CARELINK: A REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO CARE
CareLink is a groundbreaking program designed to transform the way youth and caregivers experience support within the child welfare system. Too often, young people in care face instability, disrupted relationships, and a constant cycle of starting over with every placement change. CareLink breaks this cycle by offering an unbroken chain of support, providing reliability, continuity, and stability wherever a youth’s journey takes them.
At its core, CareLink offers two integrated portals, one for youth and one for caregivers. The Youth Portal empowers young people with 24/7 access to interactive tools, journaling, life skills development, and real-time support. The Caregiver Portal equips parents, foster families, and frontline staff with trauma-informed strategies, cultural resources, and ongoing coaching, all centered around the youth they are caring for. Together, these portals create a continuous circle of care that adapts and grows with each child.
What makes CareLink revolutionary is its ability to provide consistency across placements. Unlike traditional supports that reset whenever a youth moves, CareLink travels with them, ensuring their progress, history, and support network remain intact. This approach not only reduces trauma caused by repeated disruptions but also builds long-term resilience, trust, and stronger outcomes.
By combining cutting-edge technology with evidence-based practices and culturally responsive frameworks, CareLink is reshaping the child welfare landscape. It ensures that every youth and caregiver has the tools, guidance, and community needed to thrive.
Through one integrated system, youth, caregivers, and staff gain access to personalized tools, resources, and connections that adapt to each stage of care. Whether a young person is living in Group Care, with Foster or Kinship Families, receiving In-Home Support, or transitioning to Independent Living, CareLink remains their constant link to guidance, culture, and community.
The Unfortunate Reality
Across the nation, Indigenous youth continue to face a disproportionate presence in the Child Welfare system. Far too often, they are removed from the homes, communities, and cultural networks that form the foundation of their identity. Being placed in urban centers or unfamiliar settings not only disrupts family connections but also severs ties to language, traditions, and cultural practices, elements essential for a sense of belonging and self-worth.
Compounding this challenge, many youth are cared for by staff who lack proper training in cultural competency or who may unintentionally perpetuate biases and stereotypes. These gaps in understanding can create environments where youth feel unseen, misunderstood, or even judged, further eroding the trust and stability they urgently need.
CareLink was created to transform this experience. Far more than a support program, it acts as a cultural lifeline that follows each youth throughout their time in care. By bridging the gap between the youth’s current environment and their home community, CareLink preserves the connections that matter most. Through a combination of consistent virtual engagement and culturally grounded in-person support, the program ensures that youth remain linked to their heritage, language, and identity, even when circumstances temporarily take them away from their communities.
With CareLink, care is no longer a disconnected, transactional service. It becomes a continuous, culturally affirming journey that strengthens resilience, nurtures identity, and empowers youth to thrive both within the system and beyond it.
Personalized Support Staff
Indigenous youth within the child welfare system, many youth experience dozens or even hundreds of staff coming and going from their care teams, along with several relocations every year. This constant upheaval disrupts progress, breaks trust, and leaves young people feeling unsafe, unseen, and disconnected from their communities.
At Indigenous Youth Services, we know that youth need more than temporary support. They need lasting relationships built on trust, understanding, and consistency. Our Personalized Support Staff Program ensures each youth is paired with a dedicated mentor who stays with them through every stage of their journey. This reliable connection provides a strong foundation for stability, healing, and personal growth.
Through virtual calls and portal messaging, youth can connect with their mentor anytime and anywhere. Whether it is to celebrate achievements, process challenges, or simply talk through the day, our team provides a steady, caring presence regardless of the youth’s placement.
Key Features of the Personalized Support Staff Program:
Unbroken Continuity: Youth remain connected to the same trusted mentor through all placements.
24/7 Accessibility: Real-time communication and emotional support whenever it is needed.
Culturally Grounded Guidance: Staff trained in trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.
Collaborative Connection: Seamless coordination with caregivers, agencies, and family supports.
Every youth deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported, not just where they are, but wherever life takes them.
Youth & Caregiver Portals
CareLink is our innovative virtual care platform that travels with youth through every placement and transition, keeping them connected to caregivers, support staff, and their culture.
Youth Portal:
- Cultural learning through videos, slideshows, and activities
- Personalized plans for emotional growth, life skills, and goals
- Daily journals with guided prompts to track progress
- Biweekly virtual calls and 24/7 messaging for guidance
Caregiver Portal:
- Personalized youth profiles with cultural, social, and emotional insights
- Individualized strategies for de-escalation and trauma-informed care
- Daily care journals and regular check-ins for consistent support
- 24/7 Messaging: Secure, direct access to IYS staff for guidance, reassurance, or support.
CareLink: Support That Stays, So Youth Can Thrive
Our Vision
At Indigenous Youth Services, we know that every youth’s journey is unique and that consistent support can make all the difference. CareLink is more than a platform; it is a lifeline. It ensures that every young person remains connected to caring adults, cultural guidance, and personalized support, no matter how many transitions they face.
Through real-time communication, secure portals, and continuous guidance, CareLink preserves progress, strengthens relationships, and fosters resilience. It bridges gaps between placements, reduces disruptions, and gives youth the stability they need to grow with confidence.
With CareLink:
- Youth have a trusted space to explore their culture, reflect on their experiences, and pursue their goals.
- Caregivers have the tools and guidance to provide consistent, trauma-informed care.
- Families, communities, and support teams stay connected, informed, and empowered to help youth succeed.
CareLink ensures that no youth is ever left behind, no progress is ever lost, and no young person has to face life’s challenges alone. Every youth deserves continuity, connection, and the chance to thrive today, tomorrow, and throughout their journey.