Improve Response to Child Abuse in the Arctic

The centre has been running now since 2019, and currently there have been more than 250 children and youth who have accessed the services at the Umingmak centre.

Interviews: The Special Investigations Team and General Members of the RCMP take child and youth statements at the Centre and provide updates on criminal investigations. Community Social Services Workers monitor child and youth interviews at the Centre, implement protection and intervention actions when required, and provide background information on clients’ and caregivers when needed. During the interviews, an Advocate is available in the centre for the families/children before and after. The advocate also ensures that when coming into the building people feel welcomed and safe.

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Medical Appointments: Pediatricians provide forensic exams, initial assessments, and follow-up appointments for clients at the Umingmak Centre. On average, there is one pediatric clinic per week. Umimgmak has had the same Pediatric doctor since first opening, the consistency helps with the relationship building and trust needed when seeing our clients. 

Advocate Activities: The advocates did activities like, tours for clients and caregivers, coordination of services, therapy support, check-in calls with families, and help with referrals and applications to other services. Advocates continue to do activities with clients to increase trust and build relationships. eg. activities with sled dogs, boating, on the land activities, art, walks, workouts etc. The work of the advocates is so important, they are the first contact and one of the main reasons why our clients will continue to come back and get support they need. 

Therapy Appointments: Our therapists have three main activities: 1) Assessment and treatment of clients, including psychoeducation of caregivers, 2) professional development for our community through the community of practice and consultation and 3) development of Nunavut- and child and youth- specific therapy practices.  Umingmak is two counselors. They work closely with the advocates and the clinical director on ensuring the best interest and outcomes happen for those needing healing. Currently, we are hoping in the coming months, hiring another counsellor with the focus on family.  And since the month of October the centre now has a full-time Clinical Director. 

This past year, Umingmak has partnered with UofT and the federal gov’t in a research project called Helping Families Heal and Reconnect. The 36-month project with ACYF will advance knowledge of gaps in and barriers to service and develop promising practices for services to non-offending caregivers of children and youth who have experienced abuse. The long-term outcome of this project will be enhanced well-being of non-offending caregivers and improved recovery and wellness of their children. Currently there have been interviews of the caregivers and upcoming will be focus groups. We look forward to hearing the important work they are doing. 

Umingmak was invited to involve young clients with the other program under Arctic Children and Youth Foundation. The Inuit Children's First Initiative (ICFI) Office run's a country food program. This program exists to support families with food insecurity. Partnered with the Qajuqturvik Iqaluit Food Centre both the Umingmak and ICFI families received a food box of healthy local food (arctic char, seal, caribou).bi-weekly.

Umingmak was involved in a program called Food Fit! Clients and staff from the Umingmak Centre once again partnered with the Qajuaqturvik Food Centre and offered children

a time to learn about healthy eating and had fun active activities for them to play. Playing helping them understand the importance of moving your body and how to fuel your body by eating healthy. They also got to spend time on the land and learn about traditional foods around them. The program ran for 8 weeks.