First Peoples Child & Family Review
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Adolescence: A Window of Opportunity for Positive Change in Mental Health
No full textAdolescence is a period of development characterized by risk-taking, sensation-seeking, emotionally-influenced and independence-seeking behaviours. There is a move away from family and towards the social influences of peer groups. Emotionally-driven behaviours may override adolescents’ higher cognitive functioning during this time. Especially vulnerable are youth who have been the victim of high-impact trauma or chronic abuse and neglect. Specifically, the posttraumatic stress symptomatology that is often associated with experiences of abuse and neglect may impair the ability of youth to cope during this developmental period. This is where intervention by community workers may be used to support teens with a history of maltreatment, as they develop from children to adolescents and, finally, to adults. Part of such intervention includes violence prevention in families and in teen dating relationships, as well as directly addressing posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology. This critical developmental period of adolescence presents community workers with an opportunity to intervene and guide the development of these youth, building upon resiliency factors, such as areas of individual mastery and empowerment and participation within the community. Aboriginal youth with a history of maltreatment present a special case for community workers. These youth have been subjected to intense acculturation pressures that do not exist for other adolescent populations, which create unique problems during their transition to adulthood. In order to intervene in the most effective manner, it is necessary to understand the psychological and physiological developmental processes that are unfolding in the adolescent brain. We discuss adolescent development in general and among Aboriginal adolescents, in particular. We present ways to support both groups through these challenging periods that are empirically-based and supported by research
A Smoking Prevention Program for Aboriginal Youth
No full textIn recent years, policymakers and medical experts have expressed alarm about the growing problem of tobacco related deaths, most specifically from smoking cigarettes. Even more alarming is the rate of tobacco use among Aboriginal people and specifically Aboriginal youth. This paper explores how a holistic approach coupled with Aboriginal healthcare professionals is necessary for an effective smoking prevention program. Moreover, recommendations are provided based on this information to help devise an effective smoking prevention program encompassing all four aspects of health; mental, physical, emotional and spiritual
Domestic Sex Trafficking of Aboriginal Girls in Canada: Issues and Implications
No full textThe current discourses on human trafficking in Canada do not take into account domestic trafficking, especially of Aboriginal girls. Notwithstanding the alarmingly high number of missing, murdered and sexually exploited Aboriginal girls, the issue continues to be portrayed more as a problem of prostitution than of sexual exploitation or domestic trafficking. The focus of this study is to examine the issues in sexual exploitation of Aboriginal girls, as identified by the grass root agencies, and to contextualize them within the trafficking framework with the purpose of distinguishing sexual exploitation from sex work. In doing so, the paper will outline root causes that make Aboriginal girls vulnerable to domestic trafficking as well as draw implications for policy analysis
The Politics of Policy Development to End Obesity for Aboriginal Youth in the Educational Environment
No full textCanada, a country of considerable wealth and resources, has one of the highest standards of living in the world. This country is politically organized as a democracy that is supportive of political and civil freedoms, yet inequalities among certain populations prevail. In general, Aboriginal people experience poorer economic, social, and environmental conditions than those of non-Aboriginal people (Canadian Population Health Initiative, 2005) and lower involvement in political and civil activity. This report also illustrates the inferior health status among Aboriginal people. Within the school system, an educational policy can serve to address an inequality. Hence, the purpose of the paper is to apply the tools outlined by Deborah Stone in her book, Policy Parodox: The Art of Political Decision Making (2002), to demonstrate why I believe school policies should be developed to prevent obesity among Aboriginal youth, to understand the politics of implementing these policies and to analyze and critique the ideas from hypothesized political opponents. Addressing these injustices provides recognition of the racism in present-day educational policy decision-making processes, which can result in more significant progress toward an equal and just society which ensures the health of Aboriginal peoples and successive generations
Les mauvais traitements envers les enfants autochtones signalés à la Protection de la jeunesse du Québec: Comparaison Interculturelle*
No full textL’étude vise à décrire les signalements impliquant des enfants autochtones et à les comparer à ceux impliquant des enfants non-autochtones à partir d’un échantillon représentatif des signalements faits aux services québécois de protection de la jeunesse. Les résultats démontrent qu’au Québec, les situations impliquant des enfants autochtones, par rapport à celles impliquant des enfants non-autochtones, se caractérisent par l’occupation d’un logement subventionné, l’abus de substances chez les parents, un nombre plus élevé d’enfants dans la famille, le fait que le signalement soit reçu en urgence sociale et le fait que le signalement provienne moins souvent de la mère. Les enjeux pour l’intervention auprès des familles autochtones et des recommandations pour les recherches futures sont discutés
Editorial- The Insidious Poverty Epidemic: Considerations for Aboriginal Children, Families, Communities and other Indigenous Nations
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Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency: Creating a Community Response for Special Needs Children
No full textThe Children’s Special Services program was created by the Kinosao Sipi Minisowin Agency to meet the requirements of special needs children and their families in the Norway House Cree Nation community of Manitoba. While the program itself is an excellent resource, its creation highlights the challenges faced by Aboriginal children with special needs and their families in regards to accessing services. Specifically, the creation of the program draws attention to the service vacuum that Aboriginal children with special needs must face. The value of the program to thecommunity cannot be underestimated as due to its existence, fewer parents have to make the choice of either placing their children in foster care or moving from their community in order to access services
Aboriginal Youth Talk about Structural Determinants as the Causes of their Homelessness
No full textThis article explores structural determinants as possible causes of the homelessness of Aboriginal youth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It includes a brief literature review and provides some of the findings of a recent research project, which implemented an Aboriginal research methodology with homeless youth in Toronto. These findings point to a strong link between Aboriginal children growing up in poverty and involvement in child welfare and becoming homeless as youth. Suggestions for positive change at the policy level are offered in order to prevent the next generation of Aboriginal children growing up to become homeless youth
Aboriginal Fathers Support Groups: Bridging the Gap between Displacement and Family Balance*
No full textThe Aboriginal Fathers Project set out to explore the roles of fathers in British Columbia’s Aboriginal families. The project aimed to investigate the ways community programs could support fathers’ involvement with their children, and increase their participation in family-centered programs. This article briefly describes the project and outlines a few of the major findings from the research. This article discusses findings from the project which highlight the impact of colonialism and assimilation processes on the roles of Aboriginal fathers. The suggestion to develop father-specific support groups and the use of traditional practices and spirituality in the support groups is discussed