Wahkohtowin Strengthening Family Program
It is one of the most dynamic strength-based skill development programs which involves not just the parents or the children alone but the whole family. Wahkohtowin (pronounced Wah-KoH-toh-win) is a Cree word and refers to kinship or the state of being connected.
FAMILY BONDING
A positive parent/child relations and attachment.
BOUNDARY
A family communication of value, norms and expectations
MONITORING
Investing in child rearing, supervision and discipline.
A big thank you to all our funders.
Program Overview
Families recruited from different parts of Winnipeg come together every week for 3 hours and have a 14 weeks skill development training facilitated by well-trained youth and adult mentors and structured, evidence based and internationally acclaimed training manuals and videos.
It is a 3 hours program with:
- Family Mealtime where members of the family come together for a delicious cultural meal and discuss issues from the conversation jars.
- Teens/Parent Skill Training Class where parents and teens split into separate classes and learn new skills and watch videos tailored to their own experience.
- Family Skill Training Class where both teens and parents come together and practice the new behaviors and skills they taught as a family.
BENEFITS OF SFP
Studies showed that SFP through increased parental knowledge and discipline effectiveness, reported to decrease significantly a broad range of children:
- Behavioral Problems, (arguing with parents, screaming, temper tantrums)
- Emotional Problems, (being angry, fearful, anxious)
- School Problems, (truancy, disobedience, dislike of school, poor academic performance)
- Social Problems, (fighting with peers, siblings, rudeness, roughness)
- Substance Abuse Risk Factors, (intention to smoke/drink) to mention some.
CULTURAL ADAPTATIONS
SFP is a culturally informed program. More than 40% of SFP recruitment and retention adapted. The main cultural version of SFP comprises:
- Transcribed training manuals into different languages such as Arabic, Swahili, Somali, and Tigrigna.
- Dietary restrictions including halal.
- Diverse settings: inner cities to isolated farms, tropics to prairies and America to Asia.
HOW TO ENROLL?
- Lives in Winnipeg
- Has at least a teen aged 11-17 years old,
- Experience high levels of conflict in the home or community
- Willing to complete an anonymous survey before and after program
SFP is a voluntary, no cost program with transportation to and from program and best for family:
REGISTER TODAY FOR SFP
Anteneh Abraha (Site Coordinator)
Phone: (204)880-2483, Weekdays
Email: anteneha@bilalcommunitycentre.ca
Mentor’s Line
Phone: (204)880-3734 / (204)880-3672,
Evenings and Saturday
AGENCY REFERRALS
Natalie Carreiro
Phone: (204)594-6500 Ext.110
Email: ncarreiro@kanikanichihk.ca
Locations and dates
SFP runs in partnership with 4 different agencies at 4 different locations in Winnipeg. Families are encouraged to select the site most comfortable and convenient for them.
- Registration is open year-round.
- If the session is full, you may choose to attend another site, or have your name placed on a waitlist.
Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc.
Address: 765 Main Street
Day: Tuesday
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (204)953-5820 Ext:228
Spence Neighborhood Association Inc.
Address: 365 McGee St
Day: Thursday
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Phone: (204)783-5000 Ext:125
Ndinawemaagang Endaawaad Inc.
Address: 472 Selkirk Ave
Day: Monday
Time: (5:00 pm – 8:00 pm)
Phone: (204)417-7233 Ext:226
Bilal Community and Family Centre
Address: 33 Warnock Street
Upcoming cohort in BCFC begins
August 28, 2019
