Life Skills Projects

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Life Skills Projects

• Presented by Tara Blanchard
• Executive Director
• Moose Jaw Multicultural Council

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Life Skills Manual

• In 2006 the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council
  received funding from CIC to develop a life
  skills manual for clients.
• The Manual was developed in very basic English
  with lots of visual aids so clients with varied
  language capabilities could make use of its
  contents.

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• Staff also used the manual as a resource when
  conducting home visits. The manual guides staff
  as to which areas they need to cover during
  orientation. Staff are also encouraged to provide
  additional orientation when needed.
• Onsite clients were provided with a copy of the
  manual and the response feedback was positive

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Life Skills Manual Contents

• Some of the following information is covered in
  the Life Skills Manual
• Outdoor care
  Knowing your neighbourhood
  
• Indoor care
  Mail
• Appliances
  Renting
• Safety
  Hygiene
• Security
  Clothing
• Insurance
  Birth Control
• Conserving Resources Banking

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Life Skills for Women

• In 2007 MJMC received funding from CIC to create
  another manual. This time it was entitled Life
  Skills for Women.
• The booklet is designed to give women information
  that may be considered difficult or taboo to
  discuss.

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Life Skills for Women contents

• Some of the following information is covered in
  the Life Skills for Women Manual
• Hygiene Breast
  self-examinations
• Clothing Mammograms
• The female body Birth Control
• Menstruation Sexually
  Transmitted Infections
• Pregnancy Mental Health
• Menopause Abuse
• Pap tests Womens
  rights

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Life Skills Home Visitor Pilot

• In 2006 MJMC has received funding from CIC and
  has contracted a home visitor to conduct a
  comprehensive life skills project with clients
  that includes a home visit, additional grocery
  store orientation and referrals for health and
  medical needs

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• The Life Skills Facilitator demonstrates cleaning
  and maintenance of the home as well as an
  orientation on issues such as
• Nutrition
• Hygiene
• Seasonal clothing
• Budgeting

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• The Life Skills Facilitator schedules extra
  visits with the client to take them on an
  additional tour of the local Superstore to help
  them make better choices when shopping and to
  point out where they can buy ethnic foods.

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Summary

• During the past few home visits the facilitator
  has reported some of the following
• She has encouraged clients to eat healthier by
  incorporating more fruits and vegetables in their
  diets
• Demonstrated cleaning and what products to use
• Assisted clients with writing cheques
• Pointed out the fire alarms in the home and how
  to change batteries
• Addressed dental hygiene issues
• Demonstrated to clients the proper way to use an
  oven

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• The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council is hopeful
  that we will receive funding from CIC to
  implement a formal Life Skills Curriculum for
  future newcomers to Canada