TORONTO – The Ontario government is investing more than $10 million in the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy to help reduce family violence, violence against Aboriginal women and improve Aboriginal health, healing and wellness. “The services available to Aboriginal communities through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy program are vital supports for vulnerable Ontarians. This investment will help expand the reach of Strategy services to hard-to-reach communities and to the growing Aboriginal population,” stated Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services.
“The new funding will assist the First Nations across the Nishnawbe Aski territory to provide better services in remote and isolated communities across the north and will provide community workers with new opportunities to access training that will nurture their on-going professional development,” said Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic, Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
This strategy will support culturally appropriate programs and services in 250 Aboriginal communities across Ontario, including:
- New Healing Lodge sites to provide residential programs that address the underlying impacts of sexual assault, physical, mental and emotional abuse and family dysfunction
- Training for front-line workers in areas such as mental health and addictions, traditional healing practices, crisis intervention, grief counselling and family violence
- Funding to help address the high costs of delivering programs in northern remote and fly-in communities
- Ongoing funding for Talk4Healing, a helpline for Aboriginal women in the North who have limited access to services
- In addition, this funding will help address increasing demands for services by giving Aboriginal partners the flexibility to hire and train workers.
The investments affirm Ontario’s ongoing commitment to the work of the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, and responding to critical service needs in Aboriginal communities through programs that support healing and resiliency.
“This funding is welcomed by all Strategy partners and will help agencies expand the reach of their programs and services in Aboriginal communities throughout Ontario,” added Sylvia Maracle, Executive Director, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres.
QUICK FACTS
The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy provides 460 health and healing projects, serving more than 42,000 people each year.
Strategy programs and services are delivered in 250 Aboriginal communities throughout Ontario.
