New resource will help youths in care stay safe

THUNDER BAY – The digitally released 24-page resource, How We Stay Safe: Coming into Care with Tikinagan Child & Family Services, promised to help young readers understand the changes that may occur while transitioning into foster care.

Although How We Stay Safe was developed in consultation with Tikinagan childcare workers, the finished product was written and illustrated by Jacinda Brisson, Tikinagan communications assistant, based out of Red Lake.

However, a major contributor to the book was Tyleen Strang, a former youth in care and advocate on Tikinagan’s youth team, Noodawishinaam Oshkiniigiwag.

Her lived experience helped guide the book.

“When I first came into care, I was five years old and I really hated it for a long time and would run," Strang said in an interview with Dougall Media.

"Growing up away from family and all being separated is hard. As a result, most of my younger siblings and myself have lost our language, but now that I’m home, I’m slowly regaining my language since it’s spoken on a daily basis. Now that I’m older I’ve realized that Tikinagan has helped me through so much, even on days where I was being a hard-head and that they don’t give up.”

Strang hopes the book will aid youths in care to feel supported and allow them to understand their feelings are valid.

“I hope that this book can let other youth and children know that they aren’t alone and that we’re going through similar experiences, being away from home and family. This experience can make you feel sad, angry, frustrated or even confused. You may have questions and that is all normal,” explained Strang.

She said when growing up she had trouble making connections with people because she thought she would be moved to a new foster home.

“As I look back on my time in care, I remember my foster parents and workers constantly trying to get me to see that they cared. It took me a long time to put my trust out there and I was very cautious with my feelings, because I didn’t want to get too close to people in case I moved.

"When I did, everything seemed better because I didn’t have to be cautious or feel afraid anymore. They made me feel cared for and realize that there are good people out there,” said Strang.

As a youth advocate for Tikinagan, her role is to provide children and youths in care a safe space so those going through similar experiences have an outlet to voice their emotions.

To learn more about Children and Youth in Care Day or download your digital copy of How We Stay Safe, go to Tikinagan.org.