Life Books

Creating a Path 
(for Aboriginal children and youth)

My Journey 
(for non-Aboriginal children and youth)

To order a lifebook, please see our website section "Brochures and Documentation"
All rights reserved
Copyright © 2007 Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services

How it Started…

In 2004, the staff members of Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services began to develop Creating a Path for Aboriginal children in care when we came to understand that:

Many children in care do not have a life book, scrap book or photo album;

Many children do not feel connected with the Ministry version of a life book and voice that it does not reflect who they are as Aboriginal children in care;

Some children voiced that the Ministry “tried to make me fill life books out” and minimize or do not understand the significance of recording their own lived experiences;

Many children do not feel supported to gather information that will assist in the completion of their life book; and

Family members want a life book for their children that reflects their Aboriginal identity.

Our goal is to put one of the Creating a Path© life books into the hands of each Aboriginal child and youth in Victoria who is in continuing care, temporary care, special needs and voluntary care.  In early 2007, we took an opportunity to work in partnership with Mr. Rod Barrett of MCFD (Kelowna) to develop the My Journey © life book for non-Aboriginal children in care as well.  In October 2007 we shared our life books with an Indigenous child welfare agency in Melbourne, Australia.  The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency led by Executive Director, Muriel Bamblett is now working to develop a Koorie (Indigenous) life book for children in their care.

Our expectation is that social work staff , adoptive and foster parents will use Creating a Path © as well as My Journey © as a tool to help children in care better understand the reasons they are not in the care of their parents and/or extended family members, what happened to their families, positive experiences and people that they have known.

Our hope is that you will share “Creating a Path” © and My Journey © with guardianship, adoption, resource workers, roots workers and others who are working with children in care in your community.

Click here to view an endorsement for these life books from Dr. Vera Fahlberg.
Click here to view an endorsement for these life books from a caregiver.

Click on either of the links below to see samples pages from each of our life books:

My Journey sample (PDF 337KB)

Creating a Path sample (PDF 207KB)

Cost:

For other Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal organizations that may wish to purchase a copy, the cost is $55/book plus shipping and handling. We will take orders and require a 50% deposit.

For more details, please contact Ed Robson at: lifebooks@sccfs.com