The Best Start Resource Centre in Ontario, Canada has released a new resource for service providers called Pimotisiwin: A Good Path for Pregnant and Parenting Aboriginal Teens.
Pimotisiwin is an Ojibwe word that means following a good way or a good path. The resource is intended to help service providers support Aboriginal children and youth to live a good life, on a good path.
The content is relevant to health care providers, early childhood educators, teachers, prenatal service providers, parenting program staff, and others who come into contact with Aboriginal teens who are pregnant or parenting. The resource may be most useful to non-Aboriginal service providers who want to strengthen their services for Aboriginal youth. The content may also be useful for new Aboriginal staff, providing an orientation to the prenatal and parenting needs of Aboriginal youth.
Substance use is included as an area for discussion during pregnancy. The resource provides background on why Aboriginal teens might use substances:
“Substance use can be seen as a way to cope with past and present traumas, self-medicate for undiagnosed mental health concerns, or cope with serious ongoing stresses such as poverty or abuse. Substance use can include alcohol, solvents such as glue and gas, street drugs, misuse of prescription drugs, etc.’
This resource is available for free download from the Best Start Resource Centre’s website here.
For more resources for service providers on working with Aboriginal women during the perinatal period, see previous posts:
- Health Professionals Working With First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Consensus Guideline from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (June 21, 2013)
- Handbook for Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Work from Australia (January 9, 2013)
- Cultural Safety and FASD Prevention (August 23, 2012)
- The Sacred Journey – new resource for service providers who work with First Nations families (August 1, 2012)
- Pregnancy and Alcohol Brochure for Aboriginal Families (January 30, 2012)
Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy 