Health Services

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Program Services

IFNA Health supports and works together with IFNA Communities to continuously improve health and social services.

Overview

The IFNA Health Services Coordinator serves the First Nations’ health staff, Chiefs and Councils, and community members through the following services:

Research on health matters;
Assistance with program reporting;
Assistance with funding proposals;
Assistance with program management;
Dissemination of health information, funding opportunities, training opportunities, etc;
Advocacy;
Crisis intervention (NAN, Nodin).

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Pediatric Program

The Pediatric Program works with IFNA communities to support children in establishing or maintaining holistic health and wellness. The program will work to fill gaps and empower parents and children to continuously improve their health, autonomy, and wellbeing.

The program will support children from 0-18 as well as expecting mothers of all ages by:

Community pediatric clinics with a pediatrician
Conducting newborn and children wellness checks
Offering virtual appointments
Offering prenatal support as needed
Developmental screening program
Vaccination clinics
Hosting various educational classes such as sexual & reproductive health, parenting, child health & nutrition, childhood development and prenatal classes
Advocating, planning, and coordinating access to services as needed
Providing newborn feeding support including breastfeeding classes and formula use
Establishing Elder and peer mentorship in the community
Working with other organizations within the community

This program is founded on the belief that every community member offers unique gifts that enable them to succeed, and through a supportive partnership, bright healthy futures will be made.

Contact Us

Charlotte Oades, Pediatric Nurse
Cell: 807-621-9594 | coades@ifna.ca

Megan MacDonald, Pediatric Nurse
Cell: 807-251-1289 | mmacdonald@ifna.ca

Jordan’s Principle is a funding program named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nation child born with complex medical needs who spent years unnecessarily in hospital, while the provincial and federal governments argued over who should pay for his at home care. Sadly, Jordan died in the hospital at ensures that First Nations children have access to the health, education, and social services any other child would, in a way that:

Reflects their cultural needs
Takes their historical disadvantage into account
Prevents service denials, delays or disruptions

IFNA Support

To better support IFNA families, we have established a Jordan’s Principle team and online request form. Our team provides guidance on completing applications and navigating processes to empower families in accessing the funding needed to purchase necessary products and/or services for their children or children in their care. Our goal is to help you get your child the care you know they deserve.

Our team can help with:

Providing information
Assisting with applications
Liaising with the funder
Purchasing items or services on your behalf
Assisting with gaining reimbursement
Supporting you through appeals

Online Request Form

We have developed an online request form to help you get the process started quickly. Just fill out the form as best you can, then one of our team members will reach out to you for next steps!

Please note that IFNA can only provide support to IFNA families that reside in Ontario and/or living in one of the IFNA member communities (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Lac Seul, Muskrat Dam, Pikangikum & Whitesand.)

If you are not an IFNA member please contact your First Nation or Jordan’s Principle Ontario Region at 613-618-1833

Apply Here!

Contact Us

June Trout, Jordan’s Principle Program Manager
Tel: 807-737-1902 | Cell: 807-738-2137 | jtrout@ifna.ca

Mental Health and Addiction Programming

IFNA is in the process of developing an online based substance use program with a special focus on integrating trauma-focused care in communities by equipping frontline workers. This program will support current addiction services in the IFNA communities based on the unique needs of each individual community. The program goal is to create a network of support for healing trauma and addiction for both community membership and workers with an integrative online approach. This will increase access to service providers in the region as well as enhance networking opportunities among the IFNA communities.

Training

KIZHAAY ANISHNAABE NIIN (I AM A KIND MAN) - 12 weeks

IFNA is proud to present the Kizhaay Anishnaabe Niin program to communities to reconnect men to their traditional and cultural duty as protectors of women and children and to live a Mino-Bimaadziwin (Good Life). The program’s goal is to reconnecting and revitalizing men’s responsibility to end violence towards Indigenous women. There are elements to Indigenous culture and values and increase understanding of traditional roles and responsibilities based on local Indigenous knowledge. Our goal in program delivery is to increase resilience by empowering men to acknowledge and resolve trauma. Improve men’s wellbeing and foster overall community wellness. The program itself is 3 hours a week for 12 weeks where the participants can learn, share, develop, their own wellness and each week have a time to reflect and bring back to the group week to week. This program is accepted as an anger management program for anyone mandated to take for legal reasons.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - 2 Days

IFNA is also proud to present the two-day interactive Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training program to communities. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Participants don't need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model. Learning the ASIST method helps reduce suicidal feelings in those at risk and IFNA want to help bring this to your community. The more community members we can teach and learn together using this model the more help anyone with thoughts of suicide will now have.

Circle of Security - 9 Week Program

Circle of Security has 2 programs. One for parents and one for teachers or childcare workers. At times all parents feel lost or frustrated about what our child might need from us. Circle of Security will help you make sense of what your child is really trying to say through their action. This program is based on decades of research about how this approach builds lasting relationships throughout their lives with you and others.

Learning Objectives of the Program:

Understand your child’s world by learning to read the emotional needs
Learn about what might be getting in the way of seeing your child
Make Sense of what your child is really asking
Support your child’s ability to manage hard emotions
Build your child's self esteem
Honour on your wisdom and desire for your child to be secure

SafeTalk Training

safeTALK: suicide alertness for everyone

safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness. It helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training—anyone age 15 or older who wants to make a difference can learn the safeTALK steps.

Download safeTALK-info-sheet

For Further Information please contact:
Derek Sanders - Cell: 807-251-4873 | dsanders@ifna.ca

Mental Health and Crisis Support

Counseling Service

Phone, Virtual and in-person counseling services are available for ages 12 and up
Please contact Derek Sanderson to schedule appointments and inquire about travel dates to your community.
Derek Sanderson (807) 251-4873

Anonymous Crisis Support Chat Services

Asking for help isn’t easy and sometimes we prefer to keep our identity confidential, that shouldn’t stop you from getting the support you need.
With an aim to create a safe and supportive space for individuals in crisis, ensuring they can access help quickly and anonymously.
Anonymous chat app that IFNA crisis counselors can refer clients to as a valuable tool for providing immediate support and resources for individuals in crisis
To ensure quality care, regular training and supervision for crisis counselors and peer support resources is integrated into this care model.
Please text or call (807) 738-2241 to get connected.
If you are interested in supporting translation into your community dialect, please contact Jessica Laesser (519) 819-1653

You can contact the Hope for Wellness Team for comfort and emotional assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Counselling is available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut on request.

You can reach them toll-free at 1-855-242-3310 or online at www.hopeforwellness.ca

Contact Us

Jessica Laesser

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Cell: 519-819-1653 | jlaesser@ifna.ca

Derek Sanderson

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR

Cell: 807-251-4873 | dsanders@ifna.ca

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Indigenous Transitions Facilitation

The Indigenous Transitions Facilitators work with patients, IFNA communities, and the circle of care team to ensure clients' health and spiritual needs are met when transitioning home from healthcare facilities, in the following ways:

Advocating, planning, and coordinating access to healthcare services;
Processing client referrals to ensure proactive continuity of care;
Ensuring access to supplies and medical equipment for clients; and
Scheduling home visits and client conferences

The Indigenous Transitions Facilitators ensure all IFNA community members receive individualized, comprehensive services to promote spiritual, mental, and physical health outcomes.