Thank you, Ben.
My name is Norm Martin. I'm a clinical educator with St.Amant. I am new to this initiative. I joined the the St.Amant team in August 2018. I'm not really an expert, but I do provide core training to communities through the tribal council partnerships.
The training extends over six days and is co-facilitated by two other organizations, the Rehabilitation Centre for Children and the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre, in conjunction with St.Amant. The topics are chosen by the tribal councils, and they are designed and delivered by our working group. Currently, we have had a dozen training dates where we went into the communities—organized by the tribal councils. Three hundred and nineteen people were trained, and 68% have been employed under 3 years in their jobs through the initiative. Seventy per cent are childhood development workers and respite staff; that's our main training demographic. The rest are tribal council service coordinators, administrative assistants, case managers, drivers, and educational staff, volunteers and students.
The topics I deliver include patient confidentiality, person- and family-centred care, social role valorization, challenging behaviours, interpersonal conflict resolution, and stress reduction. My post-evaluation results show that my training participants have identified other training that they would like to receive: training on mental health-related topics, on reaching full potential or helping participants reach their full potentials, on reducing stigmas around disabilities, on how to support older children and youth outside the age parameters of Jordan's principle, on how to address the cultural view and the community's view with regard to disabilities, and on supporting people with complex needs and/or multiple disabilities.
I've received great support from St.Amant in learning and delivering the training materials, and I've made some observations in carrying out my role in this job. Training is both needed and appreciated. The staff receiving the training are new to Jordan's principle, but they are not new to understanding the needs and the limitations within the communities. They're eager to learn the skills and to deliver valued services to their communities. There really is no shortage of dedicated and devoted people in the communities who are carrying out this line of work.
Our work in this initiative has already changed the lives of many of those we support, and we're creating trusting partnerships with communities. Although trust takes time, we've developed solid relationships with many of the communities that we provide services for. I know that I'm not just speaking for myself when I say that I've learned as much as I have taught.
In closing, I'd just like to share a story from a woman I met while delivering this training. This woman grew up in a remote first nations community and was part of a large, tight-knit family. One of her brothers was born with a developmental disability and lived in the family until her mother's health was compromised. They could no longer provide the care necessary for this young man, and this young man was placed in an institution. The family would visit him in the institution, which led to some challenging behaviours. Upon the end of these visits, he would often act out as he didn't want these visits to end; he wanted to leave with the rest of his family. A decision was made by his mother to reduce these disruptions by no longer visiting him anymore. The family avoided these visits for 20 years. For 20 years, this man lived in an institution without any contact with his family. This woman shared her story and wished that Jordan's principle had happened sooner, as it would have greatly helped her brother stay connected with his family and remain in the community—which I believe to be true.
This story had a huge impact on the significance of this initiative. Since joining St.Amant, I've learned of many other situations where children live in seclusion. Without adequate resources, many parents feel the need to protect their children and keep them at home, away from school and other community activities. This initiative has allowed children to experience inclusion and independence. This is so meaningful to the entire community. I have never experienced such meaningful and rewarding work.
Thank you.