Our staff have been working tirelessly to make sure our homes and programs are safe for both staff and participants.

This has not been easy, but our incredible staff have done all they can to make sure everyone is as safe and healthy as possible.

These are only a handful of the changes our Services Areas have implemented:

In our Shift Staffed Homes program, all staff continue to wear full PPE protection, which was implemented when the pandemic began.

Though our Adult Day Services cannot provide services at 100 per cent capacity, they are providing services to those considered in critical need. They continue to follow the health and safety guidelines put forth by the Government of Manitoba since the beginning of the pandemic. These guidelines include PPE equipment, enhanced cleaning procedures, and more.

Our Adult Day Services staff are also virtually connecting with individuals who cannot attend programming in-person and are giving them a variety of different activities to do every week.

In our Training Resources for Youth (TRY) program, all case managers are working within the community and most participants are attending classes one on one, with tutoring sessions available. TRY is following safety guidelines and TRY classes are now conducted virtually, with in-class options available to a limited number of participants on an as needed basis. These are only some of the changes our Service Areas have implemented for Covid-19. Our staff work around the clock to ensure the health and safety of everyone, and we cannot express our thanks enough

Today we want to recognize our staff who have been with us for 30 and 35 years.

Around this time every November, we host a Years of Service Recognition event. We show our support and appreciation to every staff member who has been with New Directions for 5, 10, 15 years and up, in five-year increments.

Unfortunately, that is not a possibility this year, so we wanted to show our appreciation in any way we can.

This year we have one staff member celebrating their 30-year anniversary with New Directions and another staff celebrating their 35-year anniversary.

Some staff wanted to be shared on Social Media, where some chose to be recognized in their own teams.

These are the staff that chose to be recognized on social media (in order):

30 Years: Chuck Groening

To all staff that are celebrating their 30-year anniversary with us, congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.

Today we want to recognize our staff who have been with us for 20 & 25 years.

Around this time every November, we host a Years of Service Recognition event. We show our support and appreciation to every staff member who has been with New Directions for 5, 10, 15 years and up, in five-year increments.

Unfortunately, that is not a possibility this year, so we wanted to show our appreciation in any way we can.

This year we have one staff member celebrating their 20-year anniversary with New Directions and five staff celebrating their 25-year anniversary.

Some staff were fine to be celebrated on Social Media , where some chose to be recognized in their own teams.

These are the staff that chose to be recognized on social media (in order):

25 Years: Sean Gander, Tereza Gomes, Karen Hill, Chris Sehr

To all staff that are celebrating their 20 and 25-year anniversary with us, congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.

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Today we want to recognize our staff who have been with us for 10 & 15 years.

Around this time every November, we host a Years of Service Recognition event. We show our support and appreciation to every staff member who has been with New Directions for 5, 10, 15 years and up, in five-year increments.

Unfortunately, that is not a possibility this year, so we wanted to show our appreciation in any way we can.

This year we have 10 staff members celebrating their 10-year anniversary with New Directions and five staff celebrating their 15-year anniversary.

Some staff were fine to be celebrated on Social Media , where some chose to be recognized in their own teams.

These are the staff that chose to be recognized on social media (in order):

10 Years: Mark Hill Bausa, Carolyn Peters, and Jamison Dyck
15 Years: Aaron Montney, Frank Conci, John Bevan

To all staff that are celebrating their 10- and 15-year anniversary with us, congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.

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Every year in November, we host a Years of Service Recognition event. We show our support and appreciation to every staff member who has been with New Directions for 5, 10, 15, years and up, in five-year increments.

Unfortunately, that is not a possibility this year, so we wanted to show our appreciation in any way we can.

Today we are featuring the 42 employees who have been with New Directions for 5 years.

Five years is the first milestone we recognize and it is an important one. It is the beginning of what we hope to be a long and treasured time with New Directions.

So, to all staff that are celebrating their 5-year anniversary with us, congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and commitment.

Please download and read through all of the below documents. If you believe being a Home Share Provider is right for you, fill in the applications and send them with a resume and cover letter to: homeshare@newdirections.mb.ca

Only those considered for the position will be contacted.

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Child Home Supports

At New Directions, we offer person-centered, family focused supports that are rooted in values of cultural  integrity. Our Child Home Supports service area uses an intensive case management format to provide individualized in-home support to children and youth with complex support needs. Working from an attachment focused, trauma-informed  philosophy, foster parents are supported in providing children and youth with holistic, person-centered supports which promote meaningful connections to their family, culture, and home community. The supports we offer are intended to ensure children and their natural networks  maintain meaningful connections within their urban and rural communities in   Manitoba.

All applicants must have:

• A vested interest in supporting and advocating for children or youth with a high level of needs. These needs may include: past trauma, verbal or physical aggression, a tendency to run away from home, involvement with alcohol or drugs, sexual exploitation, and/or intellectual disabilities.
• An understanding of, and/or willingness to learn about, attachment and trauma informed practices, as well values of cultural competency.
• A willingness to assist a child or youth in maintaining close ties with their culture, home community and/or family, and to immerse oneself in the child’s culture to achieve this, including adapting the home environment to reflect this.
• Time to devote to the child or youth requiring support, including assisting and accompanying the child or youth to appointments and meetings as required.
• Compassion and a willingness for growth and new learning opportunities, and to work collaboratively with the program support team.
• A willingness and ability to comply with all licensing requirements.

