aboriginal elder abuse prevention awareness toolkit

aboriginal elder abuse prevention awareness toolkit Elder Support Workers Workshop Materials The BCAAFC would like to express gratitude and acknowledge those who contributed to the development of this Elder Abuse Toolkit. Friendship Centres in BC… for assisting BCAAFC to coordinate local Elder Abuse workshops and focus group sessions; BCAAFC Elders Council founding members… for their guidance given by the who saw the need for a toolkit for anyone in contact with Aboriginal Elders; Elders and community members… who listened and shared stories, we hope we?ve been able to capture your valuable feedback into the final toolkit. This project was developed by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres with funding support from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada BCAAFC Elder Program Coordinator BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres #200 - 506 Fort Street Victoria, BC, V8W 1E6 Ph. 250.388.5522 OR 1.800.990.2432 Fax 250.388.5502 Email JZuroski@bcaafc.com Web www.bcaafc.com Visit the BCAAFC website to find out how Elders are getting involved in Friendship Centres across BC 2 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS: Table of Contents………………………………………………….……………..2 1.0 Introduction: Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Tool Kit ........... 6 1.1 Who is this Tool Kit for?................................................................................................ 7 2.0 Overview of Demographic Characteristics of Aboriginal Elders ........... 8 2.1 Where do the majority of Elders over 55 years live? ................................................. 8 2.2 Elders who speak their Aboriginal language in B.C. .................................................. 9 3.0 Overview of Health Status of Aboriginal Elders...................................11 4.0 Definitions of Elder Abuse and Neglect ...............................................14 4. 1 Financial Abuse: Common Payments to Elders .................................................... 15 4.2 Day School Class Action *update*............................................................................ 18 4.3 Recognizing Elder Abuse: Risk Factors and Indicators ....................................... 18 5.0 Community-based Strategies to Prevent Elder Abuse and Neglect...21 5.1 Elder and Youth Engagement ................................................................................... 24 5.2 Designated Responders: BC Adult Guardianship Act Part 3 .............................. 24 5.3 Reporting Elder Abuse................................................................................................ 26 5.4 BC Public Guardianship & Trustee and INAC Trust Services .............................. 27 5.5 Community Programs & Victims Services Resources List ................................... 28 5.6 Aboriginal Resources List .......................................................................................... 30 5.7 Legal and Restorative Justice Links ......................................................................... 31 6.0 Tips for Helping Elders: Culture Matters .............................................32 7.0 5 Things Everyone Can Do to Prevent Elder Abuse ...........................33 8.0 References ............................................................................................34 9.0 Resource Directory and Linkages ........................................................35 10.0 Relevant Contact Info for Elders Support Workers (last pages) ..............71 3 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Honoring Our Elders Definition of Elder We dedicate this awareness and prevention toolkit to our Elders. Throughout this toolkit we honor and embrace our Elders by showing them the respect, love, appreciation, support and protection they deserve. We embrace our Elders because they are our mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunties, uncles, brothers and sisters. They are integral to everything we are and they are the stewards of our land. They are our teachers, advisors, mediators and medicine people. Through their stories and Teachings they share their wisdom and we learn about our unique culture including our language, traditional medicines, traditional practices and traditions. Throughout our history, they have taken care of us. Individual Elders each bring unique gifts to share including cultural teachings and lived experiences. An Elder is defined as: “Elders” are those people who are recognized by their community to be first and foremost “healthy” – spiritually, psychologically and mentally. These are often highly “ethical” people. They may be very “spiritual” people, but this does not seem to be a requirement of recognition. An “Elder” in this sense, can refer to respected people in the community regardless of age. (Source: B. Leslie) ”Elders” are defined as those people in a community who have lived a long time, and as a result have much cultural wisdom. “Elders” are culturally regarded as teachers, mediators, advisors, medicine people, stewards of our lands and the keepers of our culture and way of life. “Elders” used to be known as “the Old Ones” – a term of respect and means those people in a community who have lived a long time and as a result have much cultural wisdom, experience and guidance to share. Every Elder has the right to live with a strong sense of identity, dignity, respect and safety. 4 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 BCAAFC AGM Terrace June 2007 – The first Elder and Youth gathering , Project Advisory Committee: BCAAFC Elders Council www.bcaafc.com/programs/elders Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council , Members of the BCAAFC Elder?s Council held planning sessions to develop the objectives and criteria for the Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention Toolkit. , BCAAFC Elder coordinators and the consultant who developed the first draft Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention workshop resource, facilitated a discussion with ththe Elders and youth at the BCAAFC Elders dinner held on May 29, 2009 th, BCAAFC Elder Council met May 30, 2009 to provide additional input and guidance , Elders and youth piloted the toolkit during the month of July to seek community members? feedback. Workshop participants were asked to identify ways to prevent Elder abuse and how to help those Elders in their communities who may be vulnerable or experiencing abuse , The first workshop took place during the “Honoring Our Elders” Conference hosted ththby the Nisga?a Lisims in Terrace on July 13 – 15, 2009 , Between September and March 2010, seven more workshops were held in BC to test the workshop resources , July 2010 the final versions of the workshop resources were distributed and posted on the BCAAFC website www.bcaafc.com , Since then, BCAAFC has hosted an additional 7 workshops and welcome invitations for the Elder and Youth leaders to facilitate workshops in their community 5 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 It takes the entire community to raise awareness and to prevent abuse and neglect of Elders. We all recognize that the key to any change in social issues is getting the community involved. Dealing with Elder abuse is everyone?s responsibility including the family members, youth, caregivers, service providers and leaders. In many cases, community members are both victims of abuse and they are also the abusers. As well, Elder abuse can take place within institutions and by abusers from outside the community. The purpose of this awareness and prevention tool kit is to reduce the risk factors for Elder abuse and to ensure that situations do not occur. We hope that by increasing awareness and holding discussions about Elder abuse and neglect, Elders will be encouraged to come forward and seek assistance. This tool kit identifies three key strategies for increasing awareness and developing practical community- based responses and solutions for helping Elders. We hope that by sharing information about Elder abuse, communities will develop their own prevention and intervention strategies that „best fits? their unique community circumstances. The goals of the first strategy are to educate the community members about Elder abuse and neglect. By increasing community awareness and talking about Elder abuse, community members will become knowledgeable about the different types of Elder abuse and neglect and they will understand how Elder abuse occurs. Through this learning process, communities will also become aware of the existing resources within the community as well as collaborating with other resources to assist community members and service providers in helping abused or neglected Elders. For example, one of the most effective ways to prevent Elder abuse and neglect is to decrease isolation. Another way of preventing Elder abuse is providing training and other supports to caregivers. Best practices demonstrate that the most ffective strategies for addressing Elder abuse require communities to adopt a multidisciplinary e approach. The second strategy is about assisting and empowering Elders to take control over their lives and to make decisions that are in their own best interests. “Supporting the independence and quality of life of Elders is one strategy to prevent abuse and neglect.” (Source: Widgor,1991). Empowerment in this context means how we offer our help to Elders rather than what is done for them. We can foster empowerment in the following ways: , providing support and information in a respectful, non-controlling way , encouraging feelings of power and ability to affect one?s situation , Teaching skills related to self-protection and assertiveness , sharing knowledge about rights and problem-solving strategies. (Source: Reis and Nahmiash, 1995) 6 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 The third strategy is to develop practical community-based prevention and intervention services that can effectively respond to the needs of Elders who may be experiencing abuse or who may be at risk of becoming abused. Aboriginal communities and organizations currently provide a range of services that can be adapted to assist vulnerable Elders. Service providers such as community health representatives, family support workers, community nurses, social workers and staff working in Elder programs can all be trained on how to respond to Elder abuse and neglect. McGregor (1995) proposed the following roles for community nurses, which could be applied to other service providers such as social workers. Service providers should offer: , support and counselling to encourage disclosure and the expression of emotions, provide emotional support and “respectful confrontation” if the Elder is self-blaming, and aid in the decision-making process , education to provide accurate information and dispel mistaken beliefs, human/civil rights and provision of available options , assessment of physical ability to cope with the situation and mental capacity to cope and make decisions , medical intervention to assess, treat and follow up physical injuries and psychological trauma , resource linkage to provide home-based services, protective services if available and alternate housing if desired , development of a plan of care with the Elder adult that addresses the abuse or neglect improves the quality of life without any increased risk and involves the health team. 1.1 Who is this Tool Kit for? The purpose of this toolkit is to provide Elders and Youth the information they need to share information and to hold discussions with community representatives to create awareness and to develop community-based responses and interventions to prevent Elder abuse and neglect. Community-based interventions should be tailored to meet the needs of the Elder including their specific cultural needs. Elder awareness and prevention strategies can be developed and integrated into existing community health and social programming and through collaboration with other agencies serving Elders. 7 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 According to the 2006 Census, British Columbia has the second highest Aboriginal Elder population in Canada. Aboriginal Elders includes those persons who identified themselves as an Aboriginal person in the census count including status Indians who are registered under the Indian Act (First Nations people), the Non-registered population of First Nations people and the Métis and Inuit peoples. In B.C., First Nations account for approximately 3% of the provincial population. A total of 129,580 (19%) of the First Nations population resides in B.C. The total Métis population counted in the census was 59,445 people. The total B.C. Aboriginal people in 2006 was 196,070 comprising 101,215 females and 94,855 males. In 2006, the Elder population in B.C. represented about 12.5% of the total Aboriginal population. The total number of Aboriginal Elders aged 55 and over was 24,355. The number of female Elders aged 55 to 64 was 7,635 and the number of male Elders in this same age group was 6,785. The total number Elders aged 65 and over was 9,935. The number of female Elders aged 65 and over was 5,475 and the number of male Elders was 4,460. In 2006, a total of 5,250 indicated they were widowed including 1,200 men and 4,050 women. It is anticipated that by 2017 Canada?s older Aboriginal population will double. Elder Population Total Population # of Male Elders # of Female Elders 55 to 59 years 8,275 3,895 4,375 60 to 64 years 6,150 2,890 3,260 65 to 69 years 4,135 1,985 2,155 70 to 74 years 2,705 1,220 1,480 75 to 79 years 1,670 740 935 80 to 84 years 835 320 520 85 and over 585 195 385 (Source: Statistics Canada) 2.1 Where do the majority of Elders over 55 years live? The social and living conditions of Aboriginal people effects their overall health and well-being. According to Statistics Canada, Aboriginal people living in B.C. experience a standard of living that is likely 20 per cent below the provincial average, based on measures such as income, employment, educational attainment, and housing adequacy. Poor housing may be the most serious environmental issue facing Aboriginal people residing on and off reserve. (Source: Health and Well- being of Aboriginal People in B.C. 2001) The majority (54%) of the Aboriginal population now lives in a census metropolitan center such as Prince George and Prince Rupert. First Nations people accounted for 50% of the urban Aboriginal population in 2006, while 43% were Métis. 