Indigenous Supports

 

EFAP Therapists who have experience working with First nations, Metis and Inuit groups.

 

Family Counselling Centre (FCC) - Andy Field,  has worked extensively for many years with First Nations/Metis children and their families. Andy has two levels of accreditation with the Child Trauma Academy, meaning he is able to test for the effects of childhood trauma and provide treatment. This is particularly important when supporting children and families where complex trauma has a role and including generational trauma.  FCC has four counsellors qualified and approved though Non-insured Health Benefits (NIHB) to see First Nations/Metis, and who work with residential school survivors and their families..

We have one counsellor Ruth Ann Thomas whose full time caseload is First Nations/Metis, including residential school survivors and their families. One of her specialties includes working with adverse childhood experiences.

 

PCA has three counsellors who are currently approved for Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and NIHB; and two clinicians who have submissions for approval, for a total of 5. They have clinicians who provide specific cross cultural counselling and immigration related issues.

 

Crossroads has five therapists who are approved providers for Indigenous Health Services Canada, which means they have established training in cultural humility, familiarity and respect for indigenous culture, and knowledge of issues facing Indigenous peoples (including the impact of discrimination, residential schools and colonization). A majority of our therapists have experience providing services to residential school survivors and their descendants under this program. 

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McAvoy 911 has one Metis therapist with experience working with First Nations trauma.

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Penney Murphy & Associates has one First Nations Counsellor.

 

 

 

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Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program

 

A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former Residential School students. You can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling 24-Hour National Crisis Line:  1-866-925-4419

 

About the program

The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides mental health, emotional and cultural support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families throughout all phases of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, including:

• Common Experience Payments (CEP)

• Independent Assessment Process (IAP)

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) events

• commemorative activities

Resolution Health Support Program Services are safe, confidential, respectful and non-judgmental.

 

Program eligibility

All former Indian Residential School students, regardless of the individual's status or place of residence within Canada, who attended an Indian Residential School listed in the 2006 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, are eligible to receive services from the Resolution Health Support Program.

 

In recognition of the intergenerational impacts that the Indian Residential Schools had on families, Resolution Health Support Program services are also available to family members of former Indian Residential Schools students. The family of former students is defined as:

• spouse or partner

• those raised by or raised in the household of a former Indian Residential School student

• any relation who has experienced effects of intergenerational trauma associated with a family member's time at an Indian Residential School

Indigenous Services Canada verifies eligibility of persons requesting Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program services with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, which holds data on former students who attended those Indian Residential Schools that are part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

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Cultural support

Cultural supports are provided by local Indigenous organizations who coordinate the services of Elders or traditional healers. Cultural supports seek to assist former students and their families to safely address issues related to Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process. Specific services are chosen by the former student or family member and can include traditional healing, ceremonies, teachings and dialogue.

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Emotional support

Services are provided by local Indigenous organizations and are designed to help former students and their families safely address issues related to the negative impacts of the Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process. A Resolution Health Support worker will listen, talk and provide support to former students and their family members through all phases of the Settlement Agreement process.

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Professional counselling

Professional counsellors are psychologists and social workers that are registered with Indigenous Services Canada, for individual or family counselling. A professional counsellor will listen, talk and assist individuals to find ways of healing from Indian Residential School experiences.

Indigenous Services Canada's Non Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) and Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program developed a joint Guide to Mental Health Counselling Services which outlines the criteria, guidelines and policies under which the NIHB program's Mental Health Counselling benefit and the Individual and Family Counselling component of the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program operate.

In the Guide you will find information regarding:

• provider enrolment process

• client eligibility

• benefit coverage

• prior approval process

• claim submission

• procedure for appeals.

 

Please visit the Mental health counselling benefits web page for a copy of the guide and forms.

 

Transportation

Assistance with transportation may be offered when professional counselling and cultural support services are not locally available.
 

Accessing health support

Please contact the Resolution Health Support Program regional office in your province or territory.

When you call the Indigenous Services Canada regional office, they will request your name and date of birth in order to confirm that you are eligible to access services under the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program. If you are a family member of a former student, the name and date of birth of the family member who attended residential school will be required to confirm your eligibility.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the Indigenous Services Canada official will work with you to arrange the health support services you have requested.

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Coping with emotional reactions

Thinking about how Residential School affected you can lead to positive or negative thoughts or memories.

This brochure, Coping with Emotional Reactions, is designed to help you recognize the reactions you may have.