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Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre 

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Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre 

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Click here below to explore the services that can be provided (right in London, ON)

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Our offices in the City of London are located east of the downtown core on William Street, just north of Dundas Street. Services free, and open to Indigenous people (First Nation, Métis, Inuit), both status and non-status.

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Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs)

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Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs)

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Are innovative, Aboriginal specific, Indigenous informed health care agencies. They provide a combination of health and social services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities, including:

Traditional Healing

Primary Health Care

Health promotion services

Cultural programs

Community development initiatives

Social support services

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Indigenous Cultural Safety Program (ICS) 

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Indigenous Cultural Safety Program (ICS) 

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Anti-Indigenous racial discrimination and bias have profound negative impacts on the health and wellness of Indigenous communities in Ontario. The Ontario ICS Program is focused on supporting Indigenous Health transformation as part of the overall health and social service systems transformation underway in Ontario.

How to access the services provided?

Core online training for health and social service professionals (see below)

Continued online training modules (post core training)

In-person workshops, training and meetings convened to support organizational and system level transformation

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ICS is a provincial program, offered Ontario-wide and administered by SOAHAC.
Anti-Indigenous racial discrimination and bias have profound negative impacts on the health and wellness of Indigenous communities in Ontario. The Ontario ICS Program is focused on supporting Indigenous Health transformation as part of the overall health and social service systems transformation underway in Ontario. The goal is to improve Indigenous healthcare experiences and outcomes by increasing respect and understanding of the unique history and current realities of Indigenous populations. We facilitate and promote transformative decolonizing, Indigenous specific anti-racist education using evidence informed and coordinated approaches and strategies. We also work in collaborative partnerships and support organizational change initiatives, seeking to improve awareness about how colonialism is embedded in services, and motivating people with influence to address anti-Indigenous racial discrimination.

There are a number of ways that the Program advances its mission:

Core online training for health and social service professionals (see below)

Continued online training modules (post core training)

In-person workshops, training and meetings convened to support organizational and system level transformation

Provincial and national knowledge exchange efforts

Planning, monitoring, evaluation and research initiatives related to ICS

Strategic, collaborative partnerships

Partnership, coordination and promotion of a National ICS Webinar series (link)

Our small Ontario team supports organizational and system level coordination and planning related to ICS. If you have questions, or if you have taken the online training and would like to discuss how to improve Indigenous cultural safety in your organization, we would love to hear from you. We are also interested in collaboration and knowledge exchange opportunities with existing Indigenous cultural safety initiatives.

Core Online ICS Training
formation disponible en français
Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) Training is an interactive and facilitated online training program for all professionals working in the Ontario health and social service systems. It addresses the need for increased Indigenous cultural safety within the system by bringing to light the service provider bias and the legacies of colonization that continue to negatively affect service accessibility and health outcomes for Indigenous people.

The Core ICS Training Courses (both health and mental health available) are designed as foundational courses to increase knowledge and enhance self-awareness. They provide a vital opportunity for health professionals to examine the ways in which their own culture, education and history have shaped their health practice, especially with regard to stereotypes that impact Indigenous experiences of the health system and the present-day realities of colonization that shape Indigenous health and wellness.

The Core ICS courses provide 8 -11 hours (depending on your previous knowledge and your learning style) of online, instructor-facilitated learning over an 8 week period. Online discussions, interactive activities, videos and contributions between peers and the facilitation team provide rich learning opportunities to expand and share information. Upon completion a certificate is awarded and access is provided to a website with further information and post-training resources.

Accreditation

The online Core Health program meets the accreditation criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. It has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada for up to 16 Mainpro+ credits. Core ICS Health Training is an accredited Self-Assessment Program eligible for up to 8.0 section 3 credits as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are submitting the online ICS course for accreditation on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada website, you must select " San'yas: Indigenous Cultural Safety Training " as the SAP Name.

Post-Training Modules

Post online training modules are available on a limited basis for those who have completed the core health or core mental health training:

From Bystander to Ally

Unpacking our Colonial Relationship

Developed in Partnership

Core and post online training modules are offered in partnership with San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. Our Ontario-specific curriculum was developed in collaboration with the San'yas team at the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia, and we continue to work together to address Indigenous-specific bias and discrimination in health and social service systems through the training and other initiatives like the National ICS Learning Series.

Register for Core Online ICS Training

If you would like to register or if you have questions about registration, please contact Leresha Lickers, Provincial Registration & Data Coordinator:
(519) 914-1858 x2009 /

If you work for a LHIN funded organization and are interested in taking online ICS training, please connect with your ICS LHIN contact for registration support.

Ontario ICS Program Contact

Media Coverage

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ICS is a provincial program, offered Ontario-wide and administered by SOAHAC. Anti-Indigenous racial discrimination and bias have profound negative impacts on the health and wellness of Indigenous communities in Ontario. The Ontario ICS Program is focused on supporting Indigenous Health transformation as part of the overall health and social service systems transformation underway in Ontario.

