Neqotkuk Health Programs and Services

 

 

Neqotkuk Health Programs and Services is an accredited organization with Accreditation Canada.  By achieving this, Neqotkuk Health Services has confirmed its commitment to improving the care and services it provides to its clients.

Below you will find a brief summary designed to inform the community and our partners of the wide range of programs and services that are available to access through our two sites: the Neqotkuk Health Center and the Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge. 

These programs have been developed and maintained over the years to offer continuity within the Neqotkuk Health Services Organization and to serve as addressing priorities based on ‘client needs’ within the Maliseet First Nation at Tobique.

Auricular Acupuncture:  Acupuncture clinic is held weekly at the health center.  Acupuncture is an effective treatment for any substance misused.  Acupuncture helps headaches, body aches, sweats, sleep disturbances, tremors, anxiety, depression, mental clarity, and it decreases anger as well as reduces cravings for alcohol and other drugs.  Acupuncture helps stabilize you physically and emotionally and increases your ability to focus.  Acupuncture will help you to stay clean and sober.  Acupuncture relaxes you from the inside.

 

Blood Pressure, Glucose and Cholesterol Checks, Dressing Changes: these procedures are done by the Health Center’s trained staff. These can be done upon request from the client.

 

Immunizations and Communicable Disease Control: The Community Health Nurse and the Licensed Practical Nurse’s are certified for providing immunizations to different age groups. The Health Center is responsible for the following aspects of communicable disease control: contact tracing, diagnosis, treatment, outbreak management and follow up. 

Community Health Nurse:  273-5430

 

Nutrition Services: A Registered Dietician is available 3 days a week.  There are a variety of services that the Dietician can offer to the community such as: individual or group counseling on diabetes, weight reduction, healthy eating, cholesterol, hypertension, cancer, and anemia. A Dietician can provide education programs such as chronic disease prevention, cooking classes, menus, nutrition for a healthy lifestyle to all ages.  Provide postnatal care for Mother and baby on breastfeeding, formula preparation, and introduction of solid food and growth chart. Provide grocery tours that can teach about food security, budgeting, how to read food labels and good food choices. The Dietician works with all community members that may want to access the broad range of services outside the local hospital. She is available for home visits, upon request from the client. If you have any questions related to nutrition, please call 273-5430 or the direct line at 273-5568.

 

Community Learning Garden:  Coordinated by the Dietician, this community learning garden teaches people how to grow vegetables from seed to harvest.  Generates produce for community members to access and hosts gardening learning events.  Tiller is available for use by community members.  A greenhouse was recently added to compliment gardening activities.

 

Coordination of Non-Insured Health Benefits and Medicare: The Community Health Representatives work closely with First Nations & Inuit Health Branch Non-Insured Health Benefit staff in regards to applications for dental, vision, medical equipment and for special authorization for medical approvals. The Community Health Representatives also work with the Provincial Medicare for application or renewal of Medicare cards.

 

Child Health: the Community Health Nurse with assistance from the Licensed Practical Nurses conduct periodic screening checks within the community headstart, daycare, school and home. Screening checks are offered for assessing normal growth and development, promoting dental hygiene, overall hygiene and advising parents in the promotion of positive child rearing.

 

Pre-Natal Classes: are typically held for six consecutive weeks – twice yearly. These classes consist of explaining the stages of fetal development and the mothers changing body. Sample information may be presented on nutrition, fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effects, smoking, breathing techniques, promotion of breastfeeding, baby care, a hospital tour and a baby food class. Weekly attendance incentives and door prizes are provided. Nutritious snacks are provided to the participants. Milk or juice coupons are provided to expecting mothers and breastfeeding mothers up to three months after they give birth (4 liters per week). This

demonstrates our support to the importance of a healthy start for our new births within the community. Milk/Juice coupons can be accessed by phoning Paula McNally, Community Health Nurse or through the Receptionist at 273-5430.

 

Pre-Natal Clinics: Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurses and Dietitian are on hand for blood pressure checks, getting weighed, questions regarding food and nutrition, counseling. 

 

Post-Natal Services: the Community Health Nurse along with a Community Health Representative or Licensed Practical Nurses conducts home visits. Visits include a newborn baby assessment that covers weight, head circumference, length and counseling. All newborns are eligible for a baby gift bag for the new arrival which includes moccasins, outfit, baby samples and pamphlets with lots of good information.

 

Well-Baby Clinics: getting your baby weighed, questions about eating and the general health of your baby. Available anytime by stopping in or calling the Community Health Nurse at 273-5430 or 273-5563.

