Category: Employment

Resources and Strategies for Indigenous Youth

by Sebastian Hable

Indigenous youth in foster care face unique challenges but also have incredible opportunities to build skills and connections that empower them to thrive. Whether you’re focusing on education, life skills, or mental health, there are resources and strategies to help you navigate this journey.

1. Education: Your Path, Your Future

Education can open doors to a brighter future. If you’re in foster care, you might be eligible for bursaries or grants designed for Indigenous youth. Look into programs like the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) program or scholarships specific to Indigenous students. Remember, it’s okay to take your time to figure out what you want to pursue—there’s no one “right” path.

2. Building Life Skills

From managing your money to preparing for independent living, life skills are essential. Start small by learning how to budget your expenses or cook simple meals. Many community organizations offer workshops tailored for youth in care, where you can practice these skills in a supportive environment.

3. Mental Health: Prioritize Yourself

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but you don’t have to face it alone. There are culturally relevant mental health supports available, such as counseling services rooted in Indigenous traditions. Talking to a trusted Elder or support worker can also help you find balance and connection to your identity.

4. Peer Connections: You’re Not Alone

Finding others who understand your experience can be empowering. Consider joining a youth group or online community for Indigenous foster youth. These spaces offer a chance to share your story, learn from others, and build lasting friendships.

5. Your Resilience is Your Strength

As an Indigenous youth, you carry a legacy of resilience. Despite the systemic barriers you may face, there are resources, people, and organizations ready to support you. Lean into your strengths, ask for help when you need it, and remember—you have the power to shape your future. You’re not on this journey alone. Whether you’re looking to continue your education, find housing, or build stronger connections, there are people and programs out there to guide you every step of the way.

Apply for a free 2-day Trades training!

Are you 18+ with lived experience in the child welfare system? Discover your passion for Ontario’s skilled trades!

The Trades Ready Youth 2-Day Workshop entails:

  • Construction Industry Certifications
  • Hands-on training for entry-level Electrical apprentice skills (Wiring, VR, etc.)
  • Mentorship sessions
  • Networking opportunities

Coffee, light snacks and lunch will be provided. Hard hat and work boots included.

Date and Time: Feb. 4 and 5, 2025, 8 am – 4 pm

Address: IBEW Local 804 5158 Fountain St N, Breslau, ON

Register now at: Give the Trades a TRY! | Child Welfare PAC.

Support to Action Webinars: Free and Online

Employment Ontario is offering free online webinars geared towards educational liaisons, case workers, independence workers, child and youth workers, child welfare system staff who support youth, foster parents, adoptive parents, youth in transition workers and community partners who support at risk youth.

You will learn

  • What is the Trades Ready Youth Program by Child welfare PAC
  • What is a trade and what is an apprenticeship
  • What it means to be “Trades Ready”
  • What are the five things that a youth can do to be a trades ready youth?

Presenter experience includes:

  • Retired Director of Service, Child and Family Services
  • Apprenticeship Youth Advisor
  • Education Specialist in Apprenticeship Pathways

Date and Time:

  • September 17 at 3:00 – 4:15 pm
  • September 18 at 7:00 – 8:15 pm

45 minute presentation & 30 min question and answer session.

Register now at Support to Action Webinars | Trades Ready Youth (childwelfarepac.com)

Recruiting Former Youth in Care for Research Study on Career Development Experiences

Researchers at the University of Calgary are conducting a study on the career experiences of young adults who aged-out of foster care, kinship care, or community-based care in Canada. The study is called ‘What Helps and Hinders in the Pursuit of Career Success?’.

To be eligible to participate in this study, you need to:
• Be between the ages of 18 to 29
• Have previously spent at least two years in foster care, kinship care, or community-based care in Canada
• Have aged-out of care in Canada
• Self-identify as doing well in your career development

If you are interested in participating then you will be asked to:
• Complete a short demographic questionnaire
• Participate in up to three interviews where you will be asked to share your career development experiences; Interviews will be conducted 1-on-1 virtually or in-person.

To express gratitude for contributing to this research you will be provided with a $15 e-gift card for participating in interview one, another $15 e-gift card for participating in interview two, and also a $10 e-gift card for participating in interview three.

If you have any questions or if you would like to participate in this study, please contact Ashlee Kitchenham at ashlee.kitchenham@ucalgary.ca

The University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board has approved this study [REB23-1099].

Applications open for Ontario’s Indigenous Internship Program

The Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) is a paid 12-month program that will provide recent Indigenous post-secondary graduates with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience with the Ontario Public Service (OPS).

Indigenous interns will contribute their knowledge, experiences, values, and perspectives to influence organizational policies, programs, and services.

