A VILLAGE IS NEEDED TO RAISE A CHILD
Early intervention
Connect early with families whose lives are impacted by intergenerational trauma, abuse, violence, drugs, poverty, legal services, mental health, and provide ongoing support. This is a cultural approach recognizing African Canadians respond best to their own, and is more transparent to community groups that they can identify with.
Developing a PLAN
Youth In-care and Leaving-care
There is a particular need for developing specific services and initiatives as black children and youth coming into care and leaving care continue to experience a lack of black culturally appropriate services.
We address the disproportionality and disparities of youth in care and youth leaving care, and provide culturally relevant initiatives to address these issues.
Several institutional and systemic processes and practices contribute to such inequities, including biased decision-making, placement dynamics, institutional barriers, poverty, and lack of culturally relevant services.
Grassroots to Parenting
Grassroots to Parenting focuses on the different types of cultural norms and values and cultural child-rearing practices which are vital in enhancing our parental skills and engages families by utilizing our “For-Black-by-Blacks” Program on issues such as life skills, education, employment, mental health, addiction, and finance. Understanding and connecting with black families is extremely important and difficult for those who are from a different culture. Building trust requires direct cultural relevant initiatives to enhance the well-being of the black family.
"You cannot give a child back their childhood. ... It is far more effective, cost effective, and fruitful to do everything in our power to give ALL children the kind of start and the kind of future they deserve." FD
Counsellors
Our counsellors assess the family situation and make recommendations to increase positive engagement. We provide strategies to empower young people and families who are experiencing anti-black racism to make decisions about matters that affect them.
The ability to counsel effectively and bond with children in at-risk neighbourhoods can be extremely difficult. As a counsellor you must know when to bring yourself down to that child's level, and when to take it back up to your professional standards. This is key in reaching that child, and depending on the situation it can make matters worse if we fail in our approach. We will engage young people with our mentoring programs to engage and support and raise awareness with regards to the negative issues which they may be involve
The Redesigning of Black families
Mentoring
The ability to mentor youth is a gift. In today's society, the first impression makes a huge difference, especially when we are introducing ourselves to children. This task requires an individual with unique skills, and the ability to understand the urban languages spoken by these children. Reading an individual without conversation and being able to communicate with them effectively requires a cultural advantage. Forming and maintaining a conversation with these youth can be difficult, and that depends on your knowledge of the different youth initiatives and peer relationship. One of the greatest things we rely on when mentoring youth is the ability to connect.
Youth Outreach
Youth Outreach Workers engage and foster relationships to build trust to assist with changes in family circumstances. They identify families at-risk and promote the necessary programs and initiatives that are culturally relevant to assist with the needs of the families.
The lack of Youth Outreach and youth engagement can be a problem in our community. ETS believes that building a relationship with the younger generation and using our resources such as Early Intervention Techniques, depending on the situation can eliminate future problems. Fostering youth independence and making sure no child is left behind is important in the educational process of parenting
Career Planning
Career planning is for the entire family, and setting goals requires all members to participate for a positive outcome. We implement plans at homes and schools to support some career planning for both parents in day to day situations. We work with parents who refused the assistance recommended based on early diagnosis of any disabilities or disorders.
Career planning requires setting goals. For many young people it is difficult to set goals because they are not familiar with the expectations or the career opportunities available. This is something we will focus our attention on, and make every career opportunity available to the young people of tomorrow by working on specific need in the black community that are culturally sensitive
Trade Opportunity
Trade Opportunity Initiative facilitates discussions with schools and educators, and examines student's OSR to assist in the recommendation of the trade from grade 8. We will reduce the struggles and try to prevent future rejections.
The trade industry is an option that is completely missing when our youths enter grade 9. As counsellors in the educational curriculum, one should be able to assist in the recommendation of trade from grade 8. For many children, they will struggle throughout high school, and are rejected by Colleges and Universities and end up taking a years off. This issue can be fixed and save a child 4 years and more.
Life Skills
Life Skills are abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour, that enable humans to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life. We believe that in today's society, our young people need to make use of these life skills;
· Personal & Character Development
· Social Skills
· Communication
· Relationship
· Education
· Employment
· Use of leisure time
· Finance