8 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 In 2006, an estimated 40% of First Nations people lived on reserve, while the remaining 60% lived off reserve. First Nations (registered) women were somewhat more likely to live off reserve. In 2006, 50% of Status First Nations women lived off reserve, compared to their male counterparts. Among off-reserve First Nations people, 68% were Status Indians, while the remaining 32% were non-Status Indians. In B.C. 62% of the First Nations population lived off reserve. In addition, 3% of Aboriginal children lived with a grandparent (with no parent present) and 4% lived with another relative. (Source: Statistics Canada) Across all major census metropolitan areas, Aboriginal people were two to three times more likely than the non-Aboriginal population to live in dwellings needing major repairs. In 2006, 11% of Aboriginal people reported they lived in homes with more than one person per room, down from 17% in 1996. (Source: Statistics Canada) Elder Population living in Prince George - consensus metropolitan center In 2006, the total population of Prince George was 82,620 people. The total Aboriginal population was counted as 8,850 comprising 4335 males and 4515 females. The Aboriginal population in P.G. is young with 69% aged 15 and over. The median age is 25.5 years. In Prince George, 165 people reported they were widowed including 15 men and 145 females. Elder Population Total Population # of Male Elders # of Female Elders 55 to 74 710 240 375 75 to 84 60 25 35 85 and over 10 0 10 2.2 Elders who speak their Aboriginal language in B.C. Culture Matters Language is often recognized as the essence of a culture. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples has stated that the revitalization of traditional languages is a key component in the creation of healthy individuals and communities. Language is 'not only a means of communication, but a link which connects people with their past and grounds their social, emotional and spiritual vitality. According to the 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey, two out of three First Nations people felt that keeping, learning or relearning their Aboriginal language was very or somewhat important. (Source: Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People in B.C. 2001) In both 2001 and 2006, about 29% of First Nations people who responded to the census said they could speak an Aboriginal language well enough to carry on a conversation. The figure was higher for First Nations people living on reserve (51%) than for those living off reserve (12%). Only 1% of First Nations people spoke only an Aboriginal language, although this percentage rose to 5% among seniors aged 65 to 74, and 10% among those aged 75 and over. Of the on-reserve population, 18% of First Nations people aged 75 and over spoke only an Aboriginal language. 9 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Fully one-half of First Nations seniors could converse in an Aboriginal language. About 50% of seniors aged 65 to 74 and 52% of those aged 75 and over could speak an Aboriginal language. In the on-reserve population, roughly four-fifths (83%) of First Nations seniors aged 75 and over spoke an Aboriginal language, compared with about one-quarter (24%) of their contemporaries living off reserve. The ability to speak an ancestral language is one way of passing knowledge from one generation to another. The process of learning one's Aboriginal language may also contribute to increased self-esteem and well-being. In 2006, 21% of First Nations children aged 14 and under and 24% of Youth aged 15 to 24 could carry on a conversation in their ancestral language, about the same shares as in 2001. Notes: The majority of First Nations people are Status Indians. The census enumerated 564,870 people who reported they were registered under the Indian Act, representing 81% of the total First Nations population. Statistics Canada reports that an estimated 133,155 First Nations people were not registered under the Indian. (Source: Statistics Canada) The 2010 Report on the Status of B.C. First Nations Languages provides concrete data on the province's First Nations languages, including the numbers of speakers and resources for each language as well as the language revitalization work being done. It reveals that B.C. First Nations languages are in a state of crisis: Fluent speakers make up a small and shrinking minority of the B.C. First Nations population and most of them are over 65. Of the 32 First Nations languages, 8 are severely endangered and 22 are nearly extinct. (Source: First Peoples? Heritage, Language and Culture Council 2010) Cultural Programming Increasingly, Elders are becoming more active in their communities through cultural programming. The cultural programs are offered through many avenues; with the most prominent being the Aboriginal Friendship Centres across Canada. These programs allow the Elders to not only have a distinct place in their communities, but to also share their knowledge with the younger generation. Examples of cultural programming that is being offered across B.C. through local Friendship Centres are: , Homelessness prevention, Elder support – Courtenay , Traditional kitchen – Lillooet , Coming of Age ceremonies – Duncan , Family Learning Centre – Kelowna , Elders group and monthly luncheon – Port Alberni , Elder led nature walks and identifying traditional medicines – Penticton , Community wellness program, Elders and Youth housing, diabetes program – Nanaimo 10 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 The Medicine Wheel For centuries Aboriginal people have used the four directions of the medicine wheel as a tool for learning and Teaching. Aboriginal people view health through a holistic lens, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, economic, environmental, spiritual, social and cultural aspects of life. A circle or wheel is sometimes used to represent the inseparability of the individual, family, community and world. The circle embodies the notion of health as harmony or balance with the physical and social environments. The term “healing” is used to refer to Aboriginal peoples? recovery from the powerlessness experienced as a result of colonialism, racism, sexual abuse, and loss of cultural and political institutions. It implies revitalization of their confidence in themselves, their communities and cultures – confidence that must be grounded in their daily lives (Source: Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1996). The Medicine Wheel recognizes that Aboriginal people are spirit, heart, mind and body. These Teachings are among the oldest Teachings of the First Nations people. The medicine wheel Teachings are about walking the earth in a peaceful and good way, they assist in helping to seek; healthy minds (East), strong inner spirits (South), inner peace (West) and strong healthy bodies (North). The Medicine Wheel centers on the individual. The Teachings are based on a circular pattern and cyclical set of four: the four Seasons, the four stages of Life, the four Bio-physical and spiritual aspects of a person. (Source: ) A Useful Tool to Help Communities to Address Elder Abuse The Medicine Wheel can be used as a tool by community service providers to assist Elders who are at risk of being abused or who may be experiencing abuse. The four directions can be used to explore issues and assess the individual Elder?s needs prior to developing an appropriate intervention and supports. The Medicine Wheel can also be used as a conceptual tool for developing awareness and prevention strategies at the broader community level. , East - Vision: the eastern doorway houses the gift of vision. Community service providers will need to establish a strong vision, beginning with awareness of Elder abuse. This awareness will lay the foundation for moving to the south where service providers can begin to establish relationship. 11 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 , South - Relationship: is where relationships will be developed with Elders and resource people. This vision is about building trust and connections with Elders who are at risk of becoming abuse or who are experiencing some form of abuse and with those people who can provide assistance. This process of sharing will lead community service providers to the west, where plans are developed to address Elder Abuse within the community. , West – Reason: is where community service providers will use the gift of reason, based on the awareness and knowledge of Elder abuse to develop strategies and build collaboration and community capacity. By applying reason, service providers will develop community programs tailored to meet the immediate needs of the Elders. Strategies and responses will also be planned for the medium and long-term to increase community awareness and involvement. Knowledge gained through collaboration and linkages with other agencies dealing with Elder abuse will enhance services at the community level. , North – Movement: As community service providers move through the previous three directions, they are now in a position of knowledge and leadership to mobilize prevention and intervention strategies. Community service providers will assist others to enter the circles and develop the gifts of the medicine wheel to make the individual, family, community and nations stronger, healthier and balanced. (Source: Adapted from Medicine Wheel, A Conceptual Tool developed by the Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative and the Ontario Federation on Indian Friendship Centres) Sacred Seven Grandfather?s Teachings In their work with Elders, community Caregivers and Service Providers should be guided by the Sacred Seven Grandfather?s Teachings: , Wisdom , Respect , Love , Honesty , Bravery , Humility , Truth (Note: See also “Tips for Helping Elders”) 12 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Health Care Aboriginal people have identified a number of barriers to receiving equitable access to health services including jurisdictional and funding issues, lack of sensitivity to their culture, and a lack of target programs that focus on their particular health needs. As a result Aboriginal people feel a lack of trust within the mainstream health care system. In developing responses to Elder abuse, it is important that service providers take the time to create a trusting and safe environment for the Elders. According to B.C.?s Provincial Health Officer (2001), Aboriginal people in B.C. face a number of health challenges and their health status is below that of the general population. The life expectancy of status Indians is 7.5 years less than other British Columbians. One of the most common chronic illnesses experienced by Aboriginal people is diabetes. Diabetes related complications include kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, and amputations. Aboriginal people have more complications, and they are more severe. Diabetes rates are higher among all age categories, for both men and women. Another common illness among Aboriginal people is arthritis. In 1991, seventeen per cent of the First Nations adults in B.C. reported they were suffering from arthritis, compared to 5 per cent of the general population. The rate of arthritis increases with age. Arthritis refers to a variety of joint problems that cause pain, swelling and stiffness. In B.C., there are certain forms of arthritis are more common among Aboriginal people such as Ankylosing Spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions are more severe in Aboriginal populations. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is associated with aging or “wear” and “tear”. There is also inflammatory arthritis. In addition, many Aboriginal people live in remote areas that have minimal access or no direct access to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and nurses who provide physical support, emotional support, and arthritis education. As a result, Aboriginal people are less likely to receive the support systems of the formal health care system. As the population ages, disabilities associated with chronic illness are going to be a major concern. (Source: Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People in B.C., 2001) For Aboriginal Elders, families are the front-line providers of care and support, however, it is recognized that Elders need to have a range of services available to improve on their health and well-being. Some Elders will want traditional medicines and practices to be made available to them as well as mainstream health services. 13 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Elder abuse and neglect is often treated as an unspoken problem. Definitions of the different forms of Elder Abuse and Neglect: Abuse is the “mistreatment of Elders by those in a position of trust, power or responsibility for their care and causes the Elder physical, mental or emotional harm, or causes damages to or loss of assets”. The World Health Organization states Elder Abuse is “a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate actions, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person.” (WHO, 2006) Elder abuse can sometimes reflect intentional or unintentional neglect that harms or threatens to harm the health or well-being of an older adult. Elders may experience more than one type of abuse at any given time. There are 4 common categories of Abuse: Neglect is the failure to provide necessary care, assistance, guidance or attention that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause the person physical, mental or emotional harm. Examples of neglect are denial of food, medical treatment, health aids, clothing and visitors. Self Neglect is any failure of an adult to take care of himself or herself that causes, or is reasonably likely to cause within a short period of time, serious physical, mental or emotional damage to or loss of assets and includes: , living in grossly unsanitary conditions , suffering from an untreated disease or injury , suffering from malnutrition to such an extent that, without intervention, the adult?s physical or mental health is likely to be severely impaired , creating a hazardous situation that will likely cause serious physical harm to the adult or others or cause substantial damage to or loss of assets , suffering from an illness, disease or injury that results in the adult dealing with his or her own assets in a manner that is likely to cause substantial damage to or loss of assets. 14 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Physical Abuse is defined as any act of violence causing injury or physical discomfort. It involves the use of physical force resulting in pain, discomfort or injury. It includes behaviors such as slapping, hitting beating, burning, sexual assault, rough handling, and tying up or binding an individual. (ON Aboriginal Health Advocacy) Psychological / Emotional Abuse is often referred to as emotional abuse. It includes any act, including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation or intimidation. Psychological abuse diminishes the Elder?s sense of identity, dignity and self-worth. Behaviors such as treating an Elder like a child or isolating an Elder from family and friends are forms of emotional abuse. Financial Abuse is also known as material or property abuse, involves the misuse of money or property. Examples include stealing money or possessions, forging a signature on pension cheques or legal documents, misusing a power of attorney, and forcing or tricking an Elder into selling or giving away his or her property. Spiritual Abuse means the restriction or loss of spiritual practices, customs or traditions. Example is when someone uses religious or spiritual beliefs to exploit an older person. Notes: , This tool kit focuses on Elders aged 55 years and over. It does not include vulnerable adults between 19 – 54 years of age. , Sources for Definitions of Abuse: (BC ReAct Manual; Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults, National Clearing House on Family Violence, 1999; Ontario O.P.P.) 4. 1 Financial Abuse: Common Payments to Elders In general, many older people are vulnerable to financial abuse. Aboriginal Elders are particularly vulnerable since they have begun to receive the common payments as a form of compensation for their attendance at the residential schools and the abuses they suffered while at the schools. Men and women are equally abused financially. Financial abuse is the misuse of someone?s funds and assets or getting property and funds without the person?s consent. Examples are stealing money or forging a signature on the Elders pension cheques and theft of money or possessions. Sometimes, if an Elder is not mentally competent, financial decisions are made which are not in their best interest. This is considered abuse. The effects of the residential schools are far-reaching in that the high levels of depression and suicide, alcoholism and family violence in Aboriginal communities have been attributed to the residential schools. As a result, many Elders are more vulnerable to further abuse as they continue their life-long journey of recovery and healing from their experiences at the schools. 15 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Increasing awareness about the history of Aboriginal Peoples’ will help others be more compassionate to residential school survivors. The intergenerational effects continue to plague our communities. 16 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Mclean Day School Class Action Update 03/25/11 In the spring of 2009, Spiritwind Inc., which is an Indian Residential School support organization in Manitoba, approached Joan Jack Law Office and the McLean Day School Class Action was filed on July 31, 2009. The claim was amended on November 24, 2009 so that all day school survivors across Canada could potentially be included (Indian/Inuit/Metis). Since then, Spiritwind Inc. and Joan Jack Law Office, along with many hundreds of grassroots volunteers, have been working non-stop to gather potential claimants information and there are now upwards of 10,000 day school survivors registered with Joan Jack Law Office supporting this class action right across Canada. Today, Joan Jack is pleased to let the day school survivors know that Phil Fontaine has agreed to do his best to help her with the resolution of the McLean Day School Class Action and she is hopeful that a negotiated solution is possible so that the survivors can receive compensation sooner as litigation will take years. Now that the day school survivors are uniting behind the McLean Day School Class Action and are 10,000 strong from all across Canada, with the number growing daily, Joan is exploring partnering with a large law firm to create a winning litigation team. Depending upon the availability of resources, Joan plans to attend the following Chiefs Assemblies this spring to provide this update in person and ask the Chiefs to take the information to their people so that we continue to increase our numbers and stay united: If you would like Joan to come to your community, call 1-250-651-7557. The legal fees that class action lawyers receive are determined by the court, or through a negotiated settlement when the matter is resolved. Until then, Joan Jack, as the class action lawyer is allowed to receive support to cover the “disbursement costs” associated with taking the case forward. Disbursement costs are things like phone charges, document production costs, advertising, and travel to contact and provide information to the potential claimant group. For example, traveling to your community to share information about the class action is a disbursement cost. To date, Joan Jack has covered 99.9% of the disbursement costs for work out of her law office, but the McLean Day School Class Action has also received tremendous support from hundreds of grassroots people across Canada who have given of their valuable time and money to forward the information to their people. The spirit of volunteer work supporting this case is a testament to the unity and strength of this cause for justice that is being driven by the grassroots people. Individual day school survivors have also sent unsolicited donations in $20 or $40 money orders along with their forms and the $530.00 received at Joan Jack Law Office to date was applied to the disbursement costs, as this is your class action! Kitchi Miigwetch JOAN JACK LAW OFFICE contact info: jack.jjlo@mts.net www.joanjack.ca 17 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 What can you do to prevent financial abuse to an Elder receiving a payout? , Teach them about online banking to prevent money being left in their residence , Be supportive , Have a support person to guide them to and from the bank to ensure that their finances stay with the Elder , Help them to understand what the banker is saying , Help the Elder to invest the money carefully and wisely i.e. putting money in term deposits, etc. , Have a discussion with the Elder before the payout is received and go over their options with them , Educate the Elder about wills and legal matters so that they can ensure they are happy with who they will be taking care of monetarily , Many Elders have lost the defining line where taking care of their family ends and where their best interest begins , Ensure that the Elder has a healthy family member to turn to for help. 4.3 Recognizing Elder Abuse: Risk Factors and Indicators It is important to understand that “in some cases, mistreatment of older persons may be a part of a broader landscape of poverty, structural inequalities and other human rights abuses” as noted in the World Health Organization report (2002). In Canada, we must acknowledge, consider and be sensitive to the complex factors related to Elder abuse and neglect including the legacy of colonialism, the impact of the systemic abuse and racism and the intergenerational effects of the residential school experience. Research indicates that most Aboriginal people will have first- hand experience with violence or abuse at some point in their lives. One First Nations study on family violence found that Aboriginal women and children under age 15 suffer high rates of violence with 1 in 3 Aboriginal women reported being abused by their partners, compared to about 1 in 8 for Canadian women. The same study reported that 86 per cent of respondents had experienced or witnessed family violence (B.C. Social Program Secretariat, 1995). An estimated 8 out of 10 Aboriginal women have experienced family violence. Elder abuse is seen as a continuance of family violence occurring later in life. Victims of childhood abuse are often abused later in life. 18 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Abuse is a complex issue and often involves many factors. The existence of one or more of the following may put the Elder at increased risk: , History of abuse in family/domestic violence , Increased vulnerability , Diminished capacity to make decisions , Isolation. Who is doing the abusing? Elder Abuse takes many forms. It can happen purposely or unintentionally. Often family members and caregivers become stressed and exhausted because of the physical and emotional energy that caring for certain Elders requires. We know that the majority of abusers are family members. We also understand that many Elders are still healing from past hurts such as the effects of the residential schools sometimes making it difficult for family members to sustain feelings of compassion. Family members and caregivers often do not have the knowledge or training necessary to care for Elders. “Sometimes Elders don’t know they Abusers can be anyone who is in contact with vulnerable are being abused. They are kind Elders including family members, caregivers, professionals, and generous and don’t mind friends, scam artists and volunteers. Elders are particularly at high risk of abuse if they are isolated, disabled and they are helping their children and unable to make decisions in their own best interests such as grandchildren.” (Ron Rice) an inability to make financial decisions. 19 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Common Indicators of Abuse and Neglect Physical Abuse , depression, fear, anxiety or passivity , unexplained injuries such as cuts, bruises, burns, swellings, restricted movement , injury for which explanation does not fit evidence , repeated falls , delay in seeking treatment , injury to scalp, evidence of hair pulling , forced feeding , grip marks, evidence that the person has been shaken, or rope/belt marks Psychological or Emotional Abuse , depression, fear, anxiety or passivity , withdrawal or extreme passivity , low self-esteem , feelings of hopelessness and helplessness , difficulty sleeping or needing excessive sleep , older person appears nervous around caregiver , deference to the caregiver (e.g. waits for the caregiver to respond to all questions) , significant change in weight , difficulty visiting, calling or otherwise contacting an older person , older person makes excuses for social isolation Financial Abuse or Exploitation , unexplained or sudden difficulty in paying bills , unexplained differences between known income and standard of living , refusal to spend money without agreement of caregiver (Source: Community Awareness and Response) 20 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Abuse and neglect are complex issues that require the experience of and concern of many people and organizations to be effectively addressed. The key to improving the health and well-being of Aboriginal Elders is dependent on the strength of Aboriginal families, communities, culture, and spiritual beliefs. Both Aboriginal communities can identify Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people have a role to healthy Elders that work well with play in preventing Elder abuse and neglect. Youth. By nurturing a relationship between A critical component of service provision and governance is Elders and Youth, they will come up that “cultural matters” and, also that “culture is a source of with practical ways to support each resilience”. Culture underpins the way that Aboriginal people other. It all starts with sharing a work together in their communities and organizations, and it meal, then the transfer of knowledge flows through their governance arrangements in persistent follows. and innovative ways. The key to any change in social issues is getting the whole community involved including leaders, service providers, Youth and the Elders. Increasing awareness about abuse and neglect can encourage abused or neglected Elders to seek assistance. By making people aware of the many factors that contribute to abuse and neglect, they will be able to recognize these factors in friends and family members so that changes can be made to prevent abuse from happening. It also helps community members identify abuse and neglect cases and intervene appropriately. Community education strategies can also be useful for highlighting existing resources that are available to abused or neglected Elders from within or near the community. Aboriginal People today must learn to balance their lives-cultural and contemporary –and learn our holistic Teachings, about our connectedness to each other and respect for the land around us. 21 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Ways to Prevent Elders from being socially isolated Provide a range of opportunities for Elders to participate in community events and programming One of the most effective ways communities can prevent Elder abuse and neglect is to decrease isolation. Strengthening social support networks through a variety of home-based services such as friendly visitors, Meals on Wheels, home support, professional services and homemakers is an important strategy. Another option is to increase the number of activities that Elders can attend outside the home, such as developing Elders specific programming including: Elder day centres; special events; language classes; Elders visiting days at the children?s programs; Elders volunteer programs; and, organizing Elders lunches and dinners. Access to transportation Many Elders are unable to participate in community events or health and wellness programs because they do not have access to transportation. In some cases, Elders require handicapped vehicles due to their lack of mobility. Communities can assist Elders by providing them with transportation either through a shared community van, special transportation and providing voluntary drivers. 