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Health & Social Services

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The Department of Health and Social Services provides services and support to children, families, adults, Elders, and communities which promote health and wellness using culture as a foundation. The department acts as a resource for it’s communities in supporting training, knowledge sharing, advocacy efforts and service delivery. This department is comprised of the Wellness and Jordan’s Principles Child First Initiative programs. The Department represents the collective health interests at various regional and local tables to advocate for continued investment in health services for The CMM member communities.

The Health & Social Services Department was newly formed in Spring 2020, through the implementation of The CMM’s Strategic Plan. The support and services of the Health Unit were previously captured under Community Programs and Corporate Services. Continued investment in health, including the expansion of Jordan’s Principle Child First Initiative and further investment in Mental Wellness, saw the need for a standalone department. This new department continued with the Health Unit’s previous programs and services under the direction of a newly hired Senior Director in August 2020. This shift allowed for more dedicated oversight and demonstrated The CMM’s commitment to health as a pillar in service excellence.

The mandate of the Department of Health and Social Services is to provide services and support to children, families, adults and Elders and communities which promote health and wellness using culture as a foundation.

The CMM’s Department of Health and Social Services acts as a resource for its communities in supporting training, knowledge sharing, advocacy efforts and service delivery. The department represents the collective health interests at various regional and local tables to advocate for continued investment in health services for CMM communities.

Along with direction received from The CMM’s governing body (Board of Directors), Department of Health and Social Services is also guided by The CMM communities’ Health Directors who comprise The CMM’s Health Board/Committee. The purpose of The CMM Health Board/Committee is to provide a means for resource and information-sharing and two-way communications, identify and support member-community identified advocacy and guidance and to enable collective analysis and a united voice in support of the improved health status of First Nations individuals, families and communities.

A wide range of partnerships have been developed to support and inform the work of the department. These partnerships are sometimes issue, program, project and funding-dependent and thus may change over time. A strong contributor to this is the work done at the Atlantic First Nation Chiefs’ Health Partnership level. In 2016, a health priorities renewal process occurred with feedback from Community, Health Directors, Health Staff and Chiefs. This resulted in the following health priorities:

  • Mental Health and Addictions
  • Chronic Disease

Staff work in various programs areas which include:

  • Jordan’s Principle Child First Initiative
  • Mental Wellness
  • Health Advisory supports
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
  • National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS)
  • First Nations Hospital Liaison (located in Halifax Regional Municipality) and
  • Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI).

Director

Jacklyn Paul

Director

Jacklyn Paul (she/her) is a proud Mi’kmaw woman from Sipekne’katik First Nation.  Jacklyn is a descendant of the Shubenacadie Residential School, where not only her mother and many uncles and aunts, but also her grandmother were all enrolled. “Being part of that legacy is not just a personal story; it shapes the way I approach my work.”

Jacklyn’s educational background is also rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. Holding a Bachelor of Arts from Cape Breton University with a major in Indigenous Studies.  Jacklyn also holds a Bachelor of Social Work from St. Thomas University, and her Master’s in Social Work from University of Victoria.

“I’ve spent years working directly with individuals, families, and organizations to navigate the impacts of intergenerational trauma and systemic barriers. But my passion extends beyond frontline work. I believe true healing and reconciliation happen when systems change.”

Jacklyn takes the most pride in being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Alongside her husband, she has raised their daughters and now supports her grandchildren in a home grounded in Mi’kmaw principles, values, and teachings.

She is honoured to join CMM, as this new role provides her with another opportunity to continue advocating for the well-being of our communities. She looks forward to helping build systems that truly reflect the needs of the Mi’kmaq, as she looks forward to the work ahead.

Katie MacEachern

Associate Director
Katie MacEachern, is a social worker, program leader, and advocate for culturally safe, community-driven systems change. She has spent the past decade working alongside Mi’kmaw communities across Nova Scotia, committed to walking in good relations and supporting wellness in ways that honour Indigenous knowledge, autonomy, and lived experience.
Her career has centered around mental health, child and family wellness, neurodevelopmental services, and holistic case management. Since 2018, she served as the Wellness Program Manager with The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq, and now holds the role of Associate Director of Health and Social Services. In these roles, she has led multidisciplinary teams, developed strengths-based service models, and worked closely with Health Directors, provincial systems, and community partners to advocate for culturally appropriate care that meets the real needs of Mi’kmaw individuals and families.
Her approach is grounded in respect, relationship, and accountability. As a guest on Mi’kma’ki, she knows that meaningful service delivery begins with listening deeply and following the leadership of community. She believes in building systems that are trauma-informed, equity-focused, and rooted in both policy change and human connection.
Whether navigating intergovernmental relationships, mentoring staff, or supporting families through complex systems, she shows up with care, clarity, and a commitment to doing the hard, necessary work of reconciliation in action.

Staff

Alannah Joe

Administrative Assistant

Andrea Bishop

Community Health Programs Manager

Austin Hepworth

Program Officer

Baillie Hazel

Mi'kmaw Disability Care Coordinator

Denise Hodgson

Early Learning Governance

Siobhan Brooks

Physical Activity Program Officer

Skarlet Young

Diabetes Community Consultant

Suzanne Brooks

Regional Service Coordinator (Child Welfare)

Teineisha Richards

Cultural Youth Support Worker

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