Ideal applicants will have:

• An understanding of the inter-generational impacts of residential schools and colonization on First Nations communities.
• Minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with children in care and/or experience working in the fields of mental health, addictions, or social services.
• Strong communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding that fostering may be temporary or long term with each individual child and is intended to provide complementary parenting to the child’s natural support system.

The successful candidate will be subject to Criminal Record, Child & Adult Abuse Registry, Prior Contact checks a Driver’s License Abstract and First Aid Certification. Non-violent Crisis Intervention and knowledge of A.S.L. is an asset.

Child Home Supports
New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults & Families
Contact Name: Resource Coordinator
Phone: 204-786-7051 ext. 5210 Fax: 204-204-774-6468
Email: childhomesupports@newdirections.mb.ca

New Directions is committed to equity and diversity and especially welcomes applications from persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and newcomers to Canada.

United Way is running their Walk This Way event to raise $100,000.

• Walk this Way is on September 18, 2020.
• New Directions staff and community members will be meeting at St. Vital Park from 2:00-4:00 on Sept. 18 to walk together. (map to follow).
• If all participants walk a total of 5,000 km, United Way will receive $100,000 from its sponsors.
• Participants are required to either download the MoveSpring app or enter your kilometres walked manually. (United Way encourages participants to download the app right away so that you can receive updates.)
• When you register under the United Way umbrella there’s an option under Additional Information to enter your workplace or Team Name. United Way will track teams steps, internally, and post this info on the Team Leaderboard. We encourage everyone in the New Directions community to join our Team and add your steps to our goal!
• You must open the app the day of the event to track your steps.
• Don’t like just walking or running, feel free to cycle, canoe, play sports etc. Just make sure to convert those to steps on the app!

https://unitedwaywinnipeg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/UnitedWayWinnipeg-WalkThisWay-Onboarding-Doc.pdf

Everyone deserves a chance. A chance to grow, a chance to work, and a chance to be a part of something.

But not everyone is given that chance. Many Manitobans experiencing poverty or those living with educational difficulties, mental health concerns, and disabilities do not have the same chances that many of us take for granted.  

ND Property Services (NDPS) exists to give people that chance. They are a social enterprise lawn care and small general maintenance business that provides marginalized individuals with meaningful employment, hands on technical job training, and enhance employability through essential skills development.

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Nelson Sumner is an example of someone that was not given the chance many take for granted. He decided he wanted to work after given the choice of going back to school or going to work.

After recently becoming a father, he made the choice to be there for his family and decided to continue his work with ND Property Services to support his family.

Nelson loves doing flooring work for ND Property Services’ clients where he specializes in removing and installing flooring and has done some painting for clients looking to do some minor renovations.

“I know what I am doing, and I can get it done fast,” says Nelson. “And painting walls is a cherry on top.”

He enjoys coming in to work every day and is constantly cracking jokes and having fun doing what he loves.

Peter Goosehead Ross is another young man utilizing the benefits of ND Property Services.

“I went from dumb nonsense and jail to being a dad of a boy and a girl,” says Peter.

On probation, Peter did not think he would benefit from working for a property maintenance business but was ordered to go into the program by his probation officer.

 Once he started, he quickly changed his mind, and Peter has been able to make a lot of changes to his life that he wanted. He sees the benefits that ND Property Services has on his life, and he has not regretted his decision.

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ND Property Services helps adolescents and adults in a variety of settings. These individuals may be at risk youth, individuals that may have an intellectual disability and/or physical disability and/or use American Sign Language to communicate.

Sheldon Guyer started with ND Property Services in June, after the social enterprise, From the Ground Up was merged with ND Property Services. He applied to NDPS because he already had the skills he needed.

His favourite part of NDPS is that he gets to just hang out with the guys.

“I really like the guys, getting along with them, being all part of a team and completing shifts,” says Sheldon. “There’s no stress and no pressure. You just have a good day at work.

Sheldon specializes in mowing lawns for the various ND Property Services clients.

“They choose to come in every day and work because they want to be here and be a part of something”

Alex Guidry — Coordinator of ND Property Services, says he is impressed by a lot of the individuals that come to work every day for ND Property Services.

“They choose to come in every day and work because they want to be here and be a part of something” says Alex.

Michael Kozler is another of NDPS’ newest lawn-care experts. He heard about ND Property Services when the Sara Riel Inc. program asked if he would be interested in getting back to work and has been working since early July 2020.

“It’s great because I am doing stuff, I feel comfortable with and there’s not a lot of stress,” says Michael.

Michael also likes that he can work shorter shifts with NDPS and still fit in appointments with his therapist.

He has an Environmental Science Degree from the University of Manitoba, and is hoping that one day, he can use his skills to get a job more in his field of study.

“This is definitely a step in between fully jumping back into work,” adds Michael.

Michael is interested in pursuing a career with his environmental science degree, and is glad that ND Property Services gets him back into a healthy routine; waking up every morning, making a lunch, having a good breakfast and getting to work on time.

“Sometimes you get in those bad habits, staying up till 5 a.m. and sleeping all day. They’re not good.”

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ND Property Services has different benefits for each person that works there, but there are benefits none the less.

“I’ve had multiple cases where previous graduates of the program will come back looking for employees and will come to us to hire our guys,” says Alex Guidry.

This has led to stable employment for several ND Property Services employees, Alex claims.

Without a chance to gain the skills and experience that ND Property Services gives people; many would still experience barriers to employment.

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If you or someone you know might be interested in the work that ND Property Services provides, or that you believe could benefit from working for ND Property Services, please contact them at:

Email: NDPropertyServices@newdirections.mb.ca
Phone: 204-786-7052.