System Navigation

Human Rights and Equity

The human rights and equity systems navigation program helps bridge the gap for students and families who experience systemic barriers in navigating the education system and their access to meaningful and equitable education through culturally responsive and identity affirming systems navigation supports. 

What is System Navigation at HWDSB? 

System Navigation is a new service at HWDSB and is a collaboration between the Human Rights Office and the Equity and Well-Being departments. This service is intended to help bridge the gap for students and families who experience systemic barriers in navigating the education system and their access to meaningful and equitable education through the use and prioritization of the following key pillars:   

  • Holistic care approach, considering all aspects of students' and families' full identities  

  • Culturally responsive practices, informed through a lens of lived experiences  

  • Prevention and early intervention strategies to address inequities and human rights concerns  

  • Relationship building, meeting students and their families where they are  

  • Student and family centred care, collaborative decision-making process that centers their voice, needs and goals  

  • Wrap around care, one contact point bridging the connection to other supports, eliminating the need for students and families having to retell their stories to multiple providers  

Who Can Access System Navigation?

System Navigation at HWDSB is available to all students and families who may need support in navigating the educational system or addressing barriers and inequities, including:  

  • Racialized students and families 

  • Newcomer students and families  

  • Indigenous students and families 

  • Multi-language speaking students and families  

  • Students with disabilities and/or exceptionalities 

  • Students and families from diverse faith backgrounds  

  • Students and families from the Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ communities  

How to Access System Navigation?

The referral process and pathways include:

  • Self-referral – Students and/or parents/caregivers may initiate a self-referral

  • School Staff Prevention – HWDSB staff may provide information about the service to their school communities through a prevention approach so they may access it if/when they should require the support

  • School Staff Intervention – HWDSB staff may refer students and families to System Navigation with the proper consent from students and families being referred. 

  • Community Organizations – Community organizations may refer students and families to System Navigation with the proper consent from students and families being referred. 

School staff and community organization can use the System Navigation referral form. 

What can students and/or families expect? 

After being referred to the System Navigator, student and families can expect the followings:

  1. Introduction and scheduling call with System Navigator

  2. Initial intake meeting using a barrier free, holistic, family centred and culturally responsive approach – intake can be conducted in home, school, Education Centre, virtually, etc.

  3. Collaborative decision-making process that centers students' and families' goals, leading to several different outcomes or service plans tailored to their individual needs such as:  

  • Attending school meetings alongside students and families in an advocacy capacity 

  • Empowering students and families by helping them understand their human rights, roles and responsibilities

  • Supporting referrals and connections to other services and supports, both internally within HWDSB and externally within the community

  • Facilitating restorative conversations between students, families and school staff when necessary; such as when conflict has taken place that risks rupturing trust and/or relationship students and/or families may have with the school (e.g., students and/or families feel that disciplinary action was biased or unfair, unmet IEP implementation, unmet religious accommodations, etc.) and working towards positive resolutions and outcomes through dialogue and communication.

  • Providing advisory support to HWDSB staff through culturally and identity affirming lenses

  • Providing non-clinical, culturally relevant therapeutic support to children, youth, and their families through cultural responsive and identity affirming approaches. 

 

For support or questions, email: [email protected]