Kahkiyaw
A Comprehensive Collaborative Service Delivery (CSD)
Kahkiyaw is a major step forward in the evolution of children’s services in Alberta. Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society (Bent Arrow), Boyle Street Community Services (Boyle Street), and the Edmonton Region Children Intervention have partnered to create and implement Kahkiyaw, a comprehensive Collaborative Service Delivery (CSD) model described as a “shared responsibility” for service delivery. Kahkiyaw is the first collaborative service delivery for urban Indigenous children, youth and families in Alberta.
The program consists of:
- 6 weeks in-class life skill enhancement
- 2 weeks in-class employment skill development, including ticket/certification training
- 4 weeks of non-paid, on-the-job work experience placement
- 6 months employment support
Our Shared Responsibility
Kahkiyaw reflects that all people, especially traditional people are related. Families are the experts in their lives and all decision-making is shared by the three parties. Stakeholders in Children’s Services have been working together for years to ensure that Indigenous children, youth, and families receive culturally appropriate and quality services. Kahkiyaw takes these relationships to the next level in a unique partnership that seeks to reduce the number of Indigenous children and youth in care in Alberta.
A Comprehensive Model
Kahkiyaw enhances methods already being used in children’s services that are evidence based, community supported, culturally driven, and family centered. Kahkiyaw allows for creativity and flexibility in how decisions are made for children, youth and families.
Our Approach with Families
Under Kahkiyaw, children, youth, and families requiring support and empowerment are not passive recipients of services. Instead, they are active members of a Family Wellness Service Team consisting of their community – kin, elders, role models, neighbors, schools, professionals, and community agencies. The team uses a continuum of innovative western and traditional cultural approaches in efforts to achieve the individual, family, and community balance needed for family reunification and/or safe, healthy, permanent care.
Our Services
Working with Central Neighbourhood Centre for Childen, Youth, and Families (NCCYF), Kahkiyaw staff administer Family Wellness Services such as:
- Cultural connection
- Supported access
- Sharing circles
- Family group conferences
- Family wellness plans
- Strength-based family assessments
- Referrals to community
- Resources
- Advocacy
- Kinship support
Family Wellness Workers are assigned to a family to work on specific needs of each child, youth or family in need.
Referrals come from Central Neighborhood Centre for Children, Youth and Families (NCCYF)
Contact Kahkiyaw
Phone
780-481-3451
Address
11648 85 Street NW, Edmonton, AB, T5B 3E5
