Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society (KCWS) experienced both significant successes and challenges in 2024. Key successes included securing funding and approval for multiple housing projects designed to strengthen families and support reunification, including two five-bedroom duplexes and a cul-de-sac of 10 Sibling Community Homes with a cultural centre. The new builds are designed to be Net-Zero Energy, ensuring sustainability and cost-effectiveness over the long term. Additionally, KCWS hired a dedicated HR manager and fostered a strong, consensus-driven management team. Last year, KCWS hosted several successful events in our community such as the Annual Pow Wow, Back to School BBQ and holiday party, and hosted team building activities like retreats and staff fun days.
These successes were tempered by significant challenges. Our organization mourned the loss of a staff member and two children in our care; staff turnover remained an ongoing issue; and a proposed cultural community gathering centre and 10 sibling-homes were rejected by the County of Ponoka council. Despite these setbacks, Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society continues to prioritize the well-being of the children in our care, adapting to challenges and finding new ways to support families and build our community.
Despite these challenges, KCWS received grant funding to move forward on proposed projects and we look forward to the completion and opening of the developments in 2025. This year, KCWS plans to host more community gathering events and team building retreats for our staff.
The New Builds
Some of the most important successes of the year were the completion of two reunification homes, built as five-bedroom duplexes set to open in early 2025, and the near completion of the second group home, a 5,300 square foot space for youth. These developments are funded through grants in support from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). These builds are the first of a collection of work planned for 2025 and 2026, further supporting the children and families of Samson Cree Nation.
The reunification duplexes include five bedrooms each in a total 5,300 square feet of living space between two units for children and their families together under one roof with the support of staff. These homes were purposefully built to ensure the children in care can be reunified with their relatives and loved ones, and to stay living within our community — one of the ultimate goals of the work we do at KCWS.
The group home provides a wraparound service for children and youth in care under one roof. Alongside the existing group home, this new build will provide the opportunity to have a separate girl’s group home and a boy’s home. These homes will be landscaped with gardens, walking paths and natural plants for our culture like Saskatoon bushes, raspberries, blueberries, apple trees and natural medicinal plants.
Building Community
With the aforementioned builds completed (or near completion), work is set to begin on the community gathering centre, gym, transition home, and the 10 sibling-home community in the spring of 2025. The completed, in-progress and planned developments are designed as Net Zero Energy (NZE) builds, meaning they can generate as much clean energy as they consume (Efficiency Canada). Some features of NZE buildings include geothermal heating, solar panels, efficient lighting, ENERGY STAR appliances and insulation to reduce energy waste.
Kokum and Mosom Lodge Community Gathering Centre
The community gathering centre, also known as the Kokum and Mosom Lodge, is a gathering location for 300 children, family members and support staff to gather for group activities, social support, celebrations, and other purposes. Besides physical gathering, the other key point for the facility is to provide a sense of "belonging" to Indigenous youth — a vital element for the psychological well-being of children. This 10,000 square foot center provides a sense of support, identity and connection to enhance the community.
Sibling Home Community
The Sibling Community Homes are 1,500 square foot bungalows providing safe and affordable housing for young, orphaned Indigenous siblings under the age of 18; allowing for siblings in our care to live together. These siblings — usually in groups of two to five — will be in different ages and stages of development. With five bedrooms, these homes will provide an opportunity for siblings to live together as a family and prepare for adulthood by learning life skills together before transitioning to independent living.
The homes are staffed 24-hours-a-day with loving and supportive care workers. There will be a central hub for staff and cultural activities for clients, creating a sense of community and close familial ties.
Transition Home
The Transition Home provides safe and affordable housing for young Indigenous Peoples aged 16 – 24 who are looking for a home but are unprepared to live on their own. The program provides necessary life skills for independent living.  Â
Staffed 24-hours-a-day with caring and supportive counselors, the Transition Home is tailored to helping young adults with developmental obstacles live as independently as possible in their community. To be eligible for one of four units in the Transition Home, a person must have a developmental disability before they turn 18 years old. This means they were born with a disability or developed a disability during childhood. Having a developmental disability means an individual may need help learning new things and require assistance with day-to-day activities.
