Community Wellness
Dän tsʼän nännji (People Helping People)
The Community Wellness Department (formerly Health and Social) strives to offer accessible programming and services to all Citizens within CAFN Traditional Territory through support staff in Haines Junction and Whitehorse.
The Community Wellness Department provides services to CAFN people in the areas noted below.
Information and referrals regarding a wide range of community wellness issues are also available.
Alcohol and Drug Programs
CAFN provides education, support, prevention and counseling for CAFN Citizens in Yukon in areas such as:
- Use, abuse and dependency
- Motivation to change
- Screening and assessments
- Pre-treatment and aftercare
- Referrals to treatment centers
- Referrals to detox
Contacts:
- Angie Nassiopoulos, Haines Junction Case Manager, (867) 634-4200 ext 213 anassiopoulos@cafn.ca
- Lisa Rawlings-Bird, Whitehorse Case Manager, (867) 456-6875 or lrawlingsbird@cafn.ca
Bereavement Fund
CAFN provides funds of up to $2,000 for expenses to assist with the funeral costs of a deceased CAFN Citizen.
Department contact:
Diane Strand, Director of Community Wellness
(867) 634-4213 or dstrand@cafn.ca
Child Welfare
CAFN provides support for CAFN Citizen families, primarily in Yukon, experiencing child apprehensions or child protection issues, including court support, family mediation, general support, advocacy, referrals and prevention as needed.
Department Contact:
Kelli Backstrom, Child and Family Liaison Worker
(867) 456-6888 or kbackstrom@cafn.ca
Community Care
CAFN provides home support services such as cleaning, laundry, meal delivery, cooking and other assistance based on individual client care plans. Clients may self-refer, or family or doctors may also refer.
Department Contact:
Jacquie Chambers, Community Care Coordinator
(867) 634-4012, jchambers@cafn.ca
Community Justice
The Community Justice Program provides alternatives to mainstream justice processes, although assistance is not limited to people who have been charged with a criminal offence.
Services include:
- diversion,
- mediation,
- community conferencing,
- traditional talking Circles and Circle sentencing,
- assistance with the Fine Option Program,
- provision of information and supports for people who are in contact with the justice system or courts.
All CAFN Citizens and members of the Haines Junction community can access this program and may be referred through self-referral, the RCMP, Crown attorney or defense counsel.
Department Contact:
Miles Morton, Community Justice Coordinator
(867) 634-7020 or restorativejustice@cafn.ca
Community Outreach and Support
CAFN provides support to CAFN Citizens in Yukon to optimize the home environment for the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional well-being of individuals, families and Elders in possible high-risk situations. This position works outside of regular office hours generally between the hours of 7pm and 2am five evenings a week.
Department Contact:
Community Wellness Department, (867) 634-4221
Community Wellness
CAFN provides CAFN Citizens in Yukon education, support, prevention, referrals and counselling in areas such as:
- Family violence
- Residential school
- Anger management
- Sexual abuse
- Mental health
Department contacts:
Angie Nassiopoulos, Haines Junction Case Manager
(867) 634-4200 ext 213 or anassiopoulos@cafn.ca
Lisa Rawlings-Bird, Whitehorse Case Manager
(867) 456-6875 or lrawlingsbird@cafn.ca
Crisis Intervention
CAFN provides education, support, prevention, referrals and counseling to Citizens in Yukon in areas such as:
- Family violence
- Suicide Prevention
- Child protection
- Trauma
- Stress/anxiety
Department Contact:
Community Wellness Department
(867) 634-4200 ext 211 or dmoose@cafn.ca
Angie Nassiopoulos, Haines Junction Case Manager
(867) 634-4200 ext 213 or anassiopoulos@cafn.ca
Lisa Rawlings-Bird, Whitehorse Case Manager
(867) 456-6875 or lrawlingsbird@cafn.ca
Mike Maloney, Community Outreach and Support Worker
(867) 634-5103 or mmaloney@cafn.ca
Dän Ts'ananan Program
Are you interested in getting a job or exploring a new career?
Have you dreamed of getting an education or going into a trade?
Are you a CAFN citizen or Indigenous person living in our community?
Diabetes Strategy
CAFN offers diabetes information workshops and awareness activities to any CAFN person in Yukon with diabetes or at risk for diabetes. This program is for those who are at risk of getting diabetes due to factors such as being overweight, inactive or family members or spouses who have diabetes. Information about reading food labels is provided. Traditional medicines found to assist with diabetes management are also discussed.
Efforts are also made to determine how many clients between the ages of 20-39 years of age may have diabetes. This testing is done in both Haines Junction and Whitehorse with registered nurses conducting the tests and communicating test results to participants.
Department Contact:
Marion Primozic, Health Promotion Facilitator
(867) 456-6889 or mprimozic@cafn.ca
Emergency Fund
CAFN provides funding to assist CAFN Citizens in Canada who are in emergency situations, such as a medical incident or an act of God, to a maximum of $2,000 per family per year. Emergencies may include: sudden loss of home, fire, earthquake, death in the immediate family, etc.