 

Maternal Child Health Licensed Practical Nurse:  the LPN under the Maternal Child Health Program utilizes the Growing Great Kids Home Visiting Curriculum in working directly with families, promoting parenting skills, healthy lifestyles and wellness.  This is done in partnership with other health workers and community program staff.  In support of the belief that every parent wants the best for his/her child(ren), the LPN will provide training, information and support in raising healthy families. This will include FASD awareness and training, prevention activities, information on child development, training in child-rearing strategies, cultural skills, and other family centered activities. 

 

Infant Massage:  the LPN’s offer a 5 week program that teaches parents the art of infant massage.  Every Parent and every infant should have the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits that come from early bonds that are loving, healthy and secure.  Basic massage strokes offers the parents the opportunity to discuss childrearing.

 

Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative and Chronic Disease Prevention: Through this program we offer diabetic education and screening clinics.   Diabetes bingo and support group events are held monthly.  These services are provided by our Diabetes Team.

 

Foot Care: The Health Center offers a Foot Care Clinic monthly. This service is available to those individuals experiencing problems with diabetes, limited mobility, arthritis, ingrown toenails, calluses, etc. 2 Licensed Practical Nurses are trained to deliver Footcare to the community.  For more information or to make an appointment call 273-5430.

 

Medical Transportation: The Medical Van is available for local travel for appointments to and from the hospital, eye doctor, and dentist or for prescription pick-ups. You can reach the Medical Van by calling 273-0382. The Medical Van hours of service are from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Coordination for out of town travel may also be provided by calling 1-800-565-3294 to those having to see specialists or other specific treatment through the Non-Insured Health Benefits program. Ambulance bills for registered band members are covered through NIHB.  These bills can be dropped off at the Health Center.  The Medical Transportation Coordinator can be reached at 273-0266.

 

Mental Health Counseling: Individual or family counseling services are available for members of the community by our Licensed Psychologist(s). Services can include: adult psychological assessments; psychotherapy services to children, adolescents and adults, providing critical incident stress debriefing, grief counseling; developmental counseling; anger management; parental counseling; depression; pain management, treating individuals diagnosed with chronic health disorders such as chronic pain and fibromyalgia and any other identified client specific counseling need.

 

Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator:  Terry Francis is the National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS) Coordinator.  This National Program was developed with the goal of reducing risk factors and promoting protective (preventive) factors against suicide.  Terry coordinates, facilitates, organizes and delivers many suicide prevention training and awareness events.

 

Home Visits: These are available anytime by any of the Staff. We encourage requests by individuals for home visits to those individuals that are new mothers, diabetics, shut-ins, physically challenged, require suture care removal, hospital aftercare and/or chronic care patients.  If you are concerned about a loved one or yourself, please get in touch with us.

 

Lab Services:  Lab services consisting of blood draws and lab specimens is held every Friday.  You can book your appointment by calling the health center.

 

Dental Therapy Clinics:  Dental Therapists are health care providers who conduct primary oral dental treatment and preventive dental services. Dental therapists work with dentists to provide community-based preventive health programs to meet identified community needs.  The job responsibilities include:  Patient assessment; Oral diagnosis; Dental Radiology; Restorative Procedures; Local Anesthesia; Oral Surgery; Periodontal Techniques;  Health Education; and Maintenance and Equipment Repairs.  If you are in need of an appointment, call 273-5430.

 

Children’s Oral Health Initiative:  The COHI Aide schedules and delivers oral health services that include: Acting as main link between the dental professional and the community.  Applying fluoride varnish on children’s teeth.  Train and inform parents/caregivers the basics of proper Oral Health Methods.  Arrange oral health screenings for children aged 0-7 whom live within the community.  Assist in arranging presentations to individuals and groups such as Tobique Daycare, Tobique Headstart children, Mah-Sos School and Pre-Natal groups.  The COHI Aide provides services as directed by a Dental Therapist, Regional Program Coordinator or supervisor.

 

Nurse Practitioner:  The Nurse Practitioner provides primary health care services, illness/injury prevention, chronic disease management and community development services, using a population health approach in an interdisciplinary team of health providers.  The service model is based on the principles of primary health care with the primary goal of supporting communities in meeting their health care needs. 

The Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with advanced educational preparation in nursing.  As a member of the interdisciplinary team, the NP provides direct care to scheduled and unscheduled patients across the lifespan with a variety of health conditions.  The NP evaluates patient outcomes, provides consultation to and consults with other team members.  The NP also utilizes research, leadership and educator knowledge and skills to support/provide health promotion, illness and injury prevention, and community development initiatives.

