pdf download - First Nations Health Council

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• Need to identify policies and regulations in the
system that inhibits creative ways of addressing
mental health and addictions issues (e.g. Folks
on mental health medication cannot enter
addictions treatment programs).
• Needs and capacity of communities vary
greatly and there needs to be the flexibility
for tailoring an approach to mental health
services as well as support to the community
to even develop what they think they need (the
program needs to fit the community not the
community fit the programs).
Key Components
• Need to find a way to capture the wisdom
and traditions of our aging elders, more value
needs to be placed on traditional medicine and
practices (culture/tradition = mental health)
• Need to put in place better process (wrap
around services) for when individuals are
discharged from hospital of treatment
programs.
• Need to address the ability of rural
communities to access qualified mental health
staff and resources.
• Need to address the mental health knowledge/
awareness of family members, community
members and staff from many other social
programs who often end up with mental health
clients (e.g. maternal health staff work with
pregnant mom with a mental health issue).
Access for People with Disabilities
Advocates have consistently urged that
the needs and circumstances of Aboriginal
peoples living with disabilities be included in the
discussions and strategies, in not only health, but
in all aspects of life. A specific discussion table was
convened to examine how to ensure that people
with disabilities aren’t overlooked in the work
to improve the health outcomes of First Nations
people.
How to ensure they’re not overlooked?
• Give persons with disabilities a forum to give
input on what they require
• Support/create advocacy and build capacity for
self-advocacy
• Provide more thorough and consistent criteria
– provide better definitions around disabilities
• Create community “hubs” for people to come
together for information on disabilities and
activities
How to incorporate into TFNHP?
• This topic needs to be addressed by chiefs and
council
• Give the disabled a FORmAl voice –someone
at the governance table who specifically speaks
for true disabled community members
Universal ECD Supports
Both the federal and provincial governments
have been engaged in initiatives to support
Aboriginal Early Childhood Development. While
the 2005 and 2006 federal budgets announced
significant investments in First Nations early
learning and child care there has been a consistent
concern that funding and other supports
are inadequate to address the level of need,
particularly for children with special needs, in
on and off-reserve First Nations communities. In
the area of ‘universal ECD supports’ the FNHC is
analyzing current ECD programs and services as
part of determining the minimum standards for
programs and services that are needed to allow
First Nations children reach their full potential.
Participants examined what aspects of ECD need to
be addressed by the FNHC within the TFNHP:
Issues and Considerations
Status is an issue – some services are not
funded for non-status
• On reserve/off-reserve (e.g. would be good to
be able to amalgamate)
• Training and education for educators, families
and communities
• Reconsider subsidy cutoff level and level of
support
• Cannot only focus on children – need to
support family with basic necessities - need a
variety of programs accessible to families and
kids
How can FNHC support work of universal ECD?
• FNHC could advocate for ECD funding,
especially for smaller communities.
• FNHC could encourage communities and
create awareness of benefits so communities
would include this in health plans and lobby for
programs. Preventative potential is huge.
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm