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PERFORMANCE TRACKING
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The intent of the performance tracking
component of the TFNHP is to ensure that all
parties have access to data necessary to measuring
progress towards its overall goals and those of the
Transformative Change Accord, namely to improve
health outcomes for First Nations people and close
the gap between First Nations and the rest of the
population in BC.
Research Infrastructure
The 2007-2008 Year in Review Report states
that “because research drives policy, it is important
to have control over how First Nations data is used
and interpreted. In addition, First Nations need to
be armed with accurate information to effectively
plan and implement programs and services at a
community level.” In discussing the supports and
protocols needed the participants identified the
need to:
• Support community ownership and capacity,
professional database protocols
• Provide supports/tools/resources for
communities to drive their own research
• Ensure a First Nation community capacity/
resources to own their data and use it for their
purposes
• Provide training for community members,
community workers, and leadership on purpose
of research, use of research and developing
research capacity
• Share knowledge/information between First
Nations, between First Nations and government
service providers/ministries, and between First
Nations and research grant providers
• Ensure that there is a strong link between
communities and that the research benefits
First Nations
• Develop a professional research database for
First Nations to use; it would include qualified
professionals trusted by First Nations
• Develop and promote protocols for data/
research management and acquisition of First
Nation individual, families and community
data/research
• Develop a standardized data set, policies and
protocols between all information partners
to use First Nations information to drive
health programming and services in First
Nation regional health authorities (i.e. ethics
templates)
• Ensure OCAP principles remain intact to
manage data security
• Work together for positive partnerships
Health Indicators
Each key area of the TFNHP and TCA (e.g.
Health Services; Health Promotion, Injury and
Disease Prevention, etc.) identifies what will be
different by 2015. The section entitled ‘measuring
Progress’ identifies targets for seven indicators
initially set out in the Transformative Change
Accord (i.e. life expectancy, mortality, youth
suicide, infant mortality, diabetes, childhood
obesity, and health care professionals). Participants
provided input on what indicators of wellness/
health are being used at the community level; the
information needed to measure progress on these
indicators; and where the needed information
might be located:
• Participants spoke to the importance of a
variety of wellness indicators and variation
from community to community including:
- Culture and language
- Spirituality
- Physical health
- mental health
- Infrastructure
- Social determinants
• Importance of individual stories, gathering
themes from qualitative narratives to develop
indicators.
Regional Health Survey
First Nations in BC have actively participated
in the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health
Survey (RHS) and it is identified as one of the
key data sources to be developed and utilized to
measure progress. Data collection for the next
iteration of the RHS is expected to begin shortly
in 77 BC First Nation communities. Participants
provided additional input into how the principles
of Ownership, Capacity, Access and Possession
(OCAP) to information is defined and applied, and
how the TFNHP can continue to address OCAP
issues:
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SECONd ANNUAl FORUm