Native Inmate Liaison
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GOAL
To assist inmates serving terms of imprisonment and their successful reintegration into the community by providing culturally relevant programs, services and activities aimed at promoting Aboriginal healing and wellness. The Native Inmates Liaison Offender Program will address the unique needs of Native Inmates within the healing continuum to become fully functional in all aspects or their lives and their communities.

OBJECTIVES:

 

To provide support, assistance and rehabilitative care to Native Inmates by offering counselling and follow-up services and community resource information including referral and aftercare services.

To provide support and encouragement to Native inmates in the organization, development and maintenance of inmate self-help groups.

To provide the necessary cultural and spiritual resources required to deliver healing and wellness activities such as sweat lodge ceremonies, healing circles, traditional drum and pipe ceremonies which will include the recruitment of community Elders and other resources as well as gathering supplying the traditional medicines for inmate use.

To provide liaison services between Native inmates and the community to insure access to resources aimed at meeting their educational, employment, housing, health or other identified needs.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES
The Superintendent has ultimate responsibilities for the care and custody of inmates in the institution.

Under the general supervision of Executive Director of the Friendship Centre or other Agency and in conjunction with the Superintendent or designate, the Native Inmate Liaison responsibilities will include the following:

 

Plan, organize and facilitate Native Programs and activities on a regular basis.

Interview all Native Inmates upon admission to inform them of programs and services available.

Attend scheduled Native Programs and activities available.

Attend scheduled Native Programs and activities on a regular basis.

Attend and participate in Staff Meetings, Case Conferences, Classification Program, Discharge Planning and T.A. Committee meetings, Parole Hearing, and Plan of Care meetings on a regular basis to provide input and suggestions.

Assist Native inmates with the development and verification of Temporary Absence plans for work, education or treatment etc.

Act as a liaison between Aboriginal clients and staff/community groups/Probation and Parole services including Native community corrections workers and other service providers.

Develop, coordinate and maintain regular programs and Cultural, Social and Spiritual activities that focus on positive personal growth.

Assist Corrections Staff in developing an awareness of the Aboriginal Culture.

Facilitate communication between Native inmates, their families, institutional staff and other agencies.

Prepare and submit regular reports and statistics pertaining to programs, activities and clients to the Superintendent or designate and agency executive Director as required.

Encourage the active participation of volunteers and others in the activities/programs at the institution.

Actively establish community involvement in order to assist the offender in positive healing.

Provide offender counselling and assistance to Native inmates who wish to practice traditional ways (i.e. seasonal feasts, sweet grass ceremonies, sweat lodge ceremonies, spiritual guidance).

Assist with the development of discharge plans for Native inmates.

For further information, please contact:

Richard Assinewai
Native Inmate liaison Offender Program Worker
North Bay Indian Friendship Centre
980 Cassells Street
North Bay, ON
P1B 4A8
(705) 472-2811 ext. 33
(705) 472-5251
 


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