Nihdawin "My house - a place where I live" Program
The Nihdawin Program is a collaboration between the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) and the John Howard Society. The program’s intent is to work with and support Aboriginal women 15 years of age or older during their interactions with the criminal justice system and who are or are at risk of homelessness in the community of Thunder Bay.
Women living in poverty, in danger of being homeless or who are homeless are at a greater risk of losing their children to the child welfare system. The Nihdawin Program assists Aboriginal women in these circumstances and supports their traditional roles as life givers and caretakers. One of the greatest by-products of the program is keeping Aboriginal mothers and their children together as family units and working with the entire family to promote recovery and overall well-being.
The family support workers of the the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) and the John Howard Society provide the following services:
- Intake
- Assessment and Goal Setting
- Employment Assistance
- Group and Individual Counseling
- Cultural Teachings
- Aftercare follow up
- Referrals and partnering with community agencies
- Advocacy
For more information, please contact:
Family Support Worker
Ontario Native Women’s Association
Toll Free: 1-800-667-0816
Local: (807) 623-3442
E-mail: nihdawin@onwa-tbay.ca
or
John Howard Society
Nihdawin Program
Local: (807) 623-5355