22 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Elder and Youth Engagement A very important strategy in Elder abuse prevention is the „bringing together? of the Elders and youth and their commitment to re-build and strengthen their relationships with each other. “Traditionally, Aboriginal cultural knowledge has been transmitted and documented primarily thru the oral Tradition, but also through dramatic productions, dance performances, petroglyphs and artifacts such as birch bark scrolls, totem poles, wampum belts and masks.” (Source: Greg young-Ing, 2010). As Aboriginal Elders pass away, people also experience the loss of their culture. A recent report on the Status of BC First Nations Languages found that: “At the time of colonization, 100% of First Nations people inB.C. were fluent speakers of at least one First Nations language, though multiculturalism was the norm. Since the late 1800s, state-sanctioned policies of assimilation have resulted in a dramatic decline in the number of fluent speakers. Today, only 5.1% of the B.C. First Nations population are fluent speakers of their language.” (Source: First Peoples? Heritage, Language and Culture Council, 2010). Elders and youth are working together to prevent this loss of culture and language by meeting to discuss how they can engage with one another and work together to build a stronger sense of provide assistance to the Elders and Youth Councils. community. The Friendship Centers “Elder and Youth Workshop” 2009 What Can Elders and Youth Do? In order to inform themselves about Elder abuse and raise awareness and prevent instances of Elder abuse, Elders and Youth can do the following: , Share the Elder abuse toolkit , Host an Elders abuse workshop, modify the info to suit the audience , Ask community organizations serving Aboriginal Elders to meet together , Raise the issue of Elder abuse at conferences and meetings , Develop an Elder Abuse and Neglect Newsletter , Provide information on the BCAAFC Website 23 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Other Community Approaches: Develop Prevention and Support for Family Caregivers: Communities can develop prevention and support programs for family caregivers to prevent caregiver burnout. As an example, the Hiiye?yu Lelum program involves developing circles of support around the caregiver as a way preventing abuse and neglect. Refer to: www.familycaregiverssupport.org 5.1 Designated Responders: BC Adult Guardianship Act Part 3 The purpose of the BC Adult Guardianship Act (part 3) is to It?s important to understand that the purpose of Part 3 of the provide support and assistance Adult Guardianship Act is to provide support and assistance to only to adults who are abused, abused and neglected adults no matter where they live in B.C. neglected or self-neglected and It gives a role to “designated agencies” to respond to reports of are unable to seek support and abuse and neglect that they receive. For adults and Elders assistance by themselves due who are living in circumstances where they are being abused to physical restraint, physical or neglected, the Act gives the designated agencies legal tools disability, illness, disease and to assist. injury. While there is no mandatory responsibility to report abuse and neglect, once a designated responder receives a report, they are required to respond. The Designated Agencies in B.C. include the Regional Health Authorities, Providence Health Care, and Community Living B.C. These agencies are responsible for receiving reports and inquiring into situations of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of adults who are unable to seek support and assistance of their own. Designated Responders are employees of „Designated Agencies? who has the responsibility and training to inquire into reports under the Adult Guardianship Act. 24 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Designated Agencies must: , Look into all situations of suspected or reported abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults , Determine if the adult needs support and assistance , Involve the adult as much as possible , Report crimes committed against vulnerable adults who are unable to seek support and assistance to the police , Keep the identity of the person who made the report confidential Designated Agency staff is guided by the following fundamental principles and presumptions: , Self determination and choice , Most effective but least intrusive support , Adults are presumed capable , Court tools are used only as a last resort (Source: Re:Act Manual) Refer to Website: www.trustee.bc.ca Community Response Networks (CRNs) In addition to the legal tools provided for under the Act, the Community Response Networks can assist communities to develop a community-based response to abuse and to recommend resources as helping communities to develop prevention strategies. Individual cases of abuse or neglect are dealt with in confidence with the Elder and the appropriate representative. Note: The role of the Community Response Networks is described Section 5.4. (Source: Public Guardian and Trustee British Columbia) 25 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 5.2 Reporting Elder Abuse The majority of abuse is never reported. However, the law provides protection to people who report abuse. Why is abuse not reported? Some victims are afraid to report abuse because: , If they report the abuse, they are afraid of what the abuser might do to them , Fear of loss of family or caregiver , Guilt , Embarrassment , Humiliation , Language barrier – there may not be someone who can translate for them , Afraid they will be put into an institution , Lack of trust of police and social workers , The abuser may be an important leader or member of the community or family member , They may not want to leave their community to get help – fear of being alone and isolated from family, friends and community members. Confidentiality for Individuals that Report Abuse, Neglect and Self-neglect The Adult Guardianship Act, Part 3 (46) specifically states that the identity of individual that report abuse or neglect will be kept confidential and that individuals that make a report or assist in an investigation cannot be penalized, unless they make a false report. The Adult Guardianship Act, Part 3 (46) (1) Anyone who has information indicating that an adult: (a) is abused or neglected, and (b) is unable, for any of the reasons mentioned in section 44, to seek support and assistance, may report the circumstances to a designated agency. (2) A person must not disclose or be compelled to disclose the identity of a person who makes a report under this section. (Source: Public Guardian and Trustee British Columbia) 26 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 5.3 BC Public Guardianship & Trustee and INAC Trust Services In BC, the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee has a role in protecting the finances of Vulnerable Adults. The PGT may assist Community Health and Human Services Workers or Designated Agencies in investigating situations of suspected financial abuse. In some instances the PGT may be given the responsibility of managing the finances of adults who are mentally incapable of managing their own finances. When the adult?s primary residence is in a reserve community, the authority will be transferred to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). (Source: Re:Act Manual) The PGT may also be called on to make health care decisions for adults who are mentally incapable of making health care decisions and do not have a substitute decision maker is capable and available to provide consent. (Source: Re:ACT Manual) Source: B.C. Adult Guardianship Act: PUBLIC GUARDIAN AND TRUSTEE 700-808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 3L3 Tel: 604.660.4444 Fax: 604.775.0207 Email: mail@trustee.bc.ca Visit our website at www.trustee.bc.ca Greater Vancouver Regional Office 700-808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3 Ph: 604.775.1007 Fax: 604.660.9498 Lower Mainland Regional Office 700-808 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L3 Ph: 604.775.1001 Fax: 604.660.9479 Vancouver Island Regional Office 1019 Wharf Street, 4th floor, Victoria, BC Mailing: PO Box 9251, Victoria, BC V8W 9J2 Ph: 250.356.8160 Fax: 250.356.7442 Interior-North Regional Office 1345 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E2 Ph: 250.712.7576 Fax: 250.712.7578 Indian and Northern Affairs: BC Lands, Trust Services: In accordance with section 51 of the Indian Act, if a registered Indian who primarily resides on reserve is not able to handle his or her own financial affairs, INAC may administer the individual’s estate or appoint someone to administer it. This involves managing only the individual’s financial affairs (such as costs related to the ongoing care and well-being of that individual). Source: 27 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 5.4 Community Programs & Victims Services Resources List B.C. Association of Community Response Networks (BCARN) A Community Response Network or CRN is a local network comprised of a group of people, service providers and organizations in a community who work together to create a coordinated response to adult abuse, neglect and self-neglect by: , including everyone in the community who wants to be involved , raising community awareness and providing education , developing agreements or protocols among members about how organizations or agencies will respond when an adult needs help , keeping track of how the response is working, and , working towards prevention. CNR members can be anyone in the community concerned about adult abuse and neglect including designated agencies, police, community organizations, financial institutions, advocacy agencies and concerned citizens. There are approximately 30 -35 CRNs across B.C. Note: The Quesnel Friendship Centre is a CRN Network Lead Agency.The CRN is endeavoring to work with Aboriginal communities to build on their existing strengths and resources and to build the community?s capacity to address and prevent Elder and neglect. An Aboriginal CRN may include: , Concerned community members, Elders and Youth. , Band or Friendship Centre staff such as health directors, social workers, social development staff, Elders coordinators, homemakers, wellness coordinators, spiritual leaders, physiotherapists, mental health workers and tribal police. , Cultural or language groups, traditional networks, clans or groups. , Transition houses, victim services, local businesses. CRNs are invited to become members of the BC Association of Community Response Networks (BCACRN). The BCARN is a registered non-profit society and charitable organization. CRNs are supported by the BCACRNs as funds become available. The BCACRN supports it local CRN members by providing: , A website so CRNs can share their work with others. , Monthly telephone conferences on aspects of CRN development. , Newsletters about news from the BCARN. , A CRN Mentors? Team whose members can be available by phone and email to offer support and regional workshops. , Local and regional workshops. , Province-wide projects or support to participate in them - e.g. Elder Abuse Day. , A coordinated approach to fundraising. (Source: Public Guardian and Trustee British Columbia) For more information on BC?s Community Response Networks visit www.bccrns.ca 28 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 B.C. Association of Community Response Networks Executive Director Sherry Baker M.A. 15008 - 26th Ave Surrey, BC V4P 3H5 phone: 604-513-9758 fax: 604-531-9498 General email: info@bccrns.ca ED email: ed@bccrns.ca Victims Resources Provincial Victims Resources , Seniors Gateway to Legal Information and Resources , BC Association of Specialized Victim Assistance and Counseling Programs (BCASVACP) - a resource for community-based services that support survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence and criminal harassment. , British Columbia and Yukon Society Transition Houses – Project Haven Telephone: 604-669-6943 www.bcysth.ca , BC Centre for Elder Advocacy & Support BCCEAS www.bcceas.ca 1.866.437.1940 (toll free) , Phone VictimLINK 1.800.563.0808 (toll-free), 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a-week support and referral service. , Victims Services and Community Programs Division, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. , B.C. Adult Guardianship Act. , Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia (PGT). www.trustee.bc.ca National Victims Resources: , Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. , Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. infopubs@inac-ainc.gc.ca 29 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Survivors Health Support Coordinator for BC 1-877-477-0775 „Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Resolution Health Support Program’ enables survivor, their children-and grandchildren if they are cared for by the survivor-to access holistic wellness support at no cost. Support is tailored to meet individual?s needs: Traditional healer, treatment centre, counselor, etc. Transportation and childcare is eligible if the survivor or their children require support to access health and wellness services. The coordinators will arrange local counseling with registered counselors (or . They will also offer Emotional Support, Cultural Support, and/or Transportation for the Elders if needed. The coordinators will need to know the IRS survivor name; birth date, which school attended; and, if possible the dates attended. The counseling coverage includes direct descendant children and grandchildren, if they are living with them or primary caregivers. Different circumstances can be considered. , The billing rate for counselors is $95 per/hr. , National IRSS support line: 1-866-925-4419 , IRRSS general information telephone: 1-866-879-4913 (Note: For more resources, refer to the Resources Directory) 5.6 Aboriginal Resources List Provincial Aboriginal Resources BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres www.bcaafc.com “One Door” for Health and Social Services: The Prince George Native Friendship