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Vision:
A healthy balanced life through mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.

Mission:
To empower Aboriginal families and individuals to live a balanced state of well-being by sharing and promoting wholistic health practices.

Values:
SOAHAC’s culture will be most healthy if these values are intentionally lived out and reinforced on a regular basis.

Respect for all

Compassion

Quality in health promotion and care

Honouring all traditional values

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Child Care and Family Centre Rooted in Indigenous Language and Culture

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Child Care and Family Centre Rooted in Indigenous Language and Culture

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London is offering culturally relevant licensed child care and early years and family programming to families in London and Middlesex. Within a rich, culture-based learning environment, families can play and have fun together, strengthen relationships, connect with other families and with early childhood professionals.

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Child Care and Family Centre Rooted in Indigenous Language and Culture

The Centre will be built at 449 Hill Street, within the shared territory of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Haudenosaunee (Oneida) and Leni-Lenape (Delaware) peoples. It will be the first of its kind in London, offering culturally relevant licensed child care and early years and family programming to families in London and Middlesex. Within a rich, culture-based learning environment, families can play and have fun together, strengthen relationships, connect with other families and with early childhood professionals.

We recognize children as gifts from Creator, and we seek to foster the healthy development of children and families. The strengths and gifts of all families, children, and Centre staff will be acknowledged and celebrated.

Child Care, early years, and family programs will incorporate Indigenous teachings and values, and will focus on the on the four foundations of learning: belonging, wellbeing, engagement, and expression.

The licensed child care will be a safe, reliable program for children age 0-6 that will be based in language and culture. These programs will be staffed by individuals who are knowledgeable of early childhood development and Indigenous ways of knowing.

In addition to programs for families with young children, SOAHAC is collaborating with community partners to provide activities, resources and programs for the whole family. The Centre will be a place to connect to all of the opportunities offered for families, including ceremonies and land-based learning opportunities.

Construction of the Centre is expected to be completed in late 2020. You can stay updated by following our Facebook page or watching for announcements on the SOAHAC website.

Who we are
Since it began, this project has been guided and supported by the Journey Together Indigenous Planning Committee, which includes representatives from local Indigenous-led organizations, Indigenous parents and caregivers, and other planning partners.
Led by SOAHAC, we are a group of local community members and service agencies who are helping to guide the development of the Centre because we share a common desire to strengthen the social fabric of our community. Language, cultural identity, and relationships are important to us. We believe that children who learn their traditional language will walk through this life with confidence, pride and strength. We believe that reclaiming culture together with our children is an important part of healing, thriving, and building a future for the next seven generations. We also believe that relationships with self, parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, community members, elders, and the land are vital to wellbeing.

Child Care & Family Centre Q'n'A

Follow Our Journey

We are currently in the demolition phase of the project. The City of London purchased the former St. John French Immersion School and will demolish the building in April 2019. In fall 2019, the City of London will transfer the land to SOAHAC to construct a newly designed building to house the licensed child care and child and family centre. Throughout the entire timeline, we will be at community events to connect with families and communities in London and Middlesex and will keep you informed about our planning and engagement activities on our Facebook page.

Media Stories & Releases
Indigenous Family Centre Planned for London (London Free Press, November 2018) City of London and Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC)
partner on New Indigenous-led Licensed Child Care and EarlyON Child and Family Centre The Indigenous-led Child Care and Family Centre is being constructed with support from the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, in partnership with the City of London. It is being led and operated by the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC).
Contact

Naomi Wilson, Coordinator - SOAHAC Child Care & Family Centre
226-377-3201[email protected]

Russell Green, Community Animator
519-200-1135[email protected]

Community Links

We are taking a collaborative approach to planning for Indigenous families, and can see the Centre as an extension of the services offered by partnering agencies. This includes addressing the specific supports and services needed for healthy Indigenous families and Indigenous child development.

Aboriginal Babies and Beyond Coalition - Supports families through enriched resources, including book bundles, car seat clinics, and early years health fairs.

Atlohsa Family Healing - Provides services and support for healing related to family violence, understanding that family violence is not traditional in First Nations cultures, but a result of colonialism and intergenerational trauma.

Fanshawe College Institute of Indigenous Learning - Provides academic services, social, cultural, and recreational activities as well as a comfortable atmosphere for First Nations students.

London Children's Connection - Connects children and families with services such as child care, family programming, early years supports

N'Amerind Friendship Centre - Provides culturally relevant programs aimed at social, recreational and educational needs; at developing leadership, at increasing awareness levels of native heritage, establishing resources for community development and in promoting the development of urban aboriginal self-governing institutions.

Nokee Kwe - culturally sensitive, client-centred approaches and support services related to securing employment, education, and training.

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The Centre will be built at 449 Hill Street, within the shared territory of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Haudenosaunee (Oneida) and Leni-Lenape (Delaware) peoples. It will be the first of its kind in London, offering culturally relevant licensed child care and early years and family programming to families in London and Middlesex.