Self-Directed Learning Activities -- December Self-Directed Learning Activities Recording Sheet

Student Dianisia White Term Fall 2010 Date: December 14, 2010

Tracking Sheet

Date of Activity

Duration of Activity

Relevant Quadrant

Met with Justice Manager with Miawpukek First Nation

-hour

Quadrant A, B & C

Healing Circle -- Pre-charge for people in conflict with the law.

hours

Quadrant A, B, C, D

Met Director of Health & Social Services & the community social worker with Miawpukek First Nations regarding mental health

hours

Quadrant A, B, & C

Attended Miawpukek First Nation Annual General Assembly -- (Emphasis on Justice; Health & Social Services)

hours

Quadrant A, B, C, D

Nov 20/10

Viewed Documentary "Kanehsatake 270 Years of Resistance" regarding the 1990 armed standoff of a small group of Mohawk Indians in Kanehsatake Canada.

hours

Quadrant A

Nov 24/10

Viewed Documentary "Griefwalker" 2008 about a counsellor who counsels patients on how to accept death willingly without the fear, grief and anguish that many dying patients experience

2 hours

Quadrant A, B, C, & D

Total hours for term

19.5 hours

Date of Activity: October 20, 2010

Name & Brief Description of Activity: Met with Justice Manager of Miawpukek First Nation.

Duration of Activity: 8:30am to 10am @1.5 hours

Relevant Quadrant: Quadrant A, B & C

Head Heart and Hand Critical Reflection:

Head

What I learned from Tthis meeting is revealed to me that the Miawpukek First Nation (MFN) desires their community to have a greater role in defining problems, developing approaches, reaching decisions, and then implementing those decisions. MFN has some experience in community justice, as they currently; they have two-tier process for dealing with community offences; 1) a pre-charge and 2) a post charge. The first process involves a healing journey. From the time the individual is seen to have commitsted an offence and takes ownership of his actions, he makes application to the Justice Committee. The application involves the individual making an offering to a respected elder, it involves the individual and outlining establishing actions that can be taken possible things he feels he can do to make right the situation his behaviour created (his plan of care). The Justice Committee then reviews and accepts his application. A Healing Circle is organised whereby both the victim and offender can attend including their support persons. Upon completion the individual enters into an agreement of honour with the terms drawn from the consensus of the Healing Circle. There is a time restriction to complete the terms of his agreement, should he fail to do so, formal criminal charges are laidmade.

The second process involves the laying of charges and goes before a Provincial Court system. The individual has to accept responsibility and after a guilty plea, can request a sentencing circle.

The individual and his supporters, the investigators, the Crown, the judge can all sit in the circle. This forum allows all participants to determine the appropriate sentence for the individual.

Heart

What feelings were invoked with regard to this activity? I experienced tremendous feelings of pride, respect and awe as to howin this community's can ability to develop a program based on their own cultural values. To The use of terms like such as "person harmed," "person in conflict with the law," "agreement of honour" as opposed to victim, offender and disposition/sentence, really sets this apart as a community owned, community developed, and community driven process. MFN has a community-based justice model that addresses the weakness inherent in the current provincial system, builds upon Mi'kmaq customs, traditions, instills greater self-governance, and is totally accountable.

Hand

How might I apply learning and feelings associated with this activity?

Community supports are extremely important in determining the success or failure of many intervention programs. However, intervention must be offered on an ongoing and long-term basis if it is to be effective. From a social work perspective, I think it'is important that I remember this and when working with First Nation communities, the key is to only support their "own" development of community-based solutions, not try to "fix" them.

Date of Activity: October 20, 2010

Name & Brief Description of Activity: Met with Director of Health & Social Services & and the community social worker with Miawpukek First Nations regarding mental health services in the community.

Duration of Activity: 10 AM to 12 noon @2 hours

Relevant Quadrant: Quadrant A, B, C

Head Heart...

Clients needing in service would have to travel one and half hours to Grand Falls-Windsor and can avail of in-patient services thru Central Health at the hospital. Within the community, there is one mental health coordinator who also serves as the mental health Counsellor. She is responsible for the entire intake for all counselling. There is a mental health team which is comprised of mental health coordinator, nurse practitioner, drug and alcohol counsellor, victim services worker, family support worker, early childhood worker and an Elder (male & female). They work with a Mental Health Committee who has representatives from the various factions within the community including Elder (male & female), youth (male & female), MFN's restorative justice initiative, housing department, peopleand people who have varying abilities including mental disabilities. It seems toThese factions work well together. Should one of the team gets a mental health client, they usually refer to the mental health coordinator and she does the intake, which begins at the first session and usually takes 2-3 sessions. It works well as the other teams members can do a short session to determine if it something that the mental health coordinator can help with and sometimes we refer out as well.
Heart

What feelings were invoked with regard to this activity? MFN'S mental health service is a responsive service. There is no waitlist which is unusual in Newfoundland right now. It is has a very flexible approach with clients and the mental health coordinator often staying stays late to accommodate clients and their hours. Miawpukek First Nation is also very good with its employees in allowing them time to come for counselling without penalties for loss of time, if they are working. There is an excellent very good team in place -- it is a multidisciplinary team that is integrated and holistic in nature. It is a one stop approach and all are housed in the same office building. It works well together - for example, the nurse practitioner will walk down the hall if he has a Mental Health client and the mental health coordinator will usually accommodate the client on the same day if it is necessary and likewise the same if the mental health coordinator has to consult with the nurse practitioner for a client with a medical issue. There is also a good relationship with the Mental Health Team in Grand Falles-Windsor to refer outside if needed - for example, if there is a conflict of interest, such a client not wanting service in the community or the client may possible be a co-worker/colleague, family member, partner, friend, etc.

Currently, there is a need for another mental health counsellor - the caseload is growing and soon it may be necessary to have a waitlist in the future. There is also a need for a caseload manager type of position - for clients with chronic and persistent mental health issues or illnesses - these clients often fall through the cracks because there is much more time consuming work that is required, one worker cannot do all that is required. There is also a requirement for a Guidance

Counsellor as many of the current clients are youth and many of the issues being dealt with could be done by a guidance counsellor.

Hand

How might I apply learning and feelings associated with this activity? Social workers are vital to mental health service delivery. Social workers provide one on one counselling - for children, youth, adults, couples and families. As well as addictions work, therapeutic group work, social support group work, advocacy, non-profit work, a great deal of volunteering in the community, public presentation work, school presentation work - all in the name of mental health or social types of work. Social workers are also involved in the referrals to more specialized services (psychiatry, etc.). In addition, social workers do networking, are often involved in community justice and housing issues for clients, sit on many types of work committees (i.e. by-law making, healing & sentencing circles) to ensure mental health awareness, and are issues are heard. Comment by mekaro: You should explain how to apply what you have learned in first person as it pertains to this section. This answer seems a little generic and does not really reflect the way that you would apply what you have learned.

Date of Activity: October 20, 2010

Name & Brief Description of Activity: Attended a healing circle

Duration of Activity: 6pm to 10pm @4 hours

Relevant Quadrant: Quadrant A, B, C & D

Head Heart and Hand Critical Reflection:

Head

What I learned from watching this activity. The concept of Wholisic justice (tetpaqa'tekemk) and healing (nepisimk) is a gift from the past and present to the future. This concept can generally be described as a way of dealing with…