New therapeutic foster care program looking for caregivers for youth – Alberta Native News
October 23, 2023
(ANNews) – The Edmonton-based Family Centre is thrilled to announce their newest program, ohpikîhakan. ohpikîhakan was developed to meet the holistic needs (mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional) of youth ages 13 – 17 in the care of Children’s Services. This program is part of a province-wide initiative called “Therapeutic Foster Care.” It is embedded with culturally responsive services and Indigenous worldviews.
“ohpikîhakan is an incredibly unique and exciting opportunity to make a substantial difference in the lives of our youth. I truly believe that we can offer a nurturing and healing environment for our youth, as caregivers, when we are equipped with the knowledge, culture and therapeutic support to be able to do so; ohpikîhakan encompasses all of this,” says Laurie Escott, a therapeutic supervisor with ohpikîhakan.
Chantelle Painter, a caregiver recruiter for ohpikîhakan, continues, “The very first call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to reduce the number of children in government care. This program seeks to do just that through reunification. We are living our commitment to using our privilege to advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.”