These services are available Monday to Friday.  If you are in need of an appointment, call 273-5430.

 

Family Physician Clinics:   

Doctor Mike Perley comes to the Health Center every Wednesday afternoon to see patients on an appointment basis. This is a year round clinic with Tobique’s own on-site Maliseet Medical Doctor.

Tel Appointment:  273-5430

Clinic Receptionist:  273-5457

Woodstock Clinic:  328-8813:8814

 

Professional Services: Doctor Michael Perley is a Consulting Physician.  This allows for professional supervision and consultative accessibility that the health programs and staff access to offer ongoing professional services. In addition, Dr. Perley has extensive knowledge with the National Drug Benefit List.  

 

Home and Community Care Program:  Deborah Audibert, Nurse and Home Care Coordinator, conducts home-visits to assess and assist clients in home care services.  Trained Personal Support Workers provide home management, personal care and respite assistance to clients based on the assessed need. The goal is to promote the clients ability to live independently in a private home.

Home and Community Care provides client assessments, case management, home care nursing, personal care, home support and in-home respite services. Service is for all community residents of any age.

Tel: 273-5430

 

Meals On Wheels:  This service is provided three times a week on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. It is designed to meet special needs of the clients who meet the criteria. Accommodations can be made for special food textures and allergy/food intolerances. To see if you qualify for Meals On Wheels, please contact Deborah Audibert, Nurse-Home Care Coordinator at 273-5430.

 

Medical Supplies/Equipment: The Health Center has special medical equipment that can be loaned out for a specific time. These include: wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes, tub transfers, portable commodes, hospital beds, urinals, geriatric chair and much more. Condoms, dental hygiene products, various medical supplies are available for clients upon request.

 

The Prevention Program offers, promotes and encourages drug-free activities, information, education and support for community members who enjoy their alcohol and drug free way of life.  The program also offers information and support for community members who are concerned about another person’s alcohol, drugs or gambling patterns.

 

Addictions Services Program:  The Wolostoqewiyik Healing Lodge provides three areas of programs for individuals and families to discover and understand ways to achieve a more satisfying way of life for themselves and for others. The programs are delivered by experienced and trained staff and are available to males and females of any age group. The program can be presented with a traditional emphasis or with an emphasis on the twelve-step program. Quite often clients choose a blend of both the traditional and the twelve-step presentations.

Tel: 273-5403.

 

The Addiction Treatment Program is for any person or group who wants to stop being a victim of alcohol, drug use, gambling or being just plain miserable and tired of their addictive behaviors. Education, counseling and discussion are available about the effects that addictive behaviors can have upon the body, mind and spirit. New ways can be learned to better understand, react and work through the cycles of life’s problems and situations. The treatment program includes the following options: In-Clients: participants who attend a consecutive 40-day program available at scheduled intervals a year. Day-Clients: participants who attend daily sessions and counseling for a period determined by their individualized treatment plan. This program is not available during in-client programs.  Out-Clients: participants who attend information sessions or one to one counselling on a more casual schedule such as one or two hours once a week or every two weeks. Evening and after school sessions/groups can be available if requested.

 

Mental Health Nursing:  A part-time Mental Health Nurse is available at the Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge to providing mental health nursing care services.  These services include to promote and maintain optimal mental health, prevent mental illness, manage mental and physical disorders and to assess and support those with mental health and addiction problems.  The Mental Health Nurse provides clinical support services to staff, individuals or groups from the community of Tobique First Nation.  Appointments can be booked by calling 273-5403.

 

The Family Violence Prevention Program provides informational sessions and counseling about personal development, relationships, anger and how to prevent negative reacting to dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Information can be provided about the court processes, victims’ rights and services and ways of alternative justice. The Family Violence Prevention Counselor supplements the addiction program by providing information and counseling on personal growth issues.  You can reach Mary Solomon, RSW by calling 273-5403.

 

Talking Circles are held weekly usually every Monday evening.  These confidential Talking Circles are facilitated by a Traditional Caregiver, Marty Bear.  This is a sharing and healing process where the participants sit in a circle.  This process encourages people to speak from the heart.  Each member of the Circle is given an opportunity to speak and many opportunities to listen.  This process teaches people to listen for messages that may be spiritually meant for them and useful in their own lives.  A healing process occurs for participants because they are truly being heard and their experience is validated rather than being interrupted.  Talking Circles provide a contrast to experiences where people share with family and friends that may result in unsolicited advice.

Participants are allowed to share their feelings about being a member of the Circle without disclosing who was present.  This process builds trust and builds a connection and a community support network among the participants of the Circle. Talking Circles provide a highly-valued service for community members.

