Behavioral Support
At Indigenous Youth Services (IYS), we recognize the profound harm caused by traditional mental health models, such as group homes and treatment facilities, which often separate Indigenous youth from their families and communities. This disconnection can erode emotional well-being, cultural identity, and the ability to build healthy relationships. Our mission is to prevent this separation by delivering culturally sensitive, in-home care that fosters healing, resilience, and growth within the youth’s own environment.
In-Home Behavioral Support
To protect these vital connections, IYS provides In-Home Support programs that bring personalized, professional care directly into the homes of Indigenous youth with complex behavioral and emotional needs. Rooted in evidence-based practices, our approach targets the underlying causes of challenges, promoting lasting, positive change while keeping families together. We emphasize:
- Cultural Sensitivity: Strengthening ties to Indigenous heritage and community.
- Personalized Care: Customizing support to each youth’s unique circumstances.
- Evidence-Based Practices: Applying proven methods for meaningful outcomes.
- Holistic Support: Addressing emotional, behavioral, and social needs comprehensively.
- Resilience and Empowerment: Building skills and confidence for youth and families to thrive.
Levels of Care
Our In-Home Support programs are tailored into three distinct levels, each designed to meet the diverse needs of Indigenous youth and their families:
- Early Support: For youth with mild to moderate needs, we offer 6-15 hours of weekly intervention, including counseling and life skills training, to address issues early and prevent escalation.
- High-Risk Intervention: For youth displaying high-risk behaviors, we provide 16-35 hours of personalized support per week, incorporating intensive counseling, behavioral interventions, and crisis management to stabilize and empower.
- Placement Deference: For youth at risk of placement in group homes, we deliver 12-24 hours of daily support, focusing on behavioral strategies and daily living skills to maintain stability at home.
With a flexible staffing model—offering 1:1, 2:1, or 3:1 ratios based on need—our programs adapt to provide the right level of care, bridging the divide between traditional facility-based treatment and outpatient services.
Lasting Impact
Our In-Home Support programs are designed to empower families and provide them with the resources and tools necessary to create a stable and nurturing home environment for their children. By providing support directly in the home, we can work closely with families to develop effective care plans that meet their unique needs and circumstances.
We believe that our In-Home Support programs are the key to preventing Indigenous youth from being removed from their homes and communities for traditional mental health support. By providing personalized, evidence-based care directly in the home, we can promote positive change and empower families to create a healthy and supportive environment for their children to thrive.
Results-Focused
We provide customized care plans that reflect each youth’s distinct social, medical, behavioral, and emotional histories. By accounting for their unique response patterns, we ensure that our interventions are both effective and meaningful. Our commitment to excellence drives us to integrate:
- Individualized support: Personalized structuring that meets each youth where they are.
- Cultural sensitivity: Interventions rooted in respect for Indigenous heritage.
- Evidence-based methods: Leading-edge strategies proven to deliver results.
Each youth receives a personalized care plan meticulously designed to address their specific needs. These plans target the underlying factors contributing to their challenges—social, behavioral, or emotional—while promoting:
- Healing: Addressing root causes to support recovery.
- Growth: Encouraging personal development and resilience.
- Lifelong well-being: Equipping youth with tools to thrive.
At the core of our work is therapeutic rapport building. We create a supportive environment where youth feel valued and understood, fostering trust that is essential for their engagement. By identifying and emphasizing individual strengths and motivational factors, we craft support plans that inspire youth to invest in their own success, addressing immediate challenges while promoting long-term growth.
Each care plan is not static; it may evolve with frequent reviews and adjustments to meet changing needs, ensuring that our plans remain effective and responsive over time.
Models
Therapeutic Pyramid
Therapeutic Pyramid
Therapeutic Pyramid
1. In-Depth Client Cultural, Social, Medical, and Behavioral History Review
This initial step involves a detailed review of the youth’s cultural roots, social context, medical background, and behavioral history. It ensures support is built on a deep, culturally informed understanding of their unique experiences.
2. Casual Conversation / Rapport Building
Through relaxed, open dialogue, this level fosters trust and connection. It creates a safe, welcoming space where the youth feels comfortable sharing, symbolizing trust-building through casual interaction.
3. Client-Led Chronological Life History
The youth takes the lead in recounting their life story, reflecting on key experiences at their own pace. This process empowers them to shape their narrative and highlights moments that define their journey.
4. Explore Generational and Individual Past Trauma and Instability
This step examines both personal hardships and generational trauma within Indigenous communities. It seeks to understand how these challenges impact the youth’s present emotional and behavioral state.
5. Unveil Fundamental Elements of Client Emotional/Behavioural Response Scaffolding
By analyzing the youth’s emotional and behavioral patterns, this level uncovers the core structures behind their responses. It provides insight into how they cope with stress and trauma.
6. Youth Treatment Engagement Motivation Measurement
This stage evaluates the youth’s willingness and motivation to engage in treatment. It ensures the support plan aligns with their personal readiness, encouraging active participation in their healing.
7. Collaborate in Formation of Targeted Intervention Plan
Here, the youth, their family, and support team jointly craft a tailored intervention plan. This collaborative effort ensures the plan is culturally relevant and addresses the youth’s specific needs.
8. Foster Cultural Growth, Knowledge, and Connectivity
The final step strengthens the youth’s ties to their Indigenous heritage through cultural learning and community connection. It promotes healing and a sense of identity and belonging.
A.I.M Model
Therapeutic Pyramid
Therapeutic Pyramid
The A.I.M Analysis and Intervention Model takes an objective approach to understanding the emotional and behavioral complexities of youth in order to uncover the foundational causal factors that contribute to their challenges. The event is distinguished into the Action, Intention, and Motivational factors.
Action - Objective action and stabilization: This factor focuses on the observable behavior of the youth and their response to specific situations. For example, a youth may exhibit aggression towards their peers in school.
Intention - Desired outcome of the action: This factor delves into the intentions behind the youth's behavior. For instance, the youth may want to assert dominance over their peers and establish a sense of power.
Motivation - Foundational factors underlying motivation for intended action outcome: This factor explores the underlying emotional and psychological factors driving the youth's behavior. In this case, the youth may feel insecure and powerless in their home environment, leading them to seek control and power in other areas of their life.
By using the A.I.M Analysis and Intervention Model, our clinical team can develop targeted intervention strategies that address the root causes of the youth's behavior. Through evidence-based practices, we can help the youth learn healthy coping mechanisms, regulate their emotions, and develop positive relationships with their peers and family members. Our goal is to empower the youth with the tools they need to become happy, healthy, and successful members of their community.