BELIEFS AND VALUES 

Bridge to Hope Group Care Inc. believes in the importance of skilled and therapeutic approaches to stabilize the impact of trauma; enhance the self-worth and dignity of each individual; and promote healing of childhood neglect, abuse and /or grief and loss using holistic values. Our guiding principle is to involve a non-institutional holistic approach of joining family values, concrete healing (therapeutic) modalities with unconditional acceptance and guidance in a group setting. Bridge to Hope Group Care Inc. is committed to giving children and youth in care a home that will provide for their physical, social, educational, emotional, medical, and cultural needs. Additionally, Bridge to Hope Group Care Inc. believes in the importance of involving parents, family, and the cultural community as a means to support the reduction of risk factors and the increase in the ability of the family to reunify. 

Bridge to Hope Group Care Inc. is guided by a strong philosophy aligned with culturally informed beliefs and principles. Being that Bridge to Hope Group Care Inc. primarily serves Indigenous children and youth, we rely on the teachings of Elders who guide that for a child to be healthy and strong the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of that child must be in balance. In caring for and teaching children, we must focus on these aspects. We are taught that the life skills as well as the emotional, physical, and spiritual development can be achieved by learning how to live from the land and embracing the cultural traditions. Learning these skills creates a strong sense of identity and builds self-esteem. Indigenous people have always had a strong tie and closeness to the land. 

This includes but is not limited to the following: 

• Children are gifts and their healthy development is the responsibility of the whole community; 
• Children will learn from their mistakes provided that the appropriate guidance and environment is given; 
• Each human has an emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual aspect to their being and when a human has been injured, it affects all parts of their being. Helping means being able to understand the effects of the injury and the healing of the whole being; 
• All people have and need a family. This can be comprised of our biological parents or siblings but can include Aunties, Uncles, Elders, friends and cousins, or those from the community who we choose as our own; 
• All people are equal regardless of their color, size or look. Each person deserves to be treated fairly and with respect despite their past, present or the outlook of their future; 
• We believe that giving is important regardless of our wealth as it is not limited to materialistic things. To give components of ourselves, including sharing, respect, humbleness and support is truly a great gift; 
• Children, youth and families deserve healthy relationships with one another and to be supported in the reintegration with their families through home visits, cultural assistance (if applicable), support with other assets such as community resources, follow-up and/or referral services; 
• Children and youth will be provided with tools and resources to achieve a healthy and vibrant lifestyle, develop confidence in understanding holistic healing including love, integrity, respect, sharing and support; 
• Children and youth deserve to live free of addictions and live as whole beings; 
• Children and youth deserve predictable boundaries as taught through logical and natural consequences; 
• Children and youth deserve adaptable care providers and programs to suit their uniqueness with a high standard of trained helpers that will assist in their healing. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

• To provide a non-institutional group living option within a culture of family to all children and youth, regardless of gender, in response to referrals from the surrounding Delegated First Nations Agencies (DFNA). Children and youth aged birth (0) to eighteen (18) years are eligible for our program specifically if presenting with complex behavioral needs or trauma responses (behaviors) which may require a more intensive environment than other community-based programs provide, and/or have family-based issues to which stabilization, intervention and healing is required before they can reside in their home. To blend a group living program with complex behavioral support options designed to create opportunities for healing, skill attainment and resilience so that children and youth may return to their family and cultural community. 
• To promote behavior stabilization within children and youth in the program so that reintegration with the family remains a possibility and/or transition to a less intrusive environment is possible. 
• To promote appropriate interaction skills, encourage and teach the ability to bond to others. 
• To teach and role model life skills and provide cultural / community experiences. 
• To address any factors impeding parenting and develop healthy alternatives. 
• To improve the self-esteem and self-worth of each child, youth, and family member in the program. 
• To promote personal self-development within each individual in the program. 
• To address spiritual issues with each child, youth, and family member in the program. 
• To provide culturally informed services to our children, youth, and families. This is accomplished through using Elders and other valuable assets to learn the importance of their traditional values through the four (4) components of the Medicine Wheel,

• • 1. Mental Well-being
    2. Spiritual / Cultural Well-being 
    3. Emotional Well-Being 
    4. Physical Well-Being