[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Chiefs of Ontario edited.jpg” caption=”Rosella Kinoshameg, President Peter George, Donna Loft and Anju Joshi attended the training session. Photo courtesy of Anju Joshi.”]The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) hosted 50 members of First Nations communities from across Ontario for Community Support Services Care/Case Management Training at the Downtown Centre from Dec. 5 to Dec. 7.

The two-day training session offers professional development to community and support services staff who work with elderly adults and their families in First Nations communities.

“The community support services staff face many challenges developing and implementing new services in their First Nations communities,” said Anju Joshi, associate professor in the Department of Health, Aging and Society and academic co-ordinator of the training program. “I am grateful for this opportunity to assist the participants in providing quality services to meet the needs of older adults in their communities.”

Led by McMaster faculty and members of the Chiefs of Ontario, the seminars examine a variety of issues, including physical and mental concerns facing the elderly as well as indigenous methods of healing and wellness.

“It is extremely rewarding to work with the First Nations front line staff as they are very keen learners with diverse backgrounds and roles,” said Joshi. “I am very impressed with their interest and enthusiasm and their willingness to share their experiences and concerns. It is really exciting to see the knowledge exchange taking place among the program faculty and the participants.”

The first series of seminars was held last month from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24, and was attended by 50 participants. Since 2002, the CCE has organized four training sessions. Funding for this year's program was provided by the Government of Ontario.

“It is through the leadership of Donna Loft, health program advisor with the Chiefs of Ontario, and her commitment to education that this funding was made available by the Ontario provincial government to provide this training,” said Joshi.