a better community To discuss community empowerment: goals / barriers / collective skills 14- Celebration Feast / Blanket ceremony To recognize everyone’s hard work and effort To share memories and celebrate Elders will conduct the Blanket ceremony

9. How much does the program cost? 9

10. ACTION RESEARCH ACTION RESEARCH « A disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking the action. The primary reason for engaging in action research is to assist the “actor” in improving and/or refining his or her actions » (Sagor, 2000).

11. ACTION RESEARCH ACTION RESEARCH Providing evidence-based data to evaluate the efficiency of a program that was culturally-adapted by different Indigenous Nations Action Participants Research Cultural Adaptation Program Improvement Qualitative & Quantitative data Collected Facilitators team & +/- 10 youth with a caretaker 11

12. Adapting the Materials: Undertaken by the workers. Informal validation is preferred for any questioning on adapting (ex.: language). Recruiting Participants: Using public events to promote the upcoming program among the youth and parents is a good strategy. Main Lessons Learned from the FNQLHSSC 12

13. Main Lessons Learned from the FNQLHSSC - Cont’d Program Offer: The program (14 sessions) is long: demanding for both workers and participants. The program offer must be added to the workers’ work plan (additional time). 13

14. RESULTS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN 2015 14

15. Thank! Audrey Vézina, Mental health adviser, FNQLHSSC Patricia Montambault, Research agent, FNQLHSSC 15