Aboriginal Health

Programs & Services

Contracted Services

Aboriginal Community Contracted Services

As a key route to providing health services to Aboriginal community members, Aboriginal Health Services contracts 85% of its current funding out to Aboriginal community non-profit organizations. Aboriginal community organizations are able to provide culturally relevant services in locations closer to Aboriginal community members. Historically, in collaboration with the Government of BC, these services were developed based on community identified priorities as critical issues that required additional attention to those services offered by mainstream services. While this benefited the Aboriginal community through providing Aboriginal specific services, it also meant that a comprehensive and coordinated system of care was never developed across these health services. Aboriginal Health Services is working to address the gaps in the Aboriginal community based system of care, increase the coordination between services and improve access to a broader range of health services.

Organization	Funded Program	Target Population
Hey-way'-Noqu' Healing Circle for Addictions Society web site	Aboriginal Family Outpatient Addictions Counselling	Aboriginal families. Addiction Counseling & Treatment.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	Provide holistic, culturally appropriate addiction assessment, counseling and treatment, referral, relapse prevention, follow-up and aftercare to Aboriginal adults, youth and children living in Vancouver, Richmond, and the North Shore, who are experiencing addiction problems and/or co-dependencies, related to the misuse or abuse of substances. The intent of services is to help restructure in a culturally relevant way individual and family thinking, behaviour and lifestyles to achieve and maintain a maximum level of functioning.
Hey-way'-Noqu' Healing Circle for Addictions Society web site	Sexual Abuse Intervention Program	Aboriginal children who experienced sexual interference or abuse, and their families.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	Provides intensive individual and family non-residential treatment services, with a specialty in sexual interference and abuse. Provide individual and family counseling services, community education and prevention services, and administrative services for these families. Increase the knowledge in the target population of sexual abuse issues and assist them in avoiding potential sexual abuse situations as well as gaining an understanding of how sexual abuse effects their daily lives and how to cope.
Hey-way'-Noqu' Healing Circle for Addictions Society web site	Mental Health Liaison	Aboriginal people wanting to address Addiction & Mental Health issues.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	To help Aboriginal clients with addiction & mental health issues live in the community by supporting their ability to function in social relations and manage their daily lives; to act as a liaison to improve access to services, and develop a mental health healing approach that will foster community integration and lead to improvements in the client's quality of life; and to acknowledge the strengths of traditional Aboriginal values, cultural heritage, and healing methods, and to incorporate them into treatment methods as appropriate.
Musqueam Indian Band web site	Sexual Abuse Intervention Program	On and Off Reserve members of the Musqueam Indian Band, and to other Aboriginal clients living in Vancouver.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The Sexual Abuse Intervention Program will provide art and play therapy, psycho-educational group sessions, outreach and consultation services. The goal of this program is to increase self-esteem and emotional health of participants and to improve coping and social skills. This program will also increase awareness of sexual abuse issues.
Native Courtworkers And Counselling Association of BC web site	Outpatient Addiction Counselling – Adults & Youth	Aboriginal people seeking addiction counseling & treatment.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	NCCABC Outpatient Addiction Counseling provides 1:1 and group Alcohol and Drug counseling, and educational workshops for both consumers and agencies. The program will assist individuals to stabilize their physical and mental health, increase knowledge of substance misuse issues and harm reduction, and improve service delivery for Aboriginal people in the DTES.
Native Courtworkers And Counselling Association of BC web site	Aboriginal Detox Follow-up Support Worker Program	Aboriginal clients being served through VCH funded residential or intensive Withdrawal Management Services, with a particular focus on Vancouver Detox and Cordova Detox.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	To provide service liaison and social support to Aboriginal clients leaving VCH Residential or intensive withdrawal management services.
Pacific Association of First Nations Women web site	Aboriginal Elders Support Program	Aboriginal Elders living in Vancouver with a particular emphasis on women's health.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The Aboriginal Elders Support Program provides health and social support to ensure access to community resources and culturally competent case management. The program improves access to health care and services, and increases participant’s safety and opportunities for socialization.
Pacific Association of First Nations Women web site	Community Health Liaison	Aboriginal people, living in Vancouver or Richmond.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The Aboriginal Community Health Liaison will work with Aboriginal persons and their families in Vancouver and Richmond to assist in identifying and resolving problems associated with access to health care and social services support, with a primary emphasis on the health care system.
Richmond Youth Services Agency web site	Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Support Worker	Aboriginal Children, Youth and Families
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	Will provide individual and group support services to address non-academic issues. This program will improve access to health resources for Aboriginal families, assist in strengthening the Aboriginal community network, and increase self-esteem and social well-being for participants.
Urban Native Youth Association web site	Aboriginal Youth School Alcohol and Drug Support Worker	Aboriginal Children and Youth (and their families) in Elementary & Secondary Schools
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The School Alcohol and Drug Support Worker will provide culturally appropriate individual and group support services to address individual & family A&D issues affecting school success. This program will improve access to academic, health, and community resources for Aboriginal families, and increase self-esteem and social well-being for participants.
Urban Native Youth Association web site	Young Bears Lodge - Youth Addiction Residential Treatment	Aboriginal Youth (13 to 19 years).
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	To provide a five (5) bed Aboriginal Youth Addiction residential program. The programming at Young Bears Lodge will assist participants to increase self-esteem and social functioning, improve access to health and community resources, and decrease risky behaviours.
Urban Native Youth Association web site	Aboriginal Youth Addiction Counsellor	Aboriginal youth, with a primary emphasis for those living in East Vancouver
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	To provide Aboriginal youth with Addiction Counselling
Vancouver Native Health Society web site	Urban Aboriginal Health Centre	Aboriginal people, primary emphasis on adults in the DTES
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	Primary Care Medical Clinic: The Vancouver Native Health Society Clinic provides a range of care, prevention, therapeutic, and support programs including medical services and limited pharmacy for Aboriginal people in the Downtown Eastside. The pharmacy is available to those patients most in need who do not have the capacity or resources to access medicine through other means. Talking Circle: A regular talking circle is held for residents of the DTES.
Vancouver Native Health Society web site	HIV - Positive Outlook Program	Aboriginal people living with HIV in the DTES
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The Positive Outlook Program provides a drop-in support program and HIV treatment program to HIV/AIDS positive Aboriginal individuals living in the DTES and seeking HIV support and medical help & drop-in services including addiction treatment & methadone counseling. The programs focus on providing Aboriginal specific intervention, education, outreach and support utilizing an intensive care management model. Multidisciplinary team members provide services to individuals in the DTES to manage and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and improve the health and well being of Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS.
Vancouver Native Health Society web site	Sheway – Aboriginal Community Support Worker	Sheway’s Aboriginal clients living in CHA2, CHA3 and CHA5.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	The Sheway Aboriginal Community Support Worker’s main focus is to provide support to pre- and post-natal Aboriginal women living in CHA2, CHA3 and CHA5. The Sheway clients receive advocacy assistance, counseling, crisis intervention, referral to resources, and practical support with issues of housing, food, and health care, to assist with discharge planning & transitioning out of Sheway services.
Vancouver School Board web site	Pre-Employment Transition Program (Staying in School / Stay on Track)	Aboriginal Youth diagnosed with FASD.
	Purpose Of Funded Program
	Provides life and job skills training and supervises work placements for Phase 1, 2 and 3 students as they transition into and out of secondary school. This program includes some outreach. Activities include a spectrum of opportunities and services that ensure mental, social, and environmental factors are addressed in a systematic manner.