Pathways | Child and Family Programs

Child and Family Programs

Child Services, Family / Parenting, Healthcare Providers, Indigenous Services, and Legal

Provided by Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Provides various early childhood education services as well as family supports.

The following programs are offered:

Family Social Workers: Social workers help families achieve their goals by providing support throughout the development, implementation, and completion of individualized risk reduction plans by providing continuing supports, check-ins, and advocacy. These supports can include Advocacy with MCFD, attending case conferences, meeting with lawyers and preparation for court, and one-on-one emotional support.
Family Support Workers: Family Support workers take a holistic, balanced approach that is culturally relevant in providing support to individuals and families. Family support workers assist families in achieving their goals through support, referral, skill development, education, mentorship, and cultural continuity. We conduct home visits, and provide support with parenting skills, communication skills, budgeting, life skills, nutrition, housing, social assistance, legal aid and court processes.
Parent Legal Centre: Provides a free lawyer and an advocate to help address the social worker’s concerns about your children’s safety (child protection) early on.
Aboriginal Infant Development Program (AIDP): Works with families in respectful ways to support them and their infants through their early developmental stages. AIDP provides support to families where there is a child from birth to age six years who is showing developmental delays or is at risk of developing mental concerns.
Aboriginal Supported Child Development (ASCD) Program: Provides services for children, birth to 12 years of age. These services are for those children who need support in the following areas: physical, communication, cognitive, social/emotional and behavioural development.
Neurodiversity (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder): Serving Indigenous families with children ages 0 – 19 years of age who are diagnosed with FASD, suspected to have FASD, supporting families through the assessment and diagnostic process.
Indigenous Speech Language Pathology (ISLP): A culturally based support of children’s speech and language development. ISLP uses a strength based approach focused on relationship building that is flexible to meet the needs of families and the community. Services are for children from birth to 5 years of age.
XaXe STELITKEL Headstart Program: XaXe SŦELIṮḴEL ̵ Childcare Centre provides a culturally appropriate space for children of all Nations to grow and identify with their Indigenous roots. The centre offers a “hands on” approach to learning and the program is designed to enhance children’s creativity, interdependence, independence, and to expand self-expression. There is no fee for individuals of Indigenous ancestry.