Pathways to Healing: A 12-Week Indigenous-Led Youth Mental Health Program

The Affinity Mentorship Foundation (AMF) is launching a 12-week closed-group Youth Mental Health Program (September–November 2025), co-led by a registered provisional psychologist and an Indigenous cultural facilitator at Miskanawah (Diamond Willow Youth Lodge). This program supports youth ages 12–24 at risk of justice involvement, offering mental health and cultural connection in a safe, trauma-informed, and community-based setting.

Each weekly session will include opening and closing sharing circles, culturally grounded teachings from the Seven Sacred Teachings, and activities that promote emotional regulation, self-reflection, and communication. Born from AMF’s extensive involvement in the Calgary justice and community mental health space, including Miskanawah Diamond Willow Youth Lodge and Calgary Young Offenders Centre (CYOC) and in leading a province-wide Youth Legal Needs Assessment, this initiative integrates evidence-based psychological practices and traditional Indigenous knowledge. It fills a critical gap in Calgary’s youth mental health support during reintegration or community risk phases, offering a consistent, supportive environment that strengthens social belonging and mental resilience.

This program builds on AMF’s existing mentorship programming and expertise and aligns with our current priority to move toward centralized service delivery in Calgary for easier, more equitable access to mental health services for at-risk youth.

This program directly supports 12–15 youth ages 12–24 in Calgary, with a focus on Indigenous and racialized youth at risk of involvement in the justice system. These youth often experience systemic barriers, trauma, and gaps in culturally safe mental health care.

Youth will benefit through improved emotional regulation, stronger cultural identity, and deeper connections to mentors and community supports. The program's co-facilitators, including an Indigenous cultural coordinator and a registered provisional psychologist, will ensure content is both clinically sound and culturally relevant.

In 2023, 96% of AMF youth reported their mentor cared for them even when they made mistakes, and 100% said the relationship mattered. This relational trust carries into group programming, fostering psychological safety and lasting growth.

The broader benefit includes reduced reoffending risk, enhanced reintegration outcomes, and stronger mental health outcomes in a high-needs demographic with limited access to culturally-anchored therapeutic services. Our overall vision is that mentored youth become peer mentors in their community to increase resilience within their peer and family networks, and as a result increase resilience of their entire communities.