Aboriginal Health

Current Initiatives

Planning

VCH and our Aboriginal Health Team are guided by three committees who each have a distinct role in helping to ensure that VCH is actively planning and working towards fostering meaningful improvements in the health of Aboriginal people within the VCH region. The three committees are the Aboriginal Community Health Advisory Committee (ACHAC), the Aboriginal Coordinating Committee (ACC), and Vancouver Community - Aboriginal Program Advisory Committee (VCAPAC).

Our Aboriginal Health Team is represented in three key areas within VCH to help us ac hieve our common goal of improving the health status of Aboriginal people. The three areas include Community Engagement, Health Services Integration, and Vancouver Community. Each member of our team works within their section on specific tasks that help improve the overall health status of Aboriginal people in the VCH Region, including fulfilling the overall goals of the VCH Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan.

VCH Aboriginal Health Implementation Forum

The VCH Aboriginal Health Implementation Forum held on January 31 and February 1, 2008, brought together partners responsible for health service provision including federal, provincial, health authority, urban Aboriginal and First Nation communities. The goals of the Forum were to (1) identify and prioritize the Action plans and Accountability Frameworks of the Working Draft VCH 2008 – 2011 Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan (2) and ensure that they are aligned with the Tripartite First Nations Health Plan as well as Urban Aboriginal and First Nation Health plans.

• Summary Report Implementation Forum on Aboriginal Health

Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan for 2008 - 2011

Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan for 2008 - 2011 will further establish an integrated and co-ordinated approach to improving the health of Aboriginal people and to understanding the diversity of culture and needs of each community. It is the culmination of a range of planning and engagement activities over the past number of years. The Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan provides a holistic and action-oriented response to the fundamental issues of health and well being facing Aboriginal people today.

• Aboriginal Health and Wellness Plan for 2008 - 2011

Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan

The VCH Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan is comprised of four main goals:

• Goal 1 - Improved Relationships and Partnerships
• Goal 2 - Increased Emphasis on Health Promotion Programs Sensitive to Aboriginal Culture
• Goal 3 - Increased Access by Aboriginal People to Culturally Sensitive Health Services
• Goal 4 - Improved Evaluation of Aboriginal-specific Programs

Visit our Current Initiatives page to read about recent accomplishments regarding the Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan.

• Click here to view the Aboriginal Health Strategic Plan document.

Overall Planning Activities

Some of the activities currently being discussed and/or implemented across the region include:

• The Aboriginal Health Initiative Program funds Aboriginal health
• The development of a Vancouver Community Aboriginal Wellness Program is underway to complement VCH’s mental health and additions services
• An Aboriginal Community Health Liaison, provided through the Pacific Association of First Nations Women, offers support to Aboriginal community members in Vancouver and Richmond
• The development of a more comprehensive system of care through increased coordination of VCH and contracted Aboriginal community health services.
• A regional Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee (ACAC) has been established to increase regional community involvement in planning activities
• Development of specific Vancouver Community Aboriginal Program Advisory Committees for mental health, addictions, education, research and the Aboriginal Healing Centre is underway to increase participation by Aboriginal people in health service design
• Improvement of Aboriginal specific health data collection through implementation of new information systems will facilitate referrals and utilization of VCH programs and services in the Aboriginal community.

Bring Past into Present: Healing Ways Aboriginal Health and Service Review

In October 1999, the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board carried out a review of Aboriginal health resulting in the Healing Ways Aboriginal Health and Service Review. Healing Ways identified 30 community-based recommendations under three streams to address priorities identified by community consultations. These streams include:

• Strengthening Families
• Supporting Youth
• Building Community Capacity

Since the development of this report, the restructuring of the health care system within BC has changed some of the responsibilities of the new Health Authorities. This required a modified approach to addressing health redesign plans and has slowed the implementation of some initiatives.

Out of the thirty recommendations, one-third have been developed as community contracted services. The other two thirds are in the process of development and will be implemented as appropriate within the new health structures.