Greetings from Chris Asham, Parent Mentor 

I would like to introduce myself, my name is Christopher Asham and I am the Parent Mentor for Pasqua First Nation. I coordinate the Maternal Child Health Program. Canadian Prenatal Nurtition Program and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Program.
I would like to take this time to inform you of what the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) is and who it is for. First this program is based on a goal setting that we the CPNP team have laid out for the community. It is to improve the health of mothers and infants. As the CPNP worker, it is my responsibility to encourage women to make the best choices when they are pregnant. This program is helping encourage breastfeeding after birth and to continue on. The program is for women across Canada who may be more likely to have unhealthy pregnancies. The program supports women in a way that fits with their culture and community and is for all women living in First Nation communities who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and or have infants up to one year old this includes parents who adopted babies less that one year ago.
The program offers:
- Breastfeeding promotions, education and support
- Nutrition screening, education and counseling
- Maternal nourishment
- Supportive activities such as a cooking class
The Maternal Child Health Program (MCH) is a program offered to Pasqua First Nation's parents. Our vision for the program is all pregnant First Nation women and families with infants and young children who live on reserve will be supported to reach their fullest development and lifetime goals. This program provides accessible, local, and integrated Maternal Child Health Services which are responsive to client, family and community needs resulting in improved health and social outcomes for the pregnant women and their families. I provide community needs in the areas:
- Improving the communications between the CHN, family doctors, obstetrician and provincial public health staff to provide effective interventions of “At Risk” births
- Integrated approach of program development and delivery
- Appropriate support and monitoring for “Art Risk” prenatal clients and new mothers
- Access to transportation for medical or appointments
- Access to safe child care to enable parents to participate in programs and services offered
- Traditional concepts and cultural knowledge to be incorporated into health care and health education
- Development of resources for teen mothers
- Parent Mentors act as a resource for young mothers and “At Risk” parents involving one on one exchanges and interaction with a group of women
- Resources in different mediums need to make prenatal and postnatal programs more attractive
- Personal development and self care to be incorporated, issues include isolation , variety in household arrangements, conflicting information not in control of own decisions
- Role clarification of existing providers to maximize the use of existing resources
- Providing record or care to empower client and improve care coordination and communication
As for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder I provide information and resources to the families along with support.
We have taken our communities health and safety a bit more seriously as we now have a Medical First Response Team consisting of 13-15 members and I have the privilege of being their training officer. It is my responsibility to the team to provide the knowledge and skills to be offered in training and on scene of an incident.
With that, I leave you with this encouraging advice that all people and their environment possess the strength that can be used to improve the quality of their own lives. If you feel that you would like to get in touch with me my contact information is:
Christopher Asham, Parent Mentor
Circle of Care Health Center
P.O. Box 50
Pasqua First Nation
S0G 5M0
Phone: (306) 332-3766 ext. 31
Fax: (306) 332-3766
Email: chrisasham@paskwa.com