Centre First Nations Chiefs Health Committee Hiiye?yu Lelum program involves developing circles of support around the caregiver as a way preventing abuse and neglect. Refer to: www.familycaregiverssupport.org Vancouver Island First Nation Health Services and Community Development, Informatics and Research (CDIR) – Community Based Research is a focus of CDIR which centers around empowering communities to reclaim their use of, and control over, research as an important tool for creating change at the community level, service levels, and policy levels. www.intertribalhealth.ca/transfer.html. Aboriginal Legal Aid Services and Legal Clinics, The Law Centre – First Nations and Metis Outreach Program, Victoria Telephone: (250) 385-1221 www.thelawcentre.ca/first_nations.html 30 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 University of BC First Nations Legal Clinic Telephone: 604-601-6430 Battered Women?s Support Services First Nations Women?s Support and Outreach, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 604-687-1867 Stopping Abuse: Responses from First Nations Communities, BC ACRN First Nations Health Advocacy: First Nations Health Council National Aboriginal Resources , Healing the Past: Addressing the Legacy of Physical and Sexual Abuse in Indian Residential Schools www.canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/dept-min/pub/dig/heal-fuer.html , Health Canada , INAC Adult Care Program , Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) www.nwac.ca toll-free 1800-461-4043 NWAC?s Grandmother Spirit Commercial PSA (Note: For more resources, refer to the Resources Directory) 5.6 Legal and Restorative Justice Links Provincial Legal and Restorative Justice Links , Victims Services and Community Programs Division, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Website: , Legal Services Society Website: www.Iss.bc.ca , Legal representation for Lower Mainland (604) 408-2172 , Legal representation for rest of B.C. Toll free (866) 577-2525 , Legal Services Society Call Centre and lawLine Tel: (604) 408-2172 Toll Free (866) 577- 2525 , The Law Centre, University of Victoria Website: www.thelawcentre.ca , RCMP Community Policing (“E” Division – BC) -The Community Policing Division has a program referred to as “Ageless Wisdom” (Note: For more resources, refer to the Resources Directory) 31 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Tip #1: A Sensitive Topic For many of us, talking about Elder Abuse is difficult and it can affect us all in some way. For Elders it can surface feelings of discomfort. Service providers must take the time to create a trusting and safe environment for the Elders. , Care must be taken to ensure counsellors and/or traditional healers are close by to provide supports to the Elder. Tip #2 Sacred Seven Grandfather?s Teachings Culture matters – integrate cultural practices into service provision In their work with Elders, community Caregivers and Service Providers should be guided by the Sacred Seven Grandfather?s Teachings: Wisdom, Respect, Love, Honesty, Bravery, Humility, Truth Tip #3 Empowering Elders Look for ways to empower Elders to take control over their lives and make decisions in their own best interests. Provide support in a respectful, non controlling way. Ask questions in a non-threatening way. Involve the Elder as much as possible. Care must be taken to fully assess the circumstances and to fully involve the Elder to determine the most appropriate response. The response must „fit? the Elder?s circumstances. Tip #4 Privacy and Confidentiality Respect the Elder?s right to privacy. Do not disclose the identity of a person who makes a report of Elder abuse, neglect or self neglect. Tips #5 Be aware of any safety concerns Ensure that the Elder has support and assistance and is in a safe environment. 32 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 It takes a community to raise awareness and prevent abuse and neglect of Elders from occurring. I. Visit your Elders often. Elders should never feel alone or be isolated from family, friends and community members. II. Telephone your Elders. Arrange for a family member or community service provider to call and „check-in? with the Elder every day. III. Ask the Elders what they need. Do chores and run errands for the Elders. Bring a meal to your Elder. IV. Honour your Elders knowledge and wisdom. Celebrate your unique culture. Ask the Elders to teach you the language and ceremonies. V. Teach your children all of the above. “Elders Don?t Bite!” “This is an opportunity for our Youth to know how good it feels to give back to their Elders, family and community. Many of our Youth today are missing that experience of caring for someone.” Ruth Cook, Elder 33 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 All efforts have been made to properly reference the main resource materials used in this publication. If for any reason there was an omission of proper referencing please forward notice to the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) and we will properly site reference information in any future publications. Aboriginal peoples: Analysis Series. 2006 Census, Statistics Canada BC Provincial Health Officer: Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People. 2001 BC Public Guardian and Trustee: www.trustee.bc.ca First Peoples? Heritage, Language and Culture Council. 2010 National Clearing House on Family Violence. 199. Ontario O.P.P. ReAct Manual: A Guide to Prevent & Respond to Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults. Vancouver Coastal Health. The Medicine Wheel: Adapted from Medicine Wheel: A Conceptual Tool. Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative and the Ontario Federation on Indian Friendship Centres. 34 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 The following Resource Directory was compiled by the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee. Guide to Resources / Services for Indian Residential School Survivors and their Supporters Regional, Provincial and National Resources to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse 35 BCAAFC: Elder Abuse Prevention & Awareness Workshop Resource for Elder Support Workers December 2010 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES Aboriginal Transition Houses and Family Violence Crisis Lines , Chiwid Transition House Cariboo Friendship Society William's Lake, BC Tel.: (250) 398-6831 Fax: (250) 398-6115 Email: cariboo.fc@shawcable.com , Fort Nelson Women's Shelter Northern Rockies Aboriginal Women Society Fort Nelson, BC Crisis Line (250) 774-4742 Email: fnws.nraws@northwestel.net , Hans Knaskt Project Haven Lytton, BC Tel.: (250) 455-2284 Fax: (250) 455-2287 , Helping Spirit Lodge Society 3965 Dumfries Street Vancouver BC, V5N 5R3 Tel.: (604) 872-6649 Fax: (604) 873-4402 Email: helping_spirit@telusnet Website: www.helpingspiritlodge.org/ , Nuxalk Transition Home c/o Nuxalk First Nation PO. Box 65 Bella Coola, BC, VOT lCO Email: snxlhh@belcobc.ca , Okanagan Nation Transition/Emergency House Okanagan Nation Alliance Westbank, BC Tel.: (205) 493-4902 36 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES , Somenos Transition House Cowichan Women Against Violence Society 103-255 Ingram Street Duncan, BC, V9L 1P3 Tel.: (250) 748-8544 Fax (250)748-8539 Email: somenos@shaw.ca Crisis Line: (250) 748-7273 , Coldwater Transition House PO Box 4600 Station Main Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 Tel: 1-250-378-6170 Fax: 250-378-5351 Email: mkatona@ocis.net , Taku River Tlingits First Nation Box 132 Atlin, BC, VOW lAO Tel. (250) 651?7935 Fax: (250) 651?7949 Crisis Line: (250) 651-7761 , Three Sisters Haven Society General Delivery Telegraph Creek, BC, VOJ 2WO Tel. (604) 235-3241 Fax (604) 235-3244 , Xolhemet Society PO Box 2025 Sardis Station Main Chilliwack, BC, V2R 1A5 Tel.. (604) 824-0939 Fax (604) 824-0937 Email: xolhemetadmin@shaw.ca 37 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES , British Columbia and Yukon Society of Transition Houses Suite 507, 475 Howe Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 2B3 Tel.: (604) 669-6943 Fax: (604) 682-6962 Email: admin@bcysth.ca Website: www.bcysth.ca (Lists all Transition Houses in BC) , Toll-Free VictimLiNK Phone Line: (800) 563-0808 (24 hours) (for everyone in BC) 38 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES ABORIGINAL LEGAL AID SERVICES AND LEGAL CLINICS , The Law Centre First Nations and Metis Outreach Program 1221 Broad Street Victoria, BC, V8W 2A4 Tel: (250) 385-1221 Fax: (250) 385-1226 Website: www.thelawcentre.ca/ first_nations.html , University of British Columbia First Nations Legal Clinic 191 Alexander Street Vancouver, BC, V6A 1B8 Tel. (604) 601-6430 Fax: (604) 601-6435 , Upper Skeena Counselling and Legal Assistance Society 4305 Field Street PO. Box 130 Hazelton, BC, VOJ lVO Tel.: (250) 842-5218 Toll Free: (877) 842-5218 Fax (250) 842-5987 Website: www.usclas.com , Mission Indian Friendship Centre Law Clinic 331050A First Avenue Mission, BC, V2V 1G4 Tel.: (604) 826-1281 Fax: (604) 826-4056 Email: miefs@shawcable.com Website: www.mifcs.bc.ca , Legal Services Society 400-510 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 3A8 Tel.: (604) 601-6000 Legal representation for Lower Mainland (604) 408-2172 Legal representation for rest of province toll free: (866) 577-2525 Website: www.lss.bc.ca 39 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES , Legal Services Society Call Centre and lawLiNE Tel.: (604) 408-2172 Toll Free (866) 577-2525 , The Law Centre University of Victoria 1221 Broad Street Victoria, BC, V8W 2A4 Tel.: (250) 385-1221 Fax: (250) 385-1226 Email: reception@thelawcentre.ca Website: www.thelawcentre.ca 40 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES Battered Women's Support Services , First Nations Women's Support and Outreach P.O. Box 21503 1424 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, BC, V5L 5G2 Tel.: (604) 687-1867 Fax (604) 687-1864 TTY: (604) 687-6732 Email: monawoodward@bwss.org Website: www.bwss.org/programs/ firscnations.htm Aboriginal Health Leads Health Authorities and Ministry of Health Ministry of Health/Aboriginal Health , Deborah Swartz, Executive Director Aboriginal Health, Ministry of Health 1515 Blanshard St., RBB4-2 Victoria, BC, VW8 3C8 Tel: (250) 952-2811 Fax: (250) 952-1570 Email: Deborah.Swartz@gems8.gov.bc.ca Interior Health Authority , Denise Taylor, Aboriginal Health Lead Interior Health Royal Inland Hospital th9 Floor, 311 Columbia Street Kamloops, BC, V2C 2T1 Phone: (250) 314-2172 Tel: (250) 314-2172 Email: denise.taylor@interiorhealth.ca Northern Health Authority , Paul Hanki, Executive Director, Aboriginal Health Northern Health Authority 600 – 299 Victoria Street Prince George, BC, V2L 5B8 Tel: (250) 565-2134 41 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES Fax: (250) 565-2640 Email: paul.hanki@northernhealth.ca Fraser Health Authority , Leslie Schroeder, Project Director, Aboriginal Health Services Health Promotion and Prevention Services Fraser Health Authority #300 10334 152A Street Surrey, BC, V3R 7P8 Phone: (604) 587-4643 Fax: (604) 587-4665 Email: Leslie.Schroeder@fraserhealth.ca Vancouver Coastal Health Authority , Linda Day, Regional Director, Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives Vancouver Coastal Health Authority th11 Floor, 601 West Broadway Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4C2 Phone: (604) 875-5600, ext. 66942 Fax: 604 875-4750 e-mail: Linda.Day@vch.ca Vancouver Island Health Authority , Ian Knipe, Director, Aboriginal and Rural Health Vancouver Island Health Authority # 201 - 6551 Aulds Rd. Nanaimo BC V9T 6K2 Tel: (250) 755-6281 Fax: (250) 390-7421 Email: Ian.Knipe@viha.ca 42 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES ABORIGINAL RESOURCES Agency: Indian Residential School Description Survivors Society , Supports survivors: crisis counselling, court support, information, referrals Contact: Sharon Thira – Executive , Assists communities to help survivors: partnerships, Directortraining & education workshops , Raises awareness of residential school issues: contact with Phone: (604) 925-4464 the media; conferences , Supports & conducts research: history and effects of Crisis 1-866-925-4419 residential schools , Advocates for justice and healing: traditional and non-Fax: 604-925-0020 aboriginal forms E Mail: sharonthira@irsss.ca Website: www.irsss.ca Resources Workshops: Yes, see list and descriptions on website Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Residential School Forms Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: Educational Programs and Web Based Resources for Front Line Workers, 24 Hour Survivors Support Line at 1 866 925-4419. How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call us Anything Else 24 Hour Survivors Support Line at 1-866-925-4419 43 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES Agency: Indian Residential Schools Description Resolution Canada (IRSRC) Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC) is the federal department dedicated to strengthening Contact: partnerships within government and with Aboriginal peoples, religious denominations, and other citizens to Phone: IRSRC/ Alternative Dispute address and resolve issues arising from the legacy of Resolution (ADR): 1-800-816- Indian residential schools. 