Advancing Indigenous Inclusion: Insights from the ADaPT SCALE Program

The ADaPT program model has continued to evolve to meet the needs of Canada’s diverse youth. This report examines how the ADaPT model was shared with TECHNATION and Red River College Polytechnic to deliver ADaPT SCALE in Manitoba. This new iteration of ADaPT focuses on the specific needs and context of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous youth, and those living in rural, remote, and northern communities. The program will be implemented by Red River College Polytechnic and guided by a Joint Indigenous Advisory Committee through a process grounded in respect, reciprocity, transparency, and accountability. The design and delivery of this program is guided by the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which will ensure that all aspects of the program are culturally responsive, community-informed, and aligned with shared commitments to Truth and Reconciliation.

• Design: ADaPT SCALE uses outcome and process metrics to understand participation, curriculum relevancy, and make program adjustments. These feedback loops ensure that the program is delivered in a culturally responsive and reconciliation-focused manner.
• Intent: The program aims to empower Indigenous youth, individuals from rural and northern communities, and young people to build positive long-term economic impacts in their home communities.
• Goals: The ADaPT SCALE program is motivated by various goals including supporting youth employment in the region, reducing barriers to employment for Indigenous communities, and upholding Indigenous communities’ right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
  Curriculum design: The program curriculum focuses on Skills for Success (e.g., communication, problem-solving, and workplace readiness), digital skills, and job search and employment pathways.
   

To build trust and ensure respectful engagement with Indigenous participants, the following key components are required for program implementation:

• Pre-program processes: These include targeted initiatives for promotion and recruitment, participant selection using a screening process, and outcome tracking to monitor participants’ progress in the program.
• Instructor and employer engagement: The ADaPT SCALE program prioritizes engagement with Indigenous instructors, meaning the program team should draw on Indigenous business and supplier networks to develop culturally-responsive programming. The program also prioritizes Indigenous-owned businesses, band councils, and Indigenous economic development corporations as primary employer partners, who will support participants through mentorship, mock interviews, and work placement opportunities.
• Program delivery: In this phase, the program team should develop schedules and track attendance according to participants’ availability and accessibility principles. To support program improvement, ADaPT SCALE uses a continuous feedback process throughout the program lifecycle by collecting feedback from participants, instructors, and employers.
• Program close-out: To support participants’ transition out of the program, this phase includes ongoing employment follow-up, a post-program survey, and goal-setting. The program should also invite participants to share testimonials about their experiences with the program.
   

The Diversity Institute will lead a mixed-methods evaluation with data collection at multiple stages of the program lifecycle to determine whether the ADaPT model can be tailored using a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and community-informed approach. The evaluation will measure outcomes, including the number of participants, percentage of Indigenous youth, percentage of participants who indicated improved skills from the program and processes, such as curriculum design, wraparound supports. These are measured through pre and post-program surveys, and interviews with instructors and employers. To carry out the evaluation, DI will adhere to Ownership, Control, Access, and Protection (OCAP) standards, ensuring that Indigenous Peoples can make informed decisions about their information and data and minimize potential harm. By ensuring the respectful and actionable findings, the evaluation will contribute to long-term reconciliation efforts.

For the complete insights into the latest evolution of the ADaPT model and the ADaPT SCALE program, read the playbook.