You can help Prevent a Suicide Attempt

Talking about suicide decreases the likelihood that the person will act on suicidal feelings. Asking DOES NOT put ideas into their head. It does open the door for them to feel that they can talk to you about suicide.

Our anxiety and fear of suicide gets in the way of reaching out to those in crisis. They also lead to over-reactions this is not helpful, try to remain calm. Listening helps the person feel connected and supported. Read the following documents for further suggestions.

K.S.C.S. retains primary responsibility for the children aged 0-18 years who are placed in care.  This responsibility is entrusted to K.S.C.S., either through agreement on the part of the parents or by order of the court (S.5 Voluntary Commitment, Youth Protection Voluntary Measures or Court Order). 

We strive to place a child in a familiar environment therefore we always seek out extended family before resorting to foster families.  Our first priority before placing a child with a foster family is to support and encourage the immediate and extended family to participate in caring for the family member.  This is in keeping with the traditional Mohawk philosophy of families taking responsibility for each other in time of need.  It is also reflective of the mission statement of Kahnawake Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services.

Placement of a child whether with extended family or a foster home is always a serious measure and taken to protect a child and provide the child with appropriate living conditions during their time of need.  When placement is necessary, the best option for a child is the warmth and affection of a caring family that can ensure the child’s safety, security and development.

Extended family who are willing and able to care for a child in need, provide a valuable form of substitute parenting.  Foster families are people selected specifically for their willingness and ability to care for children outside of their immediate family.  Each family makes a commitment to make room in their daily lives and their homes for children from our community.  They are caring families willing to invest time and give affection to children and families most in need by providing a secure, stable & nurturing environment.

Both extended families and foster families agree to work in partnership with Kahnawake Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services in order that a child entrusted to them is reintegrated into their natural family as soon as possible and whenever possible.  The goal remains to return a child to their parent(s) and/or home environment.

Support Services provides a multi-disciplinary team approach to assisting community members in attaining healthy lifestyles including Intake Services, Youth Protection Services, Addictions Response Services, Psychological Services, as well the following auxiliary services.

• Emergency On Call

To respond to crisis situations on an emergency basis after regular business hours, 7 days a week, Working in close collaboration with the Kahnawake Peacekeepers. To access the on-call service, simply call Kahnawake Peacekeepers at 450-632-6505 and ask for the on-call worker.

• Young Offenders -  YCJA

Assists in facilitating the Youth Criminal Justice Act process for youth who are involved in the justice system.

• Foster Care

Secure appropriate caring foster homes to assist families in need.

Provide support and training to foster parents.

• Case Aide

To provide support to child and family services by facilitating supervised visits with families and provide transportation when deemed necessary.

Link to AA 12 questions

Do you suspect you may have an alcohol problem?  Answer the 12 questions in the link below.

http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=71

• Psychosocial Support

To screen, assess and make recommendations for referral for individuals, couples and families who are referred to or requesting psychological support

• Psychological Consultation

To provide support and consultation to related services, programs, projects and activities in the area of psychology.

The following is offered only on an “as needed” basis with sufficient amount of people and client preparedness

• Anxiety Support Group

In collaboration with prevention services, to provide group support to clients with anxiety and depression.

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

To provide crisis support following a traumatic event to reduce negative psych-social reactions.

• Individual addictions counselling

To screen and assess clients for addictions response services and then to provide direct support to community members and their families with addictions issues using the 12 core functions of addictions services.

• Family Intervention

Upon request from family members, to collaborate with the family to provide an addictions intervention to a client suffering from an addictions issue

• Family counselling

To provide addictions education, support and counselling to families and significant others with loved ones dealing with addictions issues.

• Couples counselling

To provide addictions education, support and counselling to couples dealing with addictions issues

• Addictions Consultation

To provide support and consultation to any related services, programs, organization, projects and activities in the area of addictions

• Clients with a mental health and substance abuse problem

To provide education, support and counselling to clients and families dealing with an addictions issue and a concurrent mental health disorder.

The following is offered only on an “as needed” basis with sufficient amount of people and client preparedness

• Adult Children of Alcoholics

To provide addictions support to adult dependents of Alcoholics in an individual or group setting

• Nutrition Recovery Group

To provide nutritional support to alcoholics/addicts in recovery in a group setting.

• Introduction to the 12 Steps

To provide a support group to individuals new to a recovery programs

• Ionkwatakitakhe “Walking a Good Path Together” group

To provide education and support to parents of children with substance use issues.

• Aftercare Group

To provide education, support and relapse prevention to clients recently completing a treatment program.

To receive all reports of children being at risk, investigate allegations of child abuse, to include abandonment, neglect, psychological abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and serious behaviour disturbances and provide follow-up to address the risk.

Receives all calls for services, provide immediate support to clients when necessary and to refer clients to appropriate KSCS Prevention and Support resources.

To screen, assess and make recommendations for referral for individuals, couples and families who are referred to or requesting psychological support

• Psychological Consultation

To provide support and consultation to related services, programs, projects and activities in the area of psychology.

The following is offered only on an “as needed” basis with sufficient amount of people and client preparedness. Other groups may be offered based on meeting the needs of the community.

• Anxiety Support Group

In collaboration with prevention services, to provide group support to clients with anxiety and depression.
- Offered only on an “as needed” basis with sufficient amount of people and client preparedness

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

To provide crisis support following a traumatic event to reduce negative psych-social reactions.
- Offered only on an “as needed” basis