The building includes 12 private, 350 square foot one-bedroom apartment units, in which eight units are for those transitioning out of care and four for those with developmental disabilities.Â
Addressing the Challenges
** Trigger warning: brief mentions of death **
As with most things in life, success also comes with challenges. The KCWS community mourned the loss of a staff member, as well as two children in care. The loss of 15-year-old Samson Cree Nation boy made national headlines when he was fatally shot by police after calling 911 for help. These losses weigh heavily on the community of Maskwacis, and the children, families and staff of KCWS as we navigate the emotional toll. The staff came together as a community to care for one another, take part in sweats, debriefings and make use of available mental health supports. During this sad time, we focused on our purpose by continuing to provide care and attention for children.
The nature of working in child welfare comes with its own set of challenges, resulting in high staff turnover throughout 2024; an ongoing issue for KCWS. The onboarding of new staff is a costly and time consuming process, both of which are resources KCWS lacks. This includes helping new staff in familiarizing and building connections with existing staff and children in care, and the training processes for the work itself. With that said, KCWS works hard to ensure its staff has the training and support they need to do these very important jobs. All members of our team provide a vital service in their community by supporting and caring for future generations. We hired an HR manager who is familiar with the agency and community to improve the hiring process and reduce turnover in the long term. KCWS is looking forward to hiring more staff, including group care workers, drivers and security personnel, and providing them with necessary support and training for long term employment.
Like the challenges with staff turnover, KCWS has seen ongoing challenges with consistent and adequate funding to obtain the resources needed to provide the best care possible for the children and youth in our community. While the County of Ponoka council rejected the proposal for a Community Gathering Centre and Sibling Home Community, Samson Cree Nation graciously provided 80 acres of land to support the planned developments.
Looking Ahead at 2025
With the plans for the new builds underway and ongoing hiring to support their work, KCWS is looking forward to many more successes throughout 2025. The Maskwacis community can look forward to the Pow Wow in May, an annual event put on by KCWS bringing fun, culture and an opportunity for gathering.
The organization is also in the process of expanding its existing Kokum’s Advisory Committee to include both a women’s and men’s sector, known as the Kokum and Mosom Advisory Committees. For the past three years, KCWS has received community support and guidance from the Kokum’s Advisory Committee, which is expanding in February 2025. These groups of Elders help with community support and guidance in our work so we can make the most effective decisions to focus on our main goal of protecting children in a good way. Their advice provides the staff on how to keep the children connected to the language, culture, and community as a whole.
Support will also come from research and development as KCWS brings in four master’s degree students to conduct research on our initiatives to continuously improve and expand our work. This includes an expansion of the existing Hope Practice Model, a framework of care that builds on the resilience and resources that children, youth and families have within them.
You Can Support KCWS Initiatives
The best way the community can support Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society is to ensure children are being cared for safely. If you see a child in need, please call and report it; this can be done anonymously. KCWS also asks community members to protect children by not engaging in drug-related activities around them and by encouraging those who have substance abuse issues to seek help.Â
Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society was developed to protect children and that will always be our main goal. KCWS is trying to reunify families and siblings; keep children close to their relatives and culture; and meet the needs of youth physically, spiritually and emotionally. A great way to support this goal is to come work with us and help in our mission to protect and care for the children in our community. Opportunities for working with KCWS are listed on the Careers page, or learn more about Becoming a Caregiver in our community.
Although there will be challenges ahead, KCWS has shown its strength and resilience in facing these challenges with love, care and support from the community. Overall, KCWS is looking forward to expanding our services, providing better care for children and youth, and strengthening our relationship with the community in 2025 and beyond.Â