Aboriginal Health

Current Initiatives

VCH Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan

The VCH Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan sets out 4 goals noted below with a few significant recent accomplishments highlighted.

Improved Relationships and Partnerships

• VCH maintains an active Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee with representation from across VCH
• VCH has developed relationship agreements with most First Nations communities that define service provision such as dental varnishing, nursing and speech services to be provided on reserve by VCH
• VCH has expanded its community development capacity to work with First Nations.

Increased Emphasis on Health Promotion Programs Sensitive to Aboriginal Culture

• VCH has streamlined/simplified its community health promotion grants program for Aboriginal communities (Aboriginal Health Improvement Program)
• VCH is using its general health promotion community grants program to develop best practice models in chronic disease management for Aboriginal communities through partnership with three First Nations communities.

Increases Access by Aboriginal People to Culturally Sensitive Health Services

• VCH has developed an Aboriginal Wellness Program in Vancouver targeted at addictions and mental health.
• VCH has offered orientation to staff on Aboriginal health.
• VCH has entered into a formal Aboriginal Employment Program to increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal people in VCH. Audits of opportunities for Aboriginal people are underway and awareness raising about these opportunities is underway through career fairs and educational programs
• VCH has contributed to the Aboriginal Lodge that provides accommodation for families who travel to Vancouver for treatment.

Improved Evaluation of Aboriginal-specific Programs

• Introduction of an outcomes logic model framework for all Aboriginal Health Improvement Program funded projects

Specific Initiatives

VCH is working with First Nations communities and urban Aboriginal organizations to coordinate a response to the new Federal Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (see below). Both the new plan and the submissions for Federal funding will reflect principles in:

• The Blueprint on Aboriginal Health: A Transformative Plan (the Kelowna Accord) reached between First Ministers and Aboriginal organizations in November 2005. VCH was involved in the development of the BC submission to the Blueprint and
• The Transformative Change Accord developed between the Government of BC, the Government of Canada and the BC First Nations Leadership Council (attached). The Premier has made a significant commitment to this Accord and BC has allocated funding to support it.

Please see our Reports & Publications page to link to these two documents.

The Federal government has announced a major Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (5 years of one time funding) with three components:

• An Integration Fund of $80 million aimed at First Nations communities to support greater integration of their health services with provincial/health authority services
• An Adaptation Fund of $80 million aimed at health authorities to support re-design of services to better meet Aboriginal health needs. This fund will in part be used to support adaptation of programs for Aboriginal people not living on First Nations reserves
• A Pan Canadian Fund of $40 million for national projects

It is expected that approximately $10 - $11 million will be available to BC from each of the Integration Fund and the Adaptation Fund.

VCH staff along with representatives from First Nations communities in VCH have attended a number of meetings regarding these new funds and expressed concerns regarding the short timelines for submissions, the complexity and lack of clarity of the review process, and the inherent problem in having 2 separate streams of funding. There is also concern by the Ministry of Health in BC over the lack of Federal consultation on the Adaptation Fund and the potential issues it raises in regard to Aboriginal funding going to health authorities instead of to First Nations communities and organizations.

VCH is working with the most of the 15 First Nations communities within VCH catchments area through the VCH Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee and the VCH Aboriginal Health Improvement Program in an attempt to develop a coordinate response to the new funding. As well, staff are meeting with the Ministry and other Health Authorities in an attempt to assess if there should be a provincial proposal for the Adaptation fund. VCH’s goal is to ensure that all 15 First Nations communities are able to access Integration Fund money that meets their identified needs and VCH secures Adaptation Funds to support the needs of the very large urban Aboriginal population in VCH.