7293 The Department of Indian Residential Schools Resolution Settlement Agreement: Canada was created in June 2001 to focus federal efforts 1-866-879-4913 to manage and resolve abuse claims in a fair, less adversarial manner. To provide increased choice for former students in addressing their claims, the Government launched the National Resolution Framework in November Fax: 2003, which included a litigation strategy, health supports, a Commemoration Program and an ADR process. E Mail: IRSRC/ADR: info@irsr- rqpi.gc.ca The Settlement Agreement provided survivors with a Common Experience Payment, a compensation process Website: IRSRC/ADR: the ADR program for more serious claims of rqpi.gc.ca/ abuse (the Independent Assessment Process) as well as funding for healing, commemoration, truth and Settlement Agreement: reconciliation endeavors. tlement.ca Resources Workshops: Funding to Build Local Capacity: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call to get further information about the Indian Residential School Settlement and process 44 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES Agency: Vancouver Coastal Health Description VCH provides direct and contracted health services to FN Contact: Amanda Brown communities both on and off reserve. Emphasis is placed on primary health care services including health promotion Phone: (604) 984-5957 and disease and injury prevention. VCH is also a designated agency under the Adult Guardianship Act with a mandate to respond to reported situations of abuse, Fax: (604) 984-5930 neglect and self-neglect to vulnerable and incapable adults. E Mail: Amanda.brown@vch.ca Website: www.vchreact.ca Resources Workshops: Adult Guardianship Training, including: , Introduction , Assessment , Investigation , Financial abuse Funding to Build Local Some dedicated resources to AGA and Abuse & Neglect Response within Capacity: VCH. VCH staff are encouraged to participate in Community Response Networks where they exist. Written Material: First Nations Re:Act Manual The materials are intended to be used to facilitate dialogues, workshops and education events to raise awareness and coordinate community responses to abuse and neglect of older or vulnerable adults. The following education and practice support materials are for educators, facilitators, Community Health and Human Service Workers, First Nations Community Members, Health Authority Staff, Community Response Network Members, and a wide range of adult learners to understand the complex dynamic of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults and older adult in First Nations 45 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse REGIONAL RESOURCES communities. Learn more about the resources available: , National First Nations Re:Act Manual , BC First Nations Re:Act Manual Videos, CDS, DVDs: DVD?s included in the Re:Act Manual Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities VCH has designated staff within all of its service areas who have training in responding to situations of abuse, neglect and self-neglect of vulnerable adults. Services are accessed through any number of locations including agencies with formal and informal agreements. Anything Else Agency: Northern Health Description Northern Health is the designated agency (Adult Contact: Guardianship Act) to respond to cases of abuse/ neglect/ self-neglect of vulnerable adults in Phone: northern BC (our area of service delivery is Quesnel & north). Fax: Typically, we do not have health services located directly in First Nations communities but are E Mail: available to work with local health care providers & First Nations governments in responding to Website: www.northernhealth.ca these cases as they arise. Resources Workshops: To be developed in the future 46 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: further written materials to be developed – we currently have the Adult Protection Services Policy Manual for Northern Health staff & Adult Protection Services/ Adult Abuse & Neglect brochures Videos, CDS, DVDs: To be developed in the future (dependent on available funding) Programs: Local responders are local health care staff (mental health, home & community care, hospital staff – social workers where available; in smaller communities, will be nursing staff) How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Anything Else Vancouver Island Health Authority, Fraser Health Authority and Interior Health Authority also have contacts for Adult Guardianship and Abuse and Neglect Response. Agency: Intertribal Health Authority - Description First Nations House of ITHA is the largest First Nations multi-disciplinary Healing service delivery health organization in BC. Contact: 534 Centre Street ITHA provides direct and contracted health services to Nanaimo, BC its 28 FN member communities. V9R 4Z3 ITHA also provides Healing Programs for Residential Phone: (250) 753-0590 School Survivors and their families in the 28 communities it serves Toll free: 1-877-4842 Fax: (250) 753-0570 Toll free: 1-877-753-0573 E Mail: fnhh@intertribalhealth.ca Website: www.intertribalhealth.ca 47 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Resources Workshops: Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: The focus of a residential healing program is to support in the healing of former students of Residential Schools who have been affected by the legacy of physical and sexual abuse. Programming will also further address the healing of the families of Residential School survivors. How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Through website or toll free telephone and fax Anything Else Agency: Description , Fraser Health Authority , Interior Health Authority Health Authorities are recognizing that First Nations , Northern Health Authority communities have lower health status than other , Vancouver Island Health communities and what some of the health impact has Authority been of effects of colonization, including Residential , Vancouver Coastal Health Schools. Authority Website: All are developing Aboriginal Health Services in Interior Health: cooperation with and with participation by local First www.interiorhealth.ca/Health+Servic es/Aboriginal+Health Nations communities. Aboriginal Health plans, conferences, aboriginal Vancover Island Health Authority: health employment strategies and specialized www.viha.ca/aboriginal_health/ services like Navigators in hospitals to help people Northern Health: access services; are some of the kinds of programs 48 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES being developed. www.northerhealth.ca/Your_Health/ Programs/Aboriginal_Health/default.Also being developed are community engagement, asp cultural competency training for non-aboriginal staff, culturally appropriate practices and materials. Vancouver Coastal Health Authority: www.vch.ca/aboriginalhealth/ The above steps should make access easier and services culturally safer for IRSS survivors and their families. Resources Workshops: Funding/ Local Capacity: Aboriginal Health Initiative Grants – see websites Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How Is Your Service Accessed in Local CommunitiesThrough the Health Authority for your region. Agency: BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Description Centres The Friendship Centre movement is built Contact: Jamin Zuroski, Elder and Youth Coordinator on community support, trust, strong leadership, tradition and faith and is Phone: 1-800-990-2432 mandated to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal Peoples throughout Canada. Fax: 1-250-388-5502 With offices located on the Tsawout E Mail: juzuroski@bcaafc.com Reserve in Saanichton and in downtown Victoria BC, the BCAAFC is the umbrella Website: association for 23 Friendship Centres throughout the Province of British Columbia. Resources 49 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Workshops: The BCAAFC Elders Council and Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council (PAYC) have 3 workshops Honoring Our Elders Workshop A workshop on Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention This is a train-the-trainer workshop to enable Elders and/or Elder support workers to host a workshop to help re-affirm Elders’ roles as community leaders. We bring up the topic of Elder Abuse in a supportive environment and help the group to identify community supports in response to Aboriginal Elders that are at risk. The workshop resources can be adapted to a variety of audiences: Elders, anyone working with Elders and Elders/Youth. Elders Don?t Bite Workshop In this workshop, BCAAFC Elders Council and Youth leaders facilitate a workshop that Elders and Youth can share in their home community to promote dialogue between Elders and Youth. Elders have open and honest discussions on what is healthy leadership, share their experiences as survivors of the residential school system and other topics that Youth need to know but are too intimidated to ask in their home community. Elders Programs in BC The BCAAFC Elders Council members share how Elders are involved in Friendship Centres across BC. Using multi-media photos and video clips of Elders gifting their time and energy to Friendship Centres, Elders can reflect on areas they can share their life experiences in their home community. Elder support workers find having an overview of potential funding sources is valuable, as well sharing with the group their own Elders programs and Elder resources. Funding to Build Local No funding at this time Capacity: Written Material: The „Honoring Our Elders? workshop resources are designed for Elder Support Workers or anyone in contact with Elders: , Train the Trainer facilitators? guide , posters aimed to prevent Elder abuse and promote workshop , sample invitation for Elders , DVD „Intergenerational Approach to Preventing Elder Abuse? , „Honoring Our Elders? workshop resource , „Honoring Our Elders? power point presentation , Elders handbook , relevant contact info for Elder Support Workers , sample cultural activities , List of Elder abuse resources 50 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES , Elder Abuse Community Action Plan Videos, CDS, DVDs: DVD - Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention: A Multigenerational Approach The BCAAFC Elders Council and Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council produced a video that was screened during the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day conference in Toronto June 15, 2010 hosted by: International Federation on Aging and the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Programs: BCAAFC Elders Council – Elders invited from Friendship Centres in BC gather at all BCAAFC meetings with Youth. The BCAAFC Elders Council founding members provide support to all BCAAFC structured sub-committees, provide guidance during BCAAFC meetings and attend government advisory committees. How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Visit the BCAAFC website or contact the BCAAFC Elder Coordinator for more information Anything Else Elders who are actively involved in their local Friendship Centre may contact the local Friendship Centres? Executive Director for information about the BCAAFC Elders Council. Friendship Centres value the wisdom of Elders and can offer a variety of flexible opportunities. Find out how you can contribute and develop your skills, assist with programs, share cultural knowledge, support the staff and Board of the Friendship Centre, and promote the involvement of Elders from the community. Respected Elders… Share your knowledge Teach someone a new skill Give a voice for Elders Preserve Aboriginal Culture Empower Aboriginal Youth Healthy leadership Share ideas for programs Support the Board of Directors Build community Share local stories and History 51 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Agency: Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Description Centre Society (VAFCS) VAFCS mission statement is to provide programs Contact: Robbi Wilson/Sherry Small and services that will contribute to the cultural, educational, social, economic and recreational Phone: (604) 251-4844, Ext. 308 development of Aboriginal People; and to support the objectives of Aboriginal self-determination. Fax: (604) 251-1986 E Mail: Elders@vafcs.org Website: Resources Workshops: The Elders Program Developer is currently working on workshop development. Funding to Build Local Limited Capacity: Written Material: Currently in progress Videos, CDS, DVDs: Multicultural Seniors Cookbook in partnership with agencies in Vancouver Programs: , The Elders Program hosts events such as two weekly Food Bank Service and Hot Lunches. In partnership with Vancouver Native Health, they host luncheons such as: o Lunch n Learn o Spirit in Motion (Active Living and Aboriginal Seniors) o Annual events consist of the Elders Gathering and Christmas Party o Elders Room is made available for our Elders for social gathering, quilt making, weekly potluck o Community Garden in partnership with UBC o Additional workshops are being developed in conjunction with BC Coalition to Eliminate Abuse of Seniors and Indian Residential School Survivors Society. o Elders mentoring Elders to provide guidance at meetings, working with Youth etc. o , VAFCS also provides the following resources and programs: o Sundance Daycare, Recreation, Urban Aboriginal Representative, 52 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Fathers Support o VAFCS houses: Transformative Justice, Aboriginal Community Careers Services Society (ACCESS), Lukwil?aam Café, Cedar Root Gallery, House of Culture Aboriginal Arts (resident artist Mike Dangeli) and Aries (for street-involved Youth aged 13-18). How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities VAFCS is located at 1607 East Hastings and is a hub to Aboriginal People making a transition to the Urban community. Over 40,000 Urban Aboriginal People are identified and targeted as the clientele base of the VAFCS in its catchment area of the Great Vancouver Regional District. VAFCS Membership is available to all who choose to register. Anything Else Violence Prevention and Life Skills Programs will be made available in conjunction with the Canadian Red Cross at a future date. Agency: Cariboo Friendship Society Description “Restoring Our Aboriginal Roots” is a participatory 4- Contact: Joan Sellars week healing & wellness strategy that embraces traditional aboriginal and current therapeutic approaches Phone: (250) 398-6831 to resolving dysfunctional lifestyles that stem from our Residential School experience. Fax: (250) 398-6115 Our day program based on the principle of the internal E Mail: cariboo.roar@shawcable.com medicine wheel, focusing on the 4 human aspects – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. Website: CaribooFriendshipSociety.ca Traditional values and therapeutic counseling assists participants in making positive changes in their lifestyles. Catchment area is Williams Lake area covering 15 First Nations Bands, urbanAaboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients. Resources Workshops: Daily 8:30am to 4:30pm 53 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Group activity session hand-outs Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: Designed to address issues that challenge functional community life How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Direct communication with service providers within the 15 First Nations communities. Anything Else We assist community support workers to insure participants receive support or aftercare. Agency: Description First Nations Chiefs Health Committee The CHC was established to provide leadership direction and ongoing political support for the Contact: Mary Knox - Guimont development of First Nations? health policy, programs and services. The CHC will be comprised Phone Toll Free: 1-866-417-1139 of chiefs that are familiar with health issues and committed to advancing the collective cause of First Fax (250) 830-1159 Nations in BC. E Mail mguimont@fnchc.ca The Health Committee provides provincial wide programs or services that cannot be delivered at the Website www.fnchc.ca community level. Services include aboriginal health employment strategies, Regional Health Survey and provincial health advocate. Resources Workshops: Funding/ Local Capacity: 54 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: Health Advocate: The role of the health advocate is to advocate on behalf of and support BC First Nations individuals, communities and organizations to Individuals, communities and organizations to resolve health access related to Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), Medical Services Plan (MSP), and other health issues as applicable How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Telephone or e -mail Agency: Indian and Northern Description Affairs Canada We administer the estates of deceased, Mentally Incapable and Minor First Nations individuals who reside on reserves. We also Contact: Estates-Lands and Trust appoint non-departmental administrators for these estates. Services Phone: (604) 775-5100 or 1-800-567-9604 Fax: (604) 775-7149 E Mail: infopubs@inac- ainc.gc.ca Website: www.ainc-inac.gc.ca Resources Workshops: We provide estate planning workshops in communities 55 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: “How to Make a Will and Settle an Estate.” A guide for First Nations people living on reserve. Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Agency: Indian and Northern Affairs Description Canada Funding is provided annually for the Prevention of Family Violence program. This is a proposal driven process based Contact: on formula driven allocations of funding to each First Nation in BC. A call letter is sent to each First Nation eligible for the Phone: funding and based on the review of the proposal, funds are sent out for a wide range of activities that remain within the restrictions of the financial authorities. Fax: E Mail: Website: www.inac.gc.ca Resources Workshops: Some First Nations choose to facilitate workshops. Funding to Build Local Some community planning activity. Capacity: Written Material: Kit for transition houses. Videos, CDS, DVDs: Comprehensive community planning information. Programs: 56 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Call letter sent annually. Anything Else The prevention of family violence program is well responded to by the First Nations communities. Agency: Ministry of Aboriginal Description Relations and Guide to Aboriginal Organizations and Services in British Reconciliation Columbia Contact: Denise Clark The Guide to Aboriginal Organizations and Services in British (Administrative Assistant) Columbia is a provincial resource listing of community-based services and organizations. The Guide is also a means by Phone: (250) 387-2199 which other community service organizations, government ministries and agencies, and non-Aboriginal citizens may Fax: (250) 356-9467 become knowledgeable about specific Aboriginal services and organizations. E Mail: denise.clark@gov.bc.ca Publication of this Guide is coordinated by the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation in support of Website: Aboriginal people and their communities. This publication is bc/channel.do?action=mini based on the most current data available at the time of stry&channelID=- printing. 536896053&navId=NAV_I D_province The Guide is available on-line at: : bc/home.do Resources Workshops: Funding to Build Local 57 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Capacity: Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call us. Guide to Aboriginal Organizations and Services in BC is available on line Anything Else? Agency: RCMP Community Description Policing Services (“E” “E” Division CPS had developed a program referred to as Division – BC) “Ageless Wisdom” to provide Crime Prevention messaging to older adults, with a focus on providing this support to Contact: Dee Stewart, CPSD recipients of the compensation package from the Indian Program Coordinator Residential School Settlement Agreement. Topics covered by this package include: Frauds, Cons, Schemes and Scams, Phone: (604) 264-3298 Personal Safety, Abuse, and Victim Services. The program Fax: has been rolled out across the division and is now being (604) 596-3516 delivered by local First Nations Members. Representatives of E Mail: dee.stewart@rcmp-“E” Division CPS travel with the Indian Residential School grc.gc.ca Survivors Society to deliver the program at regional gatherings where local Survivors are educated about the Settlement Website: Agreement. Ageless Wisdom is now being adopted by the RCMP nationally. Resources Workshops: “Ageless Wisdom” – see above. Funding to Build Local Capacity: 58 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Written Material: Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call us. Anything Else? Senior Resources Agency: Description BC Association of Community Response The BC Association of Community Response Networks Networks (CRNs) is a provincial non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local community capacity building to address and prevent abuse, neglect and self-neglect of all adults. While Contact: the BCACRN has had most of its experience doing this work Alison Leaney – Executive in larger communities, we are beginning to offer the CRN Director model as a community capacity building approach to First Nations including reserve communities for those with an Phone: (604) 660-4482 interest. Fax: We have a CRN Mentors Team that is available within funding limits to provide support to those developing and E Mail: edcrns@telus.net or maintaining CRNs. crns@telus.net We have many materials on our website – please visit us or Website: www.bccrns.ca call us! Resources Workshops: As requested by communities as funding allows Funding to Build Local Some Capacity: 59 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Written Material: All material on website is available Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: Coaching on how to develop networks, contacts with other networks by teleconference, Regional Meetings to discuss issues How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Call above number, or contact local CRN shown on website map Anything Else Agency: BC Coalition to Eliminate Description Abuse of Seniors “Finding a Future for Ellen” DVD/Video and facilitators guide describing abuse of older adults and the role of the justice system – the video is designed to be part of a facilitated workshop - binder containing the video also contains a series of handouts for older adults and a CD with a power point presentation on the topic – Excellent tool for community development “Legal Issues for Seniors – Training Manual” – and education manual for those who work with older adults – contains information on the legal remedies available to address all forms of abuse, including financial “Money Matters” – video and facilitator?s guide for community and financial institution workshops on preventing financial abuse of older adults “ABCs of Fraud” – 18 volunteers are trained to provide fraud prevention workshops in the community, primarily available in the Lower Mainland but some travel may be possible. Contact: Joan Braun, Executive Director Phone: (604) 437-1940 60 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Toll Free: 1-866-437-1940 Fax: (604) 437-1929 E Mail: ceas@telus.net Website: www.bcceas.ca Resources Workshops: Material to run workshops Written Material: , Seniors and the Criminal Justice System – Education Materials , Legal Services Society Catalogue.The catalogue now contains BC CEAS materials , Fact Sheets About Elder Abuse Videos, CDS, DVDs: Yes Programs: , “Legal Advocacy Project” for legal information, advocacy and referral call our legal information counselor Toll Free 1-866-437-1940 or in the Lower Mainland (604) 437-1940 How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Call above number Agency: BC Healthy Communities Description Healthy Communities is not a “program” but an approach. It Contact: Jodi Mucha ED or Provincial recognizes that “health” means more than just the absence Regional Facilitators in each of disease. Healthy communities think and act in region of the province. awareness of the multiple, interconnected determinants of Health - determinants that play critical roles in shaping our individual and collective well-being. Phone: 1-888-356-0892 Rather than a sole focus on individual behaviour, the Healthy Communities approach considers all of the Fax: (250) 356-5119 determinants that contribute to health, well-being and E Mail: jodi@bchealthycommunities.ca human development. The approach transcends artificial 61 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Website: www.bchealthycommunities.ca divisions that result in fragmented planning and policy- making. Instead, it offers a more complete way of understanding how people and communities develop and prosper. Resources Workshops: Various learning events across the province Funding to Build Local Seed Grants $2500.00 information on website Capacity: Written Material: Various resources and databases on website Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities By contacting the local regional facilitator in the Northern, Interior, Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Region. Anything Else We help to build interconnections and will be hosting regional forums and a provincial conference on healthy communities in June 2008. Agency: BC Securities Commission Description BC Securities Commission is a provincial government Contact: Patricia Bowles, Director of agency responsible for regulating the securities industry, Communications and setting policy and enforcing the Securities Act, in order to Education protect BC investors. Phone: (604) 899-6500 or 1-800-373-6393 Fax: 62 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES E Mail: pbowles@bcsc.bc.cs Website: www.investright.org Resources Workshops: Through its investor education program, InvestRight, BCSC officials and their partners (BC Crime Prevention Association, the Better Business Bureau and others), give speeches, put on workshops and provide information to groups upon request. Funding to Build Local BC Securities Commission has an Education Fund whose primary purpose Capacity: is to fund consumer and industry investor education programs. Written Material: InvestRight provides investor education kits that provide educational materials and a RED FLAGS brochure that alerts people about investment fraud. Videos, CDS, DVDs: Video about investment fraud and a video to show people how to use the website. Available on DVD format. Programs: InvestRight, BC Securities Commission Investor Education Program; The City, a financial life skills program for Planning 10, a program provided in all BC high schools, made available to BC teachers on request. BCSC also provides an on-line webinar training program for teachers to learn how to teach financial life skills. It is free and held a number of times throughout the school year. How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Upon Request. Please contact Anne McTeer at (604) 899-6731 or 1-800-373-6393. Anything Else Agency: Family Resource Centre of Description Invermere (FRC) The FRC is a registered non-profit society with charitable status based in Invermere serving the population of the Contact: Pat Cope (Executive Director) 63 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Phone: (250) 342-4242 Upper Columbia Valley; from Spillimacheen in the north to Canal Flats in the south. The vision of the Centre is to Fax: (250) 342-3850 enrich the individual using partnerships, knowledge, experience and innovation to encourage community and E Mail: info@familyresourcecentre.ca individual wellness in an accessible and supportive environment. Website: www.familyresourcecentre.ca Resources Workshops: Parenting Funding to Build Local No specific funding Capacity: Written Material: Program Brochures Videos, CDS, DVDs: Extensive Lending Library Programs: , Children Who Witness Abuse , Safe Homes , Women?s Counseling/Outreach , Growing Together (Early Childhood Programs) , Victim Assistance , Sexual Abuse Intervention (for children) , Family & Individual Counseling , Family Support Work , Youth Outreach Work , Parenting Programs , Fee for service Counseling How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities The Family Resource Centre has space located in Invermere to deliver programs as well as shared space in Canal Flats for program delivery. A number of programs have services delivered in the clients home as well as meeting in other locations in the catchment area where both the client and staff feel safe. Anything Else 64 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Agency: Law Courts Education Description Society of BC Mandate and Purpose: To support the need for public legal Contact: Annette Russell, education for Aboriginal people in British Columbia and to Aboriginal Programs support the following: Manager Participants of the Provincial Aboriginal Public Legal Education Phone: (250) 614-2686 program will get a deeper understanding of their rights and responsibilities and reflect on the perspective they use to look Fax: (250) 614-2798 at the legal system. They will develop the framework needed to make sense of and speak to their desire for fairness and justice E Mail: annette.russell@lawcoas they define it. This educational program will build on both urtsed.ca personal and political voice. It will open doors to the participants that allow them to create meaning, imagine significant