Metis Nation of Ontario

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629 Division Street Kingston, Ontario K7K 3H4

MNO Healthy Babies, Healthy Children

The MNO Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program, funded by the provincial government is a prevention/intervention strategy for families with children aged 0-6. It includes preparation for parenting, prenatal and postnatal care. The goal is to assist all Aboriginal families in providing an environment for the healthy development of children through home visits, service coordination and referrals. The program, which provides support for children at risk, is voluntary and open to any Aboriginal family who requests the service.

Community Support Services Program

The Community Support Services Program (CSS) is funded by the province through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. It provides information, advocacy and practical support that allow individuals to remain in their homes for as long as possible. It also helps to ease the weight of care provided by informal caregivers such as extended family. CSS services are available to self-identified Métis persons of all ages, and their extended families. We also provide services to other Aboriginal peoples who wish to receive their services from us. The emphasis is on service for elders with health issues or isolated, people with a chronic disease and having difficulty in the management of the disease, or dealing with a terminal illness. For services such as medical transportation clients need to provide a proof of attendance. This could be a copy of a prescription, stamped appointment card, note from dr or reception of the office, discharge papers or the bracelet from admittance. This allows for transparency with our funders that we are utilizing our funding for the services which they were intended.

CSS services are coordinated with other community based programs and may include referrals to other agencies for Meals on Wheels, Adult Day Programs, Nursing, and Home care. Most of these referrals are not coordinated via the Community Care Access Centres (CCAC).

CSS is also in the process of having our team trained in the delivery of a common assessment tool being used by all Community Support Services in the Province of Ontario. This will enable us to make better service plans for our clients. Majority of our sites will be utilizing the InterRAI Screener Tool. This will be put in place by fall 2012.

The following support services help to ensure people continue to live a full and independent life in their home community:

Medical Transportation Services

More families are facing financial hardship and have no or little family assistance to support them with transportation to medical appointments.  CSS Medical Transportation is there to assist clients who meet the program criteria and are in need of assistance.   It is not our goal to remove the family’s traditional role of supporting one another when we are able too.  Since 2009 we have been seeing a steady rise in the amount of requests coming in for medical transportation.  For clients who meet the criteria their transportation can be arrange via a volunteer driver, Coordinator, bus tickets, mobility bus services, via rail, Hope Air or other affordable means that are available to that community.   There are times when the family can do the transport but the issue is with being able to afford to do the transportation.  We will make every effort to assist through our program or to find resources outside to assist if necessary.

Friendly Visits

Regular visits and phone calls, based on client wishes, help to provide support for isolated or ill clientele while ensuring their health and safety. Regular contact is made through visits by MNO staff or volunteers are arranged by CSS Coordinators.

Care Giver Support Services

There are times where the informal Care Giver needs assistance with taking care of their loved ones.  We are able to provide advocacy services, information to assist the caregiver in the role, referrals for respite care and friendly visits to help reduce the isolation of the caregiver.  When the love ones dies we provide supports with the caregiver in areas such as names of funeral homes, applications for death benefits and bereavement support.

Community Support Services

The CSS Coordinator is knowledgeable about all the services available to Aboriginal people in their area and provides information, referrals, advocacy and access to mainstream or other long-term care services such as Community Care Access Centres.


CSS also provides support with filling out forms, applying for old age security, Guarantee Income Supplement, ODSP forms, etc.  When needed, we will advocate on a client’s behalf to help get the services needed.


CSS also works with their sister programs to provide workshops and community events.  People do not need to be a client of these services in order to attend.  All workshops and community events are open to the whole community.  Please come in and see what we are doing and are about.

Mental Health Demonstration Project

The Ontario Mental Health Demonstration Project/Telemental Health Initiative provides community based, non-residential activities and services to individuals and families dealing with mental health issues. The services are culturally appropriate, culturally competent and complement and link to existing services or programs that continue to build service capacity at the community level. An important component of the program is the use of video-conferencing. It allows for the timely delivery of Mental Health Assessments and increases access to psychiatric care in communities where care is not available or wait times are prolonged.

