Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP)

Standard Eligibility Criteria for enrollment into PCAP is as follows:

• Women who self-report abusing alcohol &/or drugs during pregnancy and who are pregnant or up to six months postpartum; and ineffectively engaged with community services.

OR

• Women who have previously delivered a child with FAS or FAE and are have current, ongoing alcohol abuse, are in childbearing years, and are ineffectively engaged with community services.

Once enrolled, a Mentor will work with the woman and target child for a period of three years.  If the mother does not have custody of the child, mentoring will continue with the caregiver and mom for the 3 year duration. The Mentor will also advocate for other family members within the household. Mentors provide extensive in-depth assistance and the long-term emotional support that is critical to women who are making life altering changes in their lives.  Often the Mentor will refer the mother to agencies such as: mental health counselor, alcohol & drug addictions counselor, housing managers, child development centre, suicide interventions, social workers and doctors clinic.  Mentoring occurs over a long enough period of time to allow for gradual and positive changes.  The model is based on a principle of harm reduction. Clients are never asked to leave if there is a continuation of substance use.  Elders also have the opportunity to be involved in offering traditional knowledge, wisdom and teachings either one-on-one or in a group setting.