Website: www.lawcourtsed.ca participation and ultimately transform the collective Aboriginal experience within the court system Resources Workshops: Stopping financial abuse of Elders: Bringing an End to the Cycle of Victimization Written Material: Workshop resources (see below for further information) How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Contact Annette Russell Anything Else It is Important That Elders do not Experience Abuse! Many Elders in the community have suffered many years of pain resulting from residential school abuse and will be receiving considerable financial benefit packages. Many of these Elders may be vulnerable to financial abuse as a result of receiving considerable lump sum financial compensation packages. It is crucial that every effort be made to protect Elders from being victimized. Compensation for past pain and abuse should not lead to further pain and abuse. A Community Resource Package will be provided at the workshop. The package has been developed to 65 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES increase your knowledge of financial abuse toward older adults. With the information provided in the community resource package you will be able to: , Provide information workshops to members of your community on the issue of Elder financial abuse; , Provide workshops to Elders in your community who will be receiving compensation packages; , Provide guidelines for how you and the members of your community can come together to prevent the financial abuse of older adults. Agency: Public Guardian Description and Trustee of The Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia (PGT) is an British Columbia independent corporation established under the Public Guardian (PGT) and Trustee Act. It is part of the PGT?s mandate to manage the Contact: legal, financial and personal care interests of adults who are unable Cindy Connor, Communications to manage their affairs independently. Officer Our staff responds to calls from concerned friends, relatives or professionals who want to know what they can do to assist Phone: (604) 660-4474 someone who is not able to handle financial and legal matters on Fax: (604) 775-0207 their own, or who want to report the possible financial abuse of someone who is not able to manage independently. Our office will E Mail: cconnor@trustee.binvestigate and, if necessary, take steps to protect assets. For c.ca example, we may be able to temporarily freeze bank accounts or prevent property transfers while we investigate. Website: www.trustee.bc.ca Often, we will provide informal options and recommend community resources to assist the vulnerable adult. If the situation requires formal assistance, we will look for the least intrusive authority possible and we will ensure that all the medical assessments, notifications and legal procedures are followed. If an adult is incapable and there is no one else willing and able to do so, we may become Committee of Estate for the adult, which means we are responsible for managing the adult?s financial and legal affairs. (Please note: this does not apply to adults who are regularly resident on reserve, as set out in Section 51 of the federal Indian Act.) The PGT may also act as Committee of Person for an incapable 66 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES adult who requires assistance making health and personal care decisions, although these appointments are less common. The PGT has a number of publications that provide general information to the public about our services and about British Columbia?s legislation that protects adults from abuse, neglect and self-neglect. These publications are available at the Reports and Publications link on our website. General inquiries can be emailed to mail@trustee.bc.ca. Our staff is also available to give educational presentations in the community to increase awareness about our services. The PGT has been involved in the Indian Residential School Settlement process on behalf of our clients. We have already forwarded applications on behalf of those who may be eligible for the Advance Payment Program and we continue to identify those who may be eligible for compensation. Resources Workshops: Educational presentations about our services Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Yes, see website Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call us. Offices in Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. Anything Else Agency: Victim Services and Description Community 67 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES Programs Division, Victim Services and Crime Prevention is the provincial centre of Ministry of Public responsibility for victims? issues, restorative justice and crime Safety and Solicitor prevention, the Division develops policies and programs, provides General training and delivers and funds programs that: Contact: Andrea Rolls, Policy/Program , Support Victims and their families Analyst , Provide restorative justice response to crime, violence and victimization Phone: (604) 660-5199 , Enhance public safety and local crime prevention efforts , Build and maintain safe communities Fax: (604) 660-5340 The Division has legislative responsibility for the Victims of Crime E Mail: Andrea.Rolls@gov.bAct and the Crime Victim Assistance Act. c.ca Website: . bc.ca/victim_services Funding to The Safe Streets Safe Schools Fund provides support to schools and communities for Build Local the development of strategies that enhance public safety and crime prevention efforts. Capacity: Grants of $100 - $5000 can be available under this Fund. The Division?s Community Accountability Program (CAP) supports the development of volunteer-based groups that practice principles of restorative justice. Written Publications and Resources Order Form is found at: Material, Videos, CDs, DVDs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Victim?s Services and Crime Prevention programs The Division funds over 150 programs across British Columbia that provide justice information, court support, safety planning, and practical assistance to victims of crime. Programs are located in local communities and/or police detachments. Some are run by First Nations organizations but all programs serve everyone in the community in which they are located. In addition, VictimLINK(1- 800-563-0808) is a 24-hour province-wide multilingual information and referral service for all victims of crime, and provides crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence. The Youth Against Violence Line (1-800-680-4264), is a 24-hour, province-wide help line that offers 68 Indian Residential School Survivors: Building Capacity to Address / Prevent Financial Abuse PROVINCIAL RESOURCES information and support regarding Youth violence and crime issues to young people as well as to parents, teachers, caregivers, service providers, etc. The Division provides funding to provincial partners offering crime prevention programs. These active partnerships include: Block Watch, Crime Stoppers, BC Crime Prevention Association. Anything Else The Division administers the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), a financial benefits program to assist victims, immediate family members, and witnesses in dealing with the effects of violent crime. CVAP helps to offset financial loss and assist in recovery from injury. The Division?s Victim Safety Unit promotes safety by notifying victims of crime about the status of the accused or offender when supervised by BC Corrections. Victims must register with the Unit to receive ongoing notification. Persons protected by a Family Relations Act restraining order may also register for notification. Workshops: 69 Agency: Canadian Centre for Description Elder Law Studies The Centre?s work includes: Contact: Laura Watts, Encouraging research and scholarship , Advancing law reform Phone: (604) 822-0633 , Fostering the creation and delivery of educational materials and information Fax: (604) 822-0144 E Mail: lwatts@bcli.org Website: www.ccels.ca Resources Workshops: Continuing education, organizes Canadian Elder Law Conference Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Legal resources, reports, and publications Publications Available: , Financial Arrangements Between Older Adults and Family Members: Loans and Guarantees, 2004 , Report on Reverse Mortgages, 2006 , Study Paper on Viatical Settlements, 2006 , Aging With Challenges Project, 2007 Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How Is your Service Accessed in Local Communities Please call us. Agency: Canadian Network for Description the Prevention of The Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse Elder Abuse (CNPEA) is dedicated to the prevention of abuse of older people in Canada. CNPEA is a national non-profit, non-governmental Contact: Charmaine Spencer – organization that began in the late 1990s and was federally Chair of Board 70 Phone: incorporated in 2000. Our Vision: CNPEA is dedicated to the prevention of the abuse of Fax: older people in Canada. CNPEA “seeks to increase Canadian society?s ability to recognize and prevent mistreatment of seniors so all adults can be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation in E Mail: cspencer@shaw.ca later life Website: www.cnpea.ca Our Values: CNPEA operates from a number of core values. Foremost, the Network values seniors as an integral part of Canadian society. The Network affirms that seniors have a right to: live independently in a safe and caring community, live free from abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, access effective and compassionate support when necessary, and have these social issues and injustices addressed in an effective manner. The Network recognizes the diverse ways in which abuse and neglect can occur, and sees abuse and neglect in later life as a social, legal, and health issue, affecting older adults, their families, and their communities. The Network strives to be sensitive to the uniqueness of seniors, and responds in ways that respect the diversity of Canadian seniors in race, culture, religion, language, abilities, and sexual orientation. Resources Workshops: Funding to Build Local Capacity: Written Material: Online Library, bulletins and updates on web site Videos, CDS, DVDs: Programs: How is Your Service Accessed in Local Communities Through web site Anything Else 71 B.C. Association Aboriginal Friendship Centres 7725 Tetayut Road Victoria, BC V8M 2E4 Phone (250) 388-5522 or 1-800-990-2432 Fax (250) 388-5502 Email admin@bcaafc.com Contact Info for Aboriginal Elder Support Workers: Survivors Health Support Coordinator for BC 1-877-477-0775 ‘Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Resolution Health Support Program enables survivor, their ’ children-and grandchildren if they are cared for by the survivor-to access holistic wellness support at no cost. Support is tailored to meet individual’s needs: Traditional healer, treatment centre, counselor, etc. Transportation and childcare is eligible if the survivor or their children require support to access health and wellness services. 24hour Crisis Line for Residential School Survivors (thru INAC) Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419 Association of BC First Nations Treatment Programs 1-250-503-1135 residential/outpatient addictions programs operated by First Nations in the province of B.C. BC First Nations Regional Health Support Workers offers mental health support services to former Indian Residential School survivors and their families to attend court proceedings, as well as, provide support to former students and their families. These services can be accessed through: Indian Residential School Survivors Society 1-800-721-0066 www.irsss.ca Supports survivors in crisis counselling, court support, information, refer to services anywhere in BC at no charge 1-604-925-4464 and Tsow Tun Le Lum Treatment Centre. (Vancouver Island) Truth and Reconciliation Commission established in 2009, the TRC will be hosting events in each province and gathering statements from Survivors. Visit their website for more information www.trc-cvr.ca Indian Residential Schools – Independent Assessment Process (IAP) *Contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society for more info and direct support to 1-800-721-0066 survivors from the moment they consider applying Former students may apply for the IAP dispute resolution process. 72 Contact Info for Aboriginal Elder Support Workers…2/ (con’t) B.C. Elders Communication Center Society gathering.php This web site is a valuable source of information about seniors programs and other topics of interest to BC's Aboriginal senior citizens. The "Elders Voice" provincial newsletter and information on the Annual BC Elders Gathering is on this website. 1-877-738- 7288 Non-Insured Health Benefits for First Nations & Inuit 1-866-225-0709 The Non-Insured Health Benefits Program is Health Canada's national, medically necessary health benefit program that provides coverage for benefit claims for a specified range of drugs, dental care, vision care, medical supplies and equipment, short-term crisis intervention mental health counselling and medical transportation for eligible First Nations people and Inuit BC Health and Seniors Info Line-1-800-465-4911 Contact them for information on Seniors programs and services available anywhere in BC. The line is accessible 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday 800.html#moh_seniors_line Link to a quick reference list to all Ministry of Health toll-free services i.e. bereavement line, dial-a-dietician, Pharmacare etc. BC Association of Community Response Networks (CRNs) 604-513-9758 They have existing Elder Abuse community networks with regional coordinators in BC www.bccrns.ca BC Centre for Elder Advocacy & Support for support and possible recourse through their Elder Law Clinic. 1-866-437-1940 The Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC) funds 200 anti-violence programs in BC, provides training, outreach, counselling programs and workshops. 1-877- 633-2505 VictimLINK: 1 800 563-0808 or TTY 604 875-0885 VictimLINK offers interpretation services for all the major languages spoken in British Columbia, including 17 Aboriginal languages. Operators provide information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence. 73