 

Step Programs and Support Groups:  The Staff, volunteers and the guests of the Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge offer a monthly schedule of Step-programs and Support Groups to community members and guests who desire to strengthen their individual pride and feelings of self-worth.   Everyone is welcome.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Meetings, Gamblers Anonymous (GA) Meetings, Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) Meetings, Sweatlodge Ceremonies       

 

Exercise Room:  The Health Center has an exercise room with various exercise equipment such as an elliptical machine and treadmills.  This is free to use during normal working hours. 

 

Environmental Assessments: If you have concerns with air quality, water testing, mold, etc.

call the Health Center, your name and number will be put into the Environmental Log. An Environmental Health Officer will be around to assist in addressing your problem.

 

Community-Based Water Monitor Program:  Through the Health Canada Drinking Water Safety Program, A Certified Water Monitor, ensures drinking water is monitored as per the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.  The program enables the Tobique First Nation to sample and test the drinking water for microbiological contamination where it is difficult or impossible to do on a regular basis and/or to get the samples to a laboratory in a timely manner.  Health Canada trains Community-Based Drinking Water Quality Monitors to sample and test the drinking water for potential bacteriological contamination as a final check on the overall safety of the drinking water at tap.

 

Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program:  Two Service Providers, the Cultural Support Provider and Regional Health Support Worker provide former IRS students and their families with access to traditional and culturally safe support services.  The program objective is to ensure that former IRS students and their family have access to an appropriate level of emotional health and wellness support so that they may safely address issues relating to the disclosure of childhood abuse and the impacts of these experiences.

 

It’s Not Your Fault Program for youth ages 12 and older.  It’s Not Your Fault Program explores why abuse and neglect occur and where youth can go for help.   This two-hour program helps young people identify: emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and neglect, how victims cope, why abuse happens, who can provide help, how to help a friend.

Highly-trained volunteer prevention educators detail protective legislation, disclosure and reporting procedures, and discuss the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A video presentation and interactive activities support the delivery of this material, and youth leave with a summary of important points and contact numbers. This program has received the ‘Seal of Recommendation’ from Curriculum Services Canada.

 

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Service:  The service is intended to reduce the buildup of stress in people who experience a critical incident or in people with high burnout jobs. It promotes good mental health for Neqotkuk Health Service’s staff, Emergency Service staff and community members.

A critical incident is a situation that is traumatic for individuals involved.  The incident causes the individual to experience unusually strong emotional response any time during or after the incident.  When this stress builds up it causes burn-out and disruption in normal routine.  The debriefing process has been found to be helpful in dealing with the abnormal stress that may be encountered from incidents occurring within the community.

Contact:  273-5430

 

Mental Wellness Team Project:  The Maliseet Mental Wellness Team Pilot Project works to improve treatment outcomes for mental health and addictions problems.  Build capacity for mental wellness in the Maliseet First Nations communities in New Brunswick.  Build partnerships to bring western and aboriginal approaches together in the design and delivery of mental health and addictions programming.

The project has an overall steering committee, a program coordinator, a core clinical team (which includes a part-time mental health nurse, visiting psychiatrist, psychologist and traditional healer).  Some members of the core clinical team serves all five Maliseet communities. 

Please contact the Neqotkuk Health Center at 273-5430  if you would like to obtain services or learn more about this project.

Aboriginal Shield Program:  The Aboriginal Shield Program (ASP), one of RCMP’s Drugs and Organized Crime Awareness Service’s (DOCAS) main initiatives, is a youth-driven program that provides substance abuse prevention and healthy lifestyles coaching to Aboriginal communities.

The ASP enables Aboriginal youth to gain a sense of cultural connection and pride, while learning to make informed healthy lifestyle choices about drug use and related activities.

The program offers culturally relevant teachings that can easily be adapted and expanded to fit individual community needs and complement existing local initiatives.

This program is delivered at Mah Sos School annually by the Family Wellness Worker and NNADAP Worker.

Grief Recovery Specialists:  Skilled and Certified Community Grief Recovery Specialists are available to help community members dealing with grief issues. The Outreach Program provides a safe environment for participants to take the actions of The Grief Recovery Method. You will look at your old beliefs about dealing with loss, what losses have affected your life, and take new actions that will lead you to completion of the pain attached to those losses. As a result, participants can find that they are able to discover and complete what was left emotionally unfinished due to a death, a divorce, or other major loss (www.griefrecoverymethod.com).  Please call the Health Center if you would like to speak to a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist.