Sunchild Child & Family Services protects children by enhancing family strength, preserving culture, and promoting community-driven solutions. Our mission focuses on safety, stability, and culturally appropriate support to ensure each child in our Nation develops a sense of connection, safety, and support.
Strengthening Families, Safeguarding Children
Our commitment to keeping children safe and families strong is at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize the safety and well-being of children and families by offering a range of prevention and protection services designed to support families early and intervene when needed.
Prevention Programs
Focused on building wellness and connection before challenges arise, our prevention programs strengthen families and communities through:
- Community-wide education and cultural activities that foster identity and belonging
- Workshops on healthy relationships, mental health, and life skills
- Family supports like home visits, mentoring, and group sessions that build resilience
- Early intervention to reduce risk and support positive family functioning
Protection Services
When a child’s safety is at risk, our protection services provide immediate, culturally respectful support to safeguard their well-being:
- Crisis response and safety planning tailored to the family’s cultural values
- Intensive family support aimed at stabilizing the home and preventing separation
- Support for children and youth in care, focused on healing and cultural reconnection
- Advocacy and navigation to help families access the right resources and legal protections
Together, these services create a continuum of care that maintains family unity by leveraging their strengths and resilience, while providing care, respect, and prompt action when protection is needed.
Healing Through Culture and Connection
Our programs are designed with the community’s voice and traditions at their core. By working alongside Elders and Knowledge Keepers, we offer services that not only meet practical needs but also honor spiritual and cultural healing.
Highlights include:
- Land-based family wellness days: Elders teach Cree language, traditional food preparation, and safety teachings.
- Youth support groups: Including LGBTQI2S+ circles and psychoeducational sessions.
- Financial literacy and life-skills workshops: Empowering parents and youth with practical tools grounded in cultural values.
- Traditional healing practices: Supporting family preservation through ceremonies and cultural connection.
These programs help build resilience, belonging, and pride across generations.
Sunchild Cultural Connection
At the heart of our work is the Sunchild Cultural Connection program, dedicated to strengthening heritage and identity across generations. Through language, traditional teachings, and ceremony, this program helps children, youth, and families stay deeply connected to their roots. It includes:
- Cree language lessons and cultural workshops led by Elders
- Pow Wow events and traditional dancing that celebrate community spirit.
- Opportunities to learn traditional cooking and medicines.
- Spiritual and healing practices that nurture mind, body, and soul.
By weaving culture into everyday life, the Sunchild Cultural Connection helps build pride, resilience, and belonging for the future.
Resources That Support and Empower
We understand that healing and growth require more than programs alone. That’s why we provide families with resources that are culturally relevant, accessible, and practical.
Our Operations team keeps everything running smoothly:
- Maintaining safe and welcoming spaces for families and staff.
- Providing cultural materials like smudge kits and protocol guides.
- Offering mental health supports and wellness tools.
- Ensuring staff are trained in cultural safety and trauma-informed care
Alongside Operations, our Finance Department plays a vital role behind the scenes:
- Managing budgets and funding with care and transparency.
- Ensuring financial resources align with the needs of the community.
- Supporting staff payroll, procurement, and compliance.
- Helping secure funding for culturally grounded programs that serve families.
Together, these departments create the foundation that keeps our services strong and trusted.
Strength Through Culture and Community
We are a child-driven agency, led by people who believe culture is the foundation for healing and growth. Since taking jurisdiction in 2022, we’ve embraced a leadership style that is transformational, compassionate, and strength-based.
What sets us apart:
- Deep respect for Indigenous methodologies.
- A leadership team committed to family preservation and advocacy.
- Services designed to empower families in their own journeys.
Our mission is to walk alongside families with care, respect, and cultural wisdom.
Events and Community News
Our community events are more than celebrations. They’re opportunities to strengthen our identity and share our stories.
Powwows and cultural ceremonies
Workshops on parenting, health, and life skills
Youth gatherings and mentorship programs
Community feasts and wellness days
