Métis Community Services is an agency that services Métis children and families of the region. As an agency our mandate is:
To research, develop, deliver and evaluate human service programs for the Métis people of Vancouver Island.
Our Programs include:
Family Support Services: Individualized supports and planning to families with Métis children and youth. The objectives of this programme include increasing positive parenting, increasing the safety and well being of children and families, supporting families as they work with the MCFD, identifying community supports for Métis youth, increasing youths’ awareness of the Métis community and culture, preserving family connections, and ensuring adequate housing.
Key Worker FASD Support: Individualized and group supports to FASD affected children youth and their families. The objectives of this programme include early diagnosis, appropriate intervention, increased awareness and understanding of FASD as a brain-based disorder and environmental adaptations to increase positive outcomes for FASD affected children and their families.
Family Group Conferencing: A Family Group Conference is a shared decision-making meeting for families. At a conference friends and family are invited to come together to develop a plan to solve problems and to ensure children and families have the care and support they need.
Collaborative Practices/ including Traditional Dispute Resolution Support: Family Case Planning, Traditional Dispute Resolution, Youth Transition Conferences, and Family Development Response are all methods used to assist children, youth and families to find solutions to issues and concerns that get in the way of making successful choices and decisions. All are facilitated and supportive processes inviting professionals and families to work cooperatively for improved outcomes.
Cultural Support: Individual and group supports to Métis children, youth and families including, teaching pride in belonging to the Métis community; assistance with genealogy research, looking to traditional values and ways to overcome troubling issues or concerns, a web-based forum for discussion of issues of concern to Métis people and creating Metis Soma, a place of Belonging.
Family Visitation and Cultural Programme: At the Family Visitation Programme Métis families who have been separated from their children can spend time together in a healthy Métis environment exploring parenting and family communication skills, and partaking of individualized supports and services to assist families through the vicissitudes of poverty related concerns such as a lack of affordable housing and drug and alcohol related concerns.
Islands of Safety: IOS is a culturally sensitive, strengths-based collaborative practice designed to support Métis families who are, or have been, affected by family violence to plan for the safety of their children and all family members. Two or more facilitators work intensively with families to help restore individual and family dignity and envision new possibilities for their future.
We have developed this Métis package for Foster Parents and Ministry Staff because jointly we share the responsibility of caring for Métis children; building a healthy Métis identity is essential to building and promoting strong Métis adults.
Métis Community Services is pleased to introduce the Circle of Courage concepts to the Métis community. Our agency seeks to encompass and embody these teachings in all of our interactions with our community members and partners. The Circle of Courage is based on Lakota traditions however; the traditional values of Belonging, Mastery, Independence and Generosity transcend cultures and belong to all of us.