Department contact:
Diane Strand, Director of Community Wellness
(867) 634-4213 or dstrand@cafn.ca
Elders Programs and Services
Community Care
CAFN provides home support services such as cleaning, laundry, cooking, meal delivery (Haines Junction) and other assistance based on individual client care plans. CAFN Citizens in the Yukon with health-related matters or in need of extra support at home are encouraged to contact CAFN to apply or may be referred by their doctor or family.
Elders Fuel Subsidy Program
This fund supports CAFN Elders age 60 and old in Yukon with home heating expenses up to a maximum of $2000.00 per fiscal year per household.
Department Contact:
Jacquie Chambers, Community Care Coordinator
(867) 634-4012, jchambers@cafn.ca
Elders Pension Benefit
CAFN Elders age 60 and older who live in Canada and the United States are eligible for the Elders Land Claim Benefit Payment of $250 per month.
To apply, please contact:
Lilly Smith, Central Registrar and Enrollment Clerk
(867) 634-4204, lsmith@cafn.ca
Family Health
CAFN provides support to CAFN parents and children (0-5 years of age) in all CAFN communities, with an emphasis on nutrition, healthy parenting, and the importance of breastfeeding.
Department Contact:
Community Wellness
(867) 634-4225 or jkinney@cafn.ca
Health Promotion
CAFN Community Wellness provides prevention, awareness, educational and promotional activities, programs, workshops and seminars on current health issues (such as FASD, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and smoking awareness and prevention) by promoting healthy living and a traditional lifestyle to all CAFN Citizens in Yukon.
Department Contact:
Marion Primozic, Health Promotion Facilitator
(867) 456-6889 or mprimozic@cafn.ca
Income Assistance
This program assists CAFN Citizens in need of Income Assistance to cover rent, utilities (except telephone) fuel, and basic needs (food, clothing, incidentals and laundry.) It is available to CAFN Citizens between the ages of 19 and 64 who reside within CAFN Traditional Territory and are without sufficient resources or are temporarily unemployed to cover household expenses.
Applicants must declare all household income, provide utility bill information and fill out forms required for client file. ID may be required for non-citizens (spouses of Citizens).
Department Contact:
- Angie Nassiopoulos, Haines Junction Case Manager
(867) 634-4200 ext 213 or anassiopoulos@cafn.ca - Lisa Rawlings-Bird, Whitehorse Case Manager
(867) 456-6875 or lrawlingsbird@cafn.ca
Medical Emergency Fund
CAFN provides Citizens and their immediate family living in Canada with funding to assist with travel expenses associated with medical emergencies where these expenses are not otherwise covered. Maximum $2,000 for travel within Yukon. Maximum $3,000 for travel outside Yukon.
Department Contact:
Community Wellness Department
(867) 634-4221 or dmoose@cafn.ca
Support Services
CAFN provides Citizens in Yukon with education, support, referrals and counselling in areas such as:
- Legal
- Parenting
- Grief and loss
- Employment
- Social skills
- Decision making
Contacts:
- Community Wellness Department
(867) 634-4200 ext 211 or dmoose@cafn.ca - Angie Nassiopoulos, Haines Junction Case Manager
(867) 634-4200 ext 213 or anassiopouloscafn.ca - Lisa Rawlings-Bird, Whitehorse Case Manager
(867) 456-6875 or lrawlingsbird@cafn.ca
Youth Centre and Afterschool Programs
CAFN offers cultural, social and recreational opportunities for CAFN children and youth in Yukon in a safe, nurturing environment. To assist the youth in their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth by offering a wide range of services and programs.
The Youth Center offers children/youth access to:
- Southern Tutchone Language classes
- Traditional games/teachings
- Internet
- Beading/sewing/crafts
- Computers
- Cooking/baking
- Pool
- Foosball
- Gaming
- Graphic arts
- Movie nights
- On-the-land opportunities (camping, fishing, hunting, hikes).
- Homework help (individual or group)
- Recreational /Aboriginal sports
- Referrals for youth
- Information, workshops/conferences pertaining to youth issues.
Regular Youth Centre hours:
Afterschool Programming, ages 6 to 11, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Tuesday to Friday Youth Drop-in hours 7:00-10:00 pm
Tuesday to Thursday Late Night Teen Nights 7:00-10:00 pm
Friday & Saturday Youth Drop-in Hours 7-9 pm up to age 12
Friday & Saturday Late Night Teen Nights till 12 am or later
A weekly Youth Centre Hours and Activities schedule is available. Youth Centre hours may be adjusted to accommodate special activities. Additional youth activities are also available.
Department Contact:
Shannon Maloney, Youth Programs Coordinator
(867) 634-2012 or smaloney@cafn.ca
CAFN Youth Programs – the Youth Junction on Facebook