Bulletin

Helping Families of Elgin County

McGuinty Government Supports Programs To Promote Healing

October 1, 2010

News

Elgin County First Nation, Métis and Inuit victims of crime are benefiting from new services that are helping them with the healing process.

With support from the Aboriginal Victims Support Grant Program, Mnaasged Child and Family Services have developed a new project that promotes healthy traditional parenting. “The Spirit of the Child” program is delivering strategies, parenting tips and a public education campaign to raise awareness about child abuse and to help victims in surrounding communities.

For families struggling with historical childhood abuse, neglect and the inter-generational consequences of residential schooling, this program will help nurture strong family and community ties to promote healing and prevent children at risk from becoming future victims.

Quotes

“It is important that Aboriginal people have access to programs that are tailored and delivered by their community. This new program will promote healing based on the traditions of the community and will build stronger and healthy families.”
— Chris Bentley, Attorney General

“This 'Spirit of the Child' Parenting Program is an on-going development in attempting to help our First Nations parents to learn, understand, and experience their own history, true identity, and acknowledgement of our Ancestors in the way things used to be done. I’m so grateful the Ministry of Attorney General has funded and believed in this unique and valuable parenting program for our First Nations families.”
— Sue Doxtator, Program Director, Mnaasged Child and Family Services

Quick Facts

• Mnaasged Child and Family Services received $92,000 from the Aboriginal Victims Support Grant Program.
• Two million dollars has been awarded to 20 projects that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, hate crimes and historic abuse in remote areas of the province.
• Ontario is developing an Aboriginal Justice Strategy with a vision to provide equitable, coordinated, effective and responsive criminal justice services to all Aboriginal men, women, children and youth in Ontario.

Learn More

Learn about Ontario's Approach to Aboriginal Affairs.

Find out more about the Aboriginal Victims Support Grant Program - PDF. (Information available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Oji-Cree).

Contacts

Nauman Khan
Minister's Office
416-326-1785

Brendan Crawley
Communications Branch
416-326-2210

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