One of the Project partnerships is between the MNO and Providence Care Centre (PCC) in Kingston, Ontario. The agreement between the two includes the provision of clinical services to Métis citizens and families and increased access to Mental Health Professionals. The agreement also includes provisions for PCC to provide training to the MNO Health Branch. The agreement will also facilitate research on Métis Mental Health and will help to identify Best Practices in this area.

The range of services and programming available to those coping with mental health issues through the Demonstration Project includes screening and assessment, intake, early intervention, referrals, case management and aftercare (post-treatment) support using contemporary and traditional therapeutic interventions, such as healing circles and individual/group counselling. Mental wellness promotion and peer support, both integral to the delivery of a comprehensive Mental Health program are also available.

Community Wellness Worker Program

The Community Wellness Worker (CWW) Program is funded by the province through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy (AHWS). The Strategy supports holistic approaches to the promotion of healthy living and the prevention of family violence. Community Wellness Workers in sixteen communities put the needs of the local Métis community first through the implementation of client driven services to reduce family violence and the promotion of healthy lifestyles through culture-based programming.

Community Wellness Workers assist clients in identify concerns and assist them in developing action plans to address the concerns. This is achieved by sharing appropriate information with health and social agencies and through community events like crisis intervention workshops, sharing circles and community outreach that educates and promotes cultural awareness and illness prevention. Whenever possible Métis specific cultural approaches are integrated into the programs delivered.
Community Wellness Workers are located in 18 MNO Community Councils:
  • Ottawa
  • Georgian Bay
  • North Bay
  • Sudbury
  • Timmins
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Fort Frances
  • Thunder Bay
  • Windsor
  • Hamilton
  • Brampton/Mississauga
  • Owen Sound
  • Bancroft
  • Renfrew
  • Port McNicol
  • Kenora
  • Welland
  • Sault Ste Marie
In addition to the services provided by the Community Wellness Coordinators provide client-driven services like:
  • Assisting clients to access services.
  • Providing advocacy to support the securing of medical assistance services.
  • Providing referrals to emergency shelters or transitional housing.
  • Providing referrals to anger-management or treatment programs.
  • Providing referrals to the MNO Mental Health Program.
  • Providing advocacy for those dealing with the court system.
The Coordinators also provide participant-based services related to reducing family violence through fitness and recreation, walking groups, nutrition or foot-care clinics/workshops as well as Healthy Eating/Community Gardens. Holistic approaches to good health also include traditional ceremonies that promote stress-relief and gatherings like the Harvest Meal that promote traditional family activities and promotes healthy eating.

The Coordinators also promote information sharing between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations like mental health centres, shelters, and treatment centres to increase client access to local services.

Aging at Home

Assists Indigenous seniors in continuing to live interdependently in their homes by providing: * light housekeeping * laundry * meal preparation * friendly visits * help schedule transportation for medical appointments * bank and grocery store trips * information and referrals to other support services available

Urban Aboriginal Healthy Living

Provides opportunities for individuals and families to increase their participation in sport, physical activity and recreation. The program also promotes healthy eating behaviours and smoke-free living. Efforts are also made to increase community engagement from youth. Activities include drop-in sports leagues, family fitness classes, cooking workshops, and more. The program is free and open to everyone. Some programming occurs offsite. Contact Michelle Kehoe (613-549-1674 ex. 303, michellek@metisnation.org) at MNO for more information. 

Employment and Training

The employment and training centre provides support and services for educational success, including providing financial assistance to students. You must self-identify as Métis and not be registered as an aboriginal under the Indian Act or Inuit Registry to access employment, training and education services. Contact Elaine Jeffery (613-549-1674 ex. 306, elainej@metisnation.org) at MNO for more information. 

Aboriginal Community Mental Health

Provides individualized assessments, planning and evaluation of services provided to the client, and advocates for clients as needed. Supports include community referrals, culturally appropriate services, and providing culturally sensitive training where needed. This program is open to anyone 16 years of age or older. Contact Clarice Gervais (613-549-1674 ex. 302, clariceg@metisnation.org) at MNO for more information.