Opening in Kangiqsualujjuaq of the Qarmaapik Family House
Press Release
Kangiqsualujjuaq, Québec, March 8, 2016 – The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS), in partnership with the Kativik Regional Government (KRG) and the Kativik Municipal Housing Bureau (KMHB), is proud to announce the opening of the Qarmaapik Family House. This non-profit community organization provides community-support services for the community of Kangiqsualujjuaq. Its mission is to provide a resource for children in need of a safe place and offer counselling through various social and cultural activities for parents, families as well as the community.
“This project was made possible by the community members because of their commitment and dedication to development of a family resource centre. It enables the community to solve social problems according to an Inuit traditional approach to help reduce recourse to youth-protection services,” explained Minnie Grey, Executive Director of the NRBHSS.
Qarmaapik pursues three main objectives:
- provide room and board for children and parents in emergency situations: a private room with meals and any assistance that may be required;
- support parents in need by providing counselling on parenting:
– substance abuse, psychological abuse, teaching coping strategies and promoting lifestyle changes with a culturally relevant approach;
- provide counselling to improve or build child-parent relations:
– protocols will be designed regarding length of stay and parental visitation, as well as mandatory participation in parental improvement courses.
Everyone is welcome at the family house. A community kitchen will also be available at Qarmaapik. Families, with the help of staff members, will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare healthy home-cooked meals. Prepared meals will also be available for purchase at very affordable prices. This will create some revenue to cover expenses for Qarmaapik.
The NRBHSS is a public agency created in 1978 under the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement. It is responsible for nearly the entire territory located north of the 55th parallel in terms of the provision of health and social services for the inhabitants of the 14 communities.
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Source: Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services Department of Planning and Programming
For information: Dawn Forrest
Communications Officer, NRBHSS 819 964-2222, extension 251
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