Apatisiwin Program

What is the overall impact of the initiative and how is this measured?

The overall impact is the people who go through the program and gain employment, continue to be employed 1-2 years later, or are on an upswing. Whatever they’ve done here with the program has helped them transition to their next step.

We complete quarterly reports, narrative reports, budget reporting, and reports to our board and the OFIFC.

We highlight success stories when they emerge to promote how well the program is doing in the community.

What challenges have you faced and how were these overcome?

It can be a steep learning curve getting into the role of coordinating the program, and learning different strategies

There are challenges around the daily life difficulties in the program – for participants, finding your way into a job, and for the program, finding a way to help people.

The challenges have been people, but that’s the nature of the work – overall people present themselves respectfully and realistically.

We overcome these challenges by always learning, and knowing where to ask for help (e.g. manager)

What are 3 key lessons you learned from developing or delivering your initiative? What advice from those lessons would you share with others?

– Take the time with clients – it’s prudent to make an appointment and be thorough with them (basically the role of a counsellor).
– Time management – keep this on top of mind and keep realistic commitments
– Keep on top of communication – make sure communications are maintained, ongoing, and timely (e.g. with program clients, employers, or partners). Know where to send inquiries or questions if you don’t’ have the answer

Which Essential Skills are covered by the initiative? Reading Text Document Use Numeracy Writing Oral Communications Working with Others Thinking Skills Computer Use Continuous Learning

How are the Essential Skills integrated into your initiative?

We promote essential skills as much as possible for clients when they come in.

We run workshops for ES / a number of skills that are often tied back to employment – e.g., continuous learning and the job market, digital skills & social media, applying reading and document use to writing a resume. We also run workshops focused on career and employment, and workshops on history.

How do you assess participant Essential Skills?

Participants’ essential skills assessments are captured through our quarterly written reports. When clients come back to us if they haven’t been successful, we keep notes. On the program side, we keep an eye on essential skills in the Labour Market and different tools out there (e.g. Shapr), and shifts in the environment (e.g. political, technological). We need to know what skills are needed to best prepare our clients.

What are the components of the initiative? Occupation-specific skills training Occupational certifications and/or licensing Work-integrated learning (i.e., internships, co-ops, work placements, etc.) Life skills Career and/or educational planning Job search services Cultural, language, and tradition awareness and/or training

How do you support participant success in the program? Transportation allowance Child care support Individualized counselling Extended family support/counselling Individualized tutoring Work related clothing/equipment Wage subsidies Job retention support Access to other in-house services After program follow-up support

How was Indigenous culture integrated into the program content or delivery?

Where appropriate in the program, we will instill a cultural teaching or ethic. We will also provide cultural activities if our client asks (i.e., smudging) Most of our clients are Anishinaabe.

We promote cultural competency – Indigenous students know what to expect in mainstream society/workplace, and employers should know Indigenous culture to better serve that clientele.

What do you think are the most important competencies and attributes for staff involved in this initiative to have?

– Very advocate-minded person
– Open minded
– Positivity
– Good listener
– On top of things / organized
– Know what key issues are and what people are doing to address them
– Total consideration & respect for clients
– Most important is their work ethic – they are always looking for something to do or someway to help, but also know when to refrain or step back

Who are your partners, and what is their involvement in the initiative?

Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre – 10 programs and different departments that we work with (e.g., all ages, promotions, healing & wellness, finance department)
Legal Aid Office
Lakehead University
City of Thunder Bay
Local Agencies – especially social services, anyone who is involved in children’s/youth services – we do referrals or share information
Ontario Native Women’s Association – they come in to do programming, share information and resources, or for special occasions
Service Canada
Education Councils & Tribal Councils