IIP interns will:

  • receive full-time employment for up to 1 year
  • earn a competitive salary
  • develop their skills and gain valuable work experience
  • receive mentoring, coaching and learning opportunities
  • develop valuable professional contacts

To be eligible, you must:

  • self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit)
  • have graduated from a college or university with a diploma, degree or post-graduate certificate within the past five years (that is, May 2019 – August 2024)
  • be legally entitled to work in Canada
  • be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment

OPS offers a wide range of Indigenous internship positions, which may cover the following areas:

  • communications
  • financial management
  • human resources
  • Indigenous relations
  • policy
  • program and service delivery

To apply to the various internship positions, visit the Indigenous Internship job board here: https://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/Preview.aspx?Language=English&JobID=193787

Zine & HEARD

Zine & HEARD is a zine that is dedicated to amplifying the voices of youth in care through their stories, art and music.  

It is a fiercely independent monthly zine that is published in Edmonton but is for youth in care from anywhere in the world. 

Launched in January of 2023, in print and online, it has amplified the voices of over 60 former youth from care ranging in age from 18 to 63 with more to come in every issue. 

If you would like to share your thoughts in Zine & HEARD, please email editor@zieandheard.ca or message us on Instagram @zine_and_heard. You can also find us on FB at penny.frazier.75.

Please visit our website at zineandheard.ca to find out more about who we are, what we do and what we say. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Penny Frazier

Treaty 6 Territory

Apply for Education or Employment Help Through Youth Opportunity Fund 

The Youth Opportunity Fund is available to youth who were in permanent care in Canada or who are (or were) eligible for their provincial or territorial extended care program. You can receive funding for a wide range of supports that can help you accomplish educational or career related goals.  

Youth Opportunity Fund could help cover: 

  • Tutoring services  
  • Academic bridging programs 
  • Application fees for graduate programs 
  • And more! 

Eligibility requirements: 

  • Youth who were or are in permanent care in Canada 
  • Youth who were or are eligible for their provincial or territorial extended care program (e.g. Agreements with Young Adults, Continued Care and Support for Youth, Support & Financial Assistance Agreement) 

Learn about the National Transformation Project by watching the video below: 

If you are interested in learning more, contact Jasmine Yiweza at jyiweza@cafdn.org. 

Easily Create a Resume Using Government of Canada’s Resume Builder

The Government of Canada has made it easy to build a resume. If you’re looking to revamp your resume or create a new one, try creating a free account and building one here. 

All you need to do is: 

  • Create a free account 
  • Scroll to the resume builder at the bottom 
  • Input your experience and information into each section 
  • Save and print! 

The builder formats everything for you so all you need to do is save a file! 

You can also access student and recent graduate employment opportunities on the Government of Canada job bank here. 

Searching for a New Employment Opportunity? Try One of These 6 Job Boards

Where do I search for my next job? How will I find a better position? What places are hiring in my area? These are very common questions and concerns to have when looking for your next employment opportunity. Finding the right place to start in your job search can be difficult, but Fostering Community is here to help! 

Online job boards are great places to search for opportunities that best suit your personal and professional goals. Check out the following online job boards for current openings:

  • Workopolis.com Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Mosterjobs.ca Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities. 
  • Indeed.com Search by job title, company, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Charityvillage.com Search by job title, organization, keywords, and/or location to find current opportunities.
  • Glassdoor.ca Search by job title, keywords, companies, and/or location to find current opportunities. This website requires you to make an account to view jobs.

New job postings are always being added, so be sure to revisit these websites for new opportunities.   

How Much Money Should I Be Saving?

The easy answer is as much as you need to feel comfortable and confident that you could pay your bills if an emergency happened. This is not always ideal or realistic though (especially with the current cost of living and inflation). I would start by saving as much as you can, for example $100 a month or 10% of each paycheck.

It can help to set goals, so that you can hold yourself accountable for the reasons you’re saving. I am planning to go to Europe with my friend next year, so I have started saving about $150 a month to prepare. Remember that your goals can fluctuate and so can your financial plans. So, if you find that your current savings plan is not working for you, try changing it up.

Here are some steps you can take to learn about saving:

Financial Literacy Training

Take control of your financial knowledge and learn about planning, saving, and more! This is a great way to keep yourself informed, especially in conversations about finances. Register for Financial Literacy Training with Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada here or contact Jasmine Yiweza at jyiweza@cafdn.org for more information.

Make an Appointment with a Financial Advisor

Book an appointment with a financial advisor at your bank for free. A financial advisor can help you with planning for the future, answer your questions about saving, and provide insight on investing. Many of these things do not need to be on your mind all at the same time, but it is important to remember that there are professional services for free that you can access when you’re ready.

Try These Budget Tools

Creating a budget can help when you are learning to save. This can help you track your spending so that you don’t have to use your savings if you don’t need to. Try the following tools to create a budget:

  • Mint, a free budgeting app you can download on your phone