Tawaw Family Resource Networks |
Nitsanak Mamawintowak |
Mahmawi-atoskiwin
Family Programs
Tawaw Family Resource Networks
Tawaw (Ta-wow): "welcome, we've made space for you here" in Cree
The Tawaw Family Resource Networks (East and West) use a hub-and-spoke model of service delivery to offer a range of early intervention and prevention services that are grounded in Indigenous cultures and teachings.
The Tawaw hubs offer warm, family-friendly environments where people can come to connect with each other, culture, and community supports.
The Tawaw spokes (programs) offered are:
Indigenous Home Visitation
- In-home visitation supports from a family centered approach
- Works with families with children aged 0-6
- Offers connection through Cultural Services spoke, ceremonies and Elder supports, representing a diversity of Indigenous bands, cultures and traditions
- Strengthens parental capacity, connection to community, and awareness of child’s development
Cultural Supports
- Connects children, youth and families to culturally relevant supports
- Elder supports and ceremony are integrated into program offerings
- Programming will change over time based on family need. Current Cultural Supports programming can be found here.
Early Intervention
- Group and one-on-one parenting supports offered, based in traditional parenting teachings and the Nurturing Parenting Program
- Child-parent play activities are suggested and encouraged
- Childcare is available during programming
- Group and one-on-one youth life skills programming also offered.
Rapid Access Counselling (offered through Catholic Family Services)
- Counsellor available for rapid access to mental health supports twice weekly (once a week at each Hub location)
- Family need will determine the length of service provision
- More information can be found here.
Grandmother Turtle (offered through Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society)
- Culturally safe early childhood development programming for Indigenous children ages 0-6 years, and their parents, grandparents and other significant caregivers
- More information can be found here.
Culturally-Informed Youth Wellbeing Program (offered through Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society)
- Culturally safe and trauma-informed child and youth development programming for Indigenous children and youth ages 7-18 years and their parents, grandparents and other significant caregivers
- More information can be found here.
Contact us for more information or to connect with our spoke programs:
Tawaw East Hub
Contact:
2716 Sunridge Way NE
Calgary AB, T1Y 0A5
Email:
neconnector@miskanawah.ca
Phone: 403-247-5003 ext. 122
Tawaw West Hub
2340 1 Ave. NW
Calgary AB, T2N 0B8
Email:
nwconnector@miskanawah.ca
Phone: 402-247-5003 ext. 123
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Nitsanak Mamawintowak (Nit-sa-nak-ma-ma-win-tow-wac)
“Families coming together” in Cree
Nitsanak Mamawintowak provides parents, babies and their young children with home-based parenting support and education from Indigenous and western perspectives. Families are provided with opportunities to develop social networks and relationships at community learning events, and have access to traditional knowledge keepers and Elders, who are available to
offer guidance, teachings and ceremonies.
This program is open to all families within the City of Calgary who (are):
- Expecting a baby or have a child under the age of six
- Would like support in their parenting and family life
To learn more about the Nitsanak Mamawintowak program:
Email us
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Mahmawi-atoskiwin (ma-ma-way-a-tus-ka-win)
Mahmawi-atoskiwin (meaning “a group of people coming together to work as one” in Cree) is a Collaborative Service Delivery (CSD) program that provides intervention supports to Indigenous families with Children’s Services (CS) involvement, through direct referral from the Calgary Region CS Indigenous Office. Using a holistic approach, Mahmawi-atoskiwin works in partnership with CS and families served to address child protection concerns, advance safety and wellness, connect with cultural and natural supports, and build on family strengths that will enhance parenting capacity, healthy living and self-determination.
At Miskanawah, “Practice is Ceremony”: guided by our Indigenous teachings and traditions, we invite our families to join us in ceremony, and to join us in circle, where we can offer supports and resources that are meaningful to them while paralleling Children Services requirements.
Our approach is an offering to our families – it is invitational and relationship-based, rooted within Indigenous ways of being and knowing. When individuals accept these offerings, the healing begins and our children’s safety is enhanced through greater connection to the Creator, self, children/youth, family and the wider community, building lifelong connections.
The Mahmawi-atoskiwin program originated from an alliance with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary, Enviros, and Pathways Community Services Association. This program works alongside individuals and their family to provide support in health, safety, and wellness that is based on traditional Indigenous teachings and western practice.
The Family Wellness Team
In partnership with Children Services, we work alongside you and your family to create a Family Wellness Team. You are the leader of this team. We will work together to address identified safety concerns that have brought your family to the attention of Children Services.
Working to develop solutions
The Family Wellness Team works to develop solutions to keep children with their families whenever possible. We believe that families are the “real experts” on their family. We are committed to honouring, listening, and trusting families to lead us in the best course of action.
Your Family Wellness team may include some of all of the following people:
- You and your family
- Any identified extended family or support people
- Family Wellness Partner: responsible for developing the Family Wellness Plan with you and your family by finding and implementing resources for support and being a part of your journey through involvement with services.
- Caseworker/Assessor: will work alongside the Family Wellness Partner to provide temporary or permanent safety solutions for your family. They are delegated under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act to ensure your children and youth are safe.
- Lodge Keeper: support and coach the family, promote family reunification by actively engaging with parents during visits with their children, and support parents to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to meet their children’s needs.
- Circle Keeper: the cultural liaison who leads Family Wellness Circles and helps foster peace among children, youth, and family, as well as the staff team. The Circle Keeper helps to coordinate the work with Elders and other Traditional Knowledge Keepers from the Indigenous Community. The Circle Keeper is able to perform smudging ceremonies and other culturally responsive services in order to provide a safe space for the Wellness Circles and other interactions to take place.
The Mahmawi-atoskiwin program supports lifelong connections for families existing the program by connecting them to activities and programs through the greater Miskanawah community, such as: - Nitsanak Mamawintowak - traditional, home-based parenting
- Nehiyaw Kihokewin - Kookum’s Council
- Healthy Families
- Cultural programming for youth and families
Families are informed of additional community resources and support that includes parent education, and home visitation to help further develop confidence, and positive relationships between family members, personal culture and community, while developing a sense of belonging, pride and tradition.
The Mahmawi-atoskiwin program is located at Miskanawah East
P: 403.247.5003 Ext. 1
F: 403. 286.1163
After Hours Visitation Line: 403.540.0921
Our office is a place that is open to families for a variety of purposes.
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