Special Projects for Special Needs

Some projects address specific issues identified by the community.

The Wahbung Abinoonjiiag Program in Winnipeg, Manitoba, provides a variety of services for Aboriginal women and their children to break the cycle of family violence. New community partnerships have led to an Outreach Program and a Healing Circle Program.

In Saskatchewan, the Meyoyawin Circle Project has established the Children's Visiting Program at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre. This program was set up to allow children to visit their mothers who are incarcerated. Mothers participate in a parent education program, Elders teach them positive discipline and communication skills, and children are taught culturally-appropriate values and traditions.

In Toronto, Ontario, Breaking the Cycle is an education, prevention and intervention program for pregnant and parenting women with substance abuse problems. A wide range of services are provided
in collaboration with provincially funded programs including a lunch program, nutrition counselling, prenatal planning, postnatal support, labour coaching, breastfeeding support, parenting information, onsite medical services, addictions counselling and parent relief. Programs for children include infant stimulation, developmental assessment, early identification and intervention, and medical services.

Sharing the CAPC Experience

CAPC project staff, parents and volunteers are building community-based services that have the ability to transform lives! They have learned much in a short time and are now in a position to share what they have learned with other communities and with governments.

From Theory to Reality

One important lesson is that the foundation on which CAPC projects are based is solid. The six guiding principles which form the framework for CAPC have provided the direction and inspiration for communities who are mobilizing to support families in their parenting role and are having a positive impact on the development of young children.

Parent Involvement is Essential

Parents must be involved in a variety of meaningful ways in programs intended for them. CAPC projects are coming up with new strategies for involving parents and getting their feedback and opinions. Parents participate and support CAPC programs because they are their programs.

Volunteerism is Alive and Well in Canada

The 159,000 hours donated to CAPC between April 1, 1995, and March 31, 1997, by over 7,600 volunteers demonstrates that people do care about Canada's children. It also shows that when a community feels ownership and pride for a program, it will support it. This is further seen in the level of donations received by projects. More than $21 million in cash, and more than $10 million in items and services were donated to CAPC projects in the same two-year period.

How to Reach Families and Keep Them Coming

Some of the most important program attributes are those that are often overlooked - accessible, understanding and friendly.

CAPC projects are discovering innovative ways to build trust, promote health, support families in isolated communities and deal with such important issues as the prevention of FAS/FAE and child abuse.

New Resources, Tools and Knowledge

The wealth of skills, knowledge, and resources that CAPC projects have accumulated are there to be shared with other community groups - an action Health Canada supports.

For example, Brighter Futures for Children of Young/Single Parents in Ottawa, Ontario, has developed Anger/Stress: The H.E.L.P Toolbox. The resource provides young/single parents with tools and skills for coping with everyday stress. The program is organized into a series of four-week modules dealing with anger, self-confidence, coping, parenting and stress.

The Skookum Jim Friendship Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon, has developed The Traditional Parenting Program. This includes a workshop and Facilitator's Manual which is designed to be used in all First Nations' communities. The Manual contains examples of traditional Elders' teaching on motherhood and fatherhood. The Yukon First Nation Elders were involved in collecting this information and developing the program.

Perhaps more than anything, CAPC projects point to the fact that we all have a role to play in raising Canada's children, and that when communities take ownership of children's issues wonderful things can - and do - happen.

"It's important to heal inside your community, not in isolation of it."—CAPC parent

"I am a stronger person making healthier choices. My children are more stable. My parenting and self-care improved dramatically."—CAPC parent