MYS Programs:

Kisewatisiwin operates three Level IV Community Based Healing Homes that are licensed through the province of Manitoba. All three Homes are located within residential neighborhoods in the community of Thompson, Manitoba.

Hudson is a four bed moderate to long-term placement for male youth aged 12 –17. Wuskwatim is a four bed moderate to long-term placement for female youth aged 12 – 17. The Provincial Placement Desk Specialist through the Child Protection Branch of the Manitoba Government must approve all placements to both Hudson and Wuskwatim prior to the youth being admitted.

Nekenan is a six bed receiving and assessment placement for male youth aged 12 – 17. Typically the focus is on stabilizing behavior and providing an assessment of the youth’s needs and current level of functioning to assist in long-term placement planning. In this short-term receiving and assessment capacity, youth referred to Nekenan do not require Provincial Placement Desk Specialist approval.

All three Community Based Healing Homes provide safe, caring and nurturing environments with an emphasis on maintaining the connection with families and communities. They are unlocked facilities, staffed 24 hours per day, which encourage and support youth to make healthy decisions and develop the responsibility required to live positive, productive and ultimately independent lives.

At all three Community Based Healing Homes the youth are involved in regular day programming, which may be comprised of education, pre-employment training, life skills training, employment and/or the Wilderness Program.

Kisewatisiwin operates specialized foster care homes through the Alternative Parent Homes (APH) Program in both The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation as well as Thompson, MB. Foster parents are full time care providers that possess specialized skills that enable them to work effectively with our target group.

Placements for children and youth in the APH Program are determined through a matching process. This process involves assessing the needs of the child/youth, the skills of the APH Foster Parent(s) and the characteristics of the home (i.e. rural or urban, characteristics of biological children, school programs available, needs of other APH children/youth currently placed in the home).

The initial goal of an APH specialized foster placement is to create stability for the children and youth through the development of an individualized treatment plan to address their needs. The long term goal of an APH specialized foster placement is to provide each child and youth with a foundation from which they can experience success as adults and live their lives to their full potential.

Kisewatisiwin operates independent living placements through the Individual Treatment and Support (ITS) Program in Thompson, Manitoba. This program is designed to address the needs of older adolescents (ages 16 – 21) who are transitioning into adulthood and increased independence. The ITS Program consists of services for youth learning to live on their own and in some circumstances, with their own children.

Youth in this program have the same expectations as youth in other programming areas, however, they are additionally required to consistently participate in an educational program, employment or a combination of the two in order to maintain their placement with the ITS Program.

Youth involved with the ITS Program live in either a one or two bedroom apartment on their own. The apartment block that Kisewatisiwin utilizes is situated close to a shopping centre, medical providers, parks, the High School and various places of employment. All youth involved with the ITS Program are provided with weekly support hours, the number of which are determined by their individual needs. Support workers assist youth in the ITS Program with meeting their daily expectations through providing wake-up calls, transportation, assistance with life skills such as shopping, cooking, paying bills, etc.

Kisewatisiwin operates a Wilderness Program that is designed to provide opportunities for the children and youth in all of the Thompson, Manitoba placement programs (Community Based Healing Homes, APH and ITS) to participate in experiences that foster growth, accomplishment and personal wellness. Involving the children and youth in activities that are healthy, rewarding and otherwise unavailable will promote continued and future enrichment. The Wilderness Program is the only non-placement program that Kisewatisiwin operates.

The goal of the Wilderness Program is to provide children and youth with positive experiences that are free from negative and potentially harmful influences such as drug and alcohol involvement, gang and/or criminal activity, etc. By exposing our target audience to activities that are meaningful and healthy, there is potential for developing life long interests and continued involvement in positive and productive recreation. We believe that meaningful involvement in the opportunities we aim to provide meets the many needs of the children and youth we care for such as increasing self-esteem, learning how to collaborate, developing and building trust and feeling genuine pride in things they are able to follow through with and accomplish.

Specific activities the Wilderness Program offers include:

1. Alternate Day Programming:
   offered Monday through Friday of each week from approximately 9:30 – 3:30 p.m. This aspect of the programming is designed for youth who are not involved in traditional school programs or formal employment. They participate in brush clearing, hauling garbage and recyclables, yard work (mowing, raking, bagging, planting, etc.), snow clearing, Youth Conferences, wood cutting for traditional ceremonies, etc. This aspect of the program is also recognized as a Community Service Hour placement. Those Kisewatisiwin youth that have court ordered community service hours to complete are able to get credit for those hours through their involvement.
2. Remote Camping:
   Kisewatisiwin operates a permanent remote bush camp at Moak Lake, approximately 30 minutes north of Thompson, Manitoba. The camp is accessible only by boat or snowshoe and Kisewatisiwin children and youth utilize it all year with the exception of winter freeze up and spring thaw. Prospector tents provide the accommodations, boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming, tubing, campfires and marshmallows provide the entertainment.
3. Rock Climbing & Caving:
   Kisewatisiwin contracts with a certified rock climber to offer rock climbing and caving to Kisewatisiwin children and youth in the spring and summer. These events occur two hours south of Thompson, Manitoba at Herb Lake Landing. Established climbing routes are available as is the opportunity to explore others while the nooks and crevices make for adventurous caving experiences.
4. Gym Night:
   Kisewatisiwin delivers a weekly Gym Night for our 12 – 17 year old youth at one of the local elementary schools from September through to May of each year. The youth have access to all the equipment and most often choose activities like basketball, volleyball, soccer and dodge ball. This aspect of the Wilderness Program is also accessible to youth who are not otherwise involved with Kisewatisiwin. Referrals for youth involved with local Probation Services and/or the Intensive Support and Supervision Program (ISSP) can be submitted by their Probation Officer and/or ISSP worker.
5. Cultural Activities:
   Kisewatisiwin has established a relationship with a local Elder who has weekly involvement with the children and youth in the placement programs on a rotating basis. He focuses his time on establishing and building relationships with the children and youth, providing teachings, facilitating sharing circles and providing exposure to traditional Aboriginal ceremonies. Kisewatisiwin also participates in Sweatlogdes, Pow Wows, Snaring, Aboriginal Youth Conferences and the annual Spring Ceremonies at Mile 20.

1. Nekenan:
   A Child Welfare Agency Social Worker (Social Worker) completes a social history and submits it to the Nekenan Clinical Case Manager (CCM). The CCM reviews the social history, follows up with the Social Worker regarding any additional information that is necessary and establishes plans for admission, if appropriate. Due to the emergency and receiving nature of this resource, Kisewatisiwin is accommodating to Social Workers who can only produce limited social history information. If placement is needed outside of regular business hours, the Social Worker can contact Nekenan directly with all available social history information and a decision about placement will be make without CCM involvement.
2. Hudson & Wuskwatim:
   A Child Welfare Agency Social Worker (Social Worker) completes a social history and submits it to the Hudson/Wuskwatim Clinical Case Manager (CCM) in addition to the Provincial Placement Desk Specialist at the Child Protection Branch of Family Services & Housing. The CCM reviews the social history, follows up with the Social Worker regarding any additional information that is necessary and establishes plans for admission, if appropriate. Due to the longer term nature of these programs, more consideration is given to the dynamics of the home and the other youth that live there prior to admitting new youth. All placements at Hudson and Wuskwatim must have approval from the Provincial Placement Desk prior to admission.

A Child Welfare Agency Social Worker (Social Worker) completes a social history and submits it to the APH Clinical Case Managers (CCMs) in the community they are wanting placement (Thompson or The Pas/Opaskwayak Cree Nation). The CCMs review the social history, follow up with the Social Worker regarding any additional information that is necessary and assess the child/youth’s needs versus the skill sets of their APH Foster Parent(s). If an appropriate match is determined, the CCM attached to the APH Foster Parent(s) will meet with the child/youth, their family, their Social Worker and other collateral professionals that are involved. Once a match has been agreed upon, pre-placement visits are arranged and a plan for placement is established.

A Child Welfare Agency Social Worker (Social Worker) completes a social history and submits it to the ITS Clinical Case Manager (CCM). The CCM reviews the social history, follows up with the Social Worker regarding any additional information that is necessary and establishes plans for admission, if appropriate. This Program requires start-up funds for youth to acquire necessary items to furnish their apartments and the commitment of these funds from the Child Welfare Agency is necessary prior to admission.