Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA – COMPENDIUM ANNEX: DETAILED PRACTICE DESCRIPTIONS

ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES

Healing and Reintegration of Offenders

Program name:

Waseya Holistic Healing Program

Organization:

Waseskun Healing Centre

Location:

Saint-Alphonse- Rodriquez, Quebec

Target Group:

Men (18 – 69 years of age)

Contact Name:

Stan Cudek, Director

Phone:

450-883-2034

Email:

stan@waseskun.net

Website:

www.waseskun.net

Program Overview
History:

Waseskun Healing Center, incorporated in 1988, is a non-profit Aboriginal organization affiliated with Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) and Services Correctionels Québec (CSQ). The Waseya Holistic Healing Program is currently going through a tools assessment process (done every 5 years). This helps to assess progress in the program.

Program Description
Goals & Objectives:

To facilitate the holistic healing of Aboriginal offenders who have committed crimes and violent acts and foster their successful re-entry into their families, communities and nations.

Traditional/Indigenous ways:

There is a strong cultural component to the program that offers ceremony and teachings for the residents to learn valuable skills that may be applicable to employment skills and life lessons such as patience, respect, taking turns, tolerance of others, etc. Participants gain pride in their heritage, community, and their part in the Medicine Wheel.

Components of program:

The program looks at particular behaviours and why they are violent and helps them to change those behaviours. Residents are assigned to specific work groups that are identified as being needed through the clients' healing plan. The work groups consist of: power, control and healthy relationships, addictive behaviours and their underlying causes, communication and anger management, intensive family therapy, traditions and culture and spirituality.

Services/How they work:

Services are provided on site at the facility.

Funding:

Funding is provided by the Correctional Service of Canada; and Services Correctionels Québec.

Relationships and Stakeholders
Involvement of Target Groups:

Two-thirds of the Waseskun staff are female helpers. The men (clients) appreciate having female helpers as it teaches them how to interact with women.

Partners:

Correctional Service of Canada; Services Correctionels Québec; Aboriginal Healing Foundation; Assembly of First Nations; United Church of Canada; Socidarit/ Sociale de Rawdon; Family & Social Services of Rawdon; Alcohol Anonymous meetings; Internet Café, Rawdon Library; Rawdon Chamber of Commerce; Kahnawake Education Centre (2x per week); Visiting Elders; Volunteers to keep community running smoothly.

Other relationships:

N/A

Details of Program Evaluation
Evaluation:

An evaluation has been completed.

Highlights of Evaluation Findings:

Reports are not available to the public.

Program Outcomes
Measures of Success:

Success is measured by recidivism rates (the probability they will go back to what they did); how many clients do not go back to crime; and how long clients stay out of trouble.

Achievements:

Successfully reintegrating clients with their families and communities.

Challenges:

The program's 6 month duration is not long enough for some clients to learn how to overcome their destructive behaviours.

Things to Know to Replicate
Replication Advice:

The program is considered replicable. Because it is a holistic healing program, it needs to have a team that can work together well.

Resources:

Adequate funding, properly trained staff and facility space for the programming would be necessary to ensure the program's success.