Prevention services that keep families strong and connected.
Focused on Families
At Sunchild Child and Family Services, our prevention team walks alongside families to keep children safe, supported, and surrounded by love – right at home and in their community. We focus on building up families with the tools, care, and culture that help them thrive together, so that kids can grow up proud, safe, and strong.
What Is Prevention?
Prevention means stepping in early – before a crisis happens. It’s about giving families the support they need to stay together, navigate challenges, and raise their kids in safe, stable homes. Our prevention programs are built around the strengths of the Sunchild community, and are guided by culture, connection, and trust.
We’re not here to tell families what to do. We’re here to listen, support, and walk alongside them through whatever they’re facing.
Prevention Services That Support the Whole Family
Every family is different, so our approach is flexible and community-driven. We offer a wide range of prevention services designed to meet families where they’re at. These services include:
Primary Prevention: Community-Centred
Primary prevention strengthens the whole community before risks emerge, focusing on wellness, cultural connection, and education so children, youth, and families thrive.
Key services in primary prevention include:
- Land-based family wellness days with Elders, sharing Cree language, kinship parenting, traditional food preparation, and safety teachings.
- A community crisis/help line staffed by Elders and Knowledge Keepers.
- Healthy relationship and violence-prevention workshops grounded in Cree teachings.
- Financial, life-skills, and wellness workshops for young parents, framed in cultural values.
What this means: Community members gain cultural pride, stronger bonds, and reduced isolation. Children connect early to language, traditions, and belonging. Youth develop resilience, healthier peer relationships, and stronger identity.
Secondary Prevention: Family-Centred
Secondary prevention helps families at higher risk stabilize their home life and avoid separation, using targeted and culturally rooted supports.
Key secondary prevention services include:
- Home visits from Elders and caseworkers, providing in-home coaching.
- Parent mentoring and respite pairing with community aunties and uncles.
- Family circles and mediation supported by sweat lodge participation.
- Wrap-around navigation connecting families to services and cultural programs.
What this means: Family networks grow stronger and capacity to support one another increases. Children enjoy safe, stable homes and continuity of care. Youth face less risk of out-of-home placement and gain better mental health supports.
Tertiary Prevention: Individual-Centred
Tertiary prevention responds immediately when risks are present, aiming to stop crises, avoid separation, or support reunification with the least disruption possible.
Key tertiary prevention services include:
- 24/7 crisis response with Elders, safety circles, and temporary housing.
- Intensive family preservation in the home paired with cultural healing.
- Domestic violence safety pathways and restorative options where safe.
- Youth stabilization through addiction treatment, land-based mentoring, and coordinated advocacy and referrals.
What this means: Community members gain confidence in local supports and reduce reliance on outside systems. Children stay safe and stable while maintaining cultural connections. Youth build coping skills, trust community services, and find healing pathways.
Why Prevention Matters
When families have access to the right support early on, they’re more likely to stay together and grow stronger. Prevention services are about restoring balance, protecting culture, and reducing the need for child protection or out-of-home placements.
Here’s what we know:
- Indigenous children make up over half of all children in care in Canada, despite being just 8% of the child population.
- When families receive prevention services, they’re less likely to be involved in child protection.
- Culture is a form of prevention – and we center that in everything we do.
Rooted in Culture, Guided by Community
Our prevention team is made up of people from the community – people who understand what it’s like to face challenges and who know the strength that exists in Sunchild families. We work with families in a way that respects their values, their stories, and their right to raise their children in a good way.
Whether it’s helping a young mom find stable housing, connecting a youth with an Elder, or organizing a land-based healing program – we’re here for it. We believe that community is the medicine.
How to Access Our Prevention Services
Prevention services are open to all families in Sunchild First Nation. You don’t need to be involved with child protection to reach out. In fact, we encourage families to connect with us before things get overwhelming.
Just reach out. We’re here to help. If you or someone you know could use some support, we’re here to listen. Reach out to our prevention team today – we’re just a call or visit away.
Here to help, every step of the way
We know that seeking support can be difficult. Our doors are always open for those who need us. If you have questions or want to learn more about our services, contact us at any time. Our team is here to listen, guide, and walk with you every step of the way.
Office: 825-658-3000
If a child needs immediate help, call 911 or the Child Intervention Crisis Line at 1-800-638-0715.