SUFA Initiative (2001)

General Information

Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)

First Nations, Health Canada, Provinces

1982

Ongoing

http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ps/acp_e.html

To provide a policy framework and funding for services designed to assist people with functional limitations (e.g., age, health, disability) to maintain their independence, maximize their level of functioning and live under conditions of health and safety. There are 3 program components:

• in-home care (comprised primarily of homemaking services),
• foster care or on-reserve institutional care, and
• off-reserve institutional care (reimbursement of specified expenditures for First Nation residents).

Provinces provide the jurisdictional framework and the provincial norms for adult care which are used for guidelines in the provision of care by First Nations.

INAC provides the policy framework, program parameters and funding.

First Nations deliver and administer adult care programs. INAC, Health Canada and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) work in partnership, through a Joint Working Group, to assess the policies and programs and, if necessary, recommend changes.

Health Canada provides complementary programming through the First Nations and Inuit Home and Continuing Care program.

Resources

$78M (01-02) Part III, Plans and Priorities.

Funding for in-home care is formula based (based on comparable provincial per-capita in 1994/95 and adjusted annually for population growth).

Funding for institutional care is based on reimbursement of actuals. There has been a moratorium on the construction of new on-reserve institutional facilities since 1988.

First Nation expenditure reports (for reimbursement of actuals).

First Nation audits submitted to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Estimates, Part III: Plans and Priorities.

Departmental Performance Report.

Access to services enabling First Nation adults incapacitated by age, chronic illness or disability to maintain or enhance their functional independence; preferably in their own home or community.

Seek to ensure that amount and type of service is appropriate to the physical, social and cultural needs of these individuals and their families; and that the services are comparable to those available to non-Indian people living in similar circumstances.

First Nations report: the number of individuals receiving care, length of care, and type of placement re institutional care.

INAC reports levels of funding at regional and national levels.

First Nations have noted the need to develop social indicators that are significant and appropriate to their communities and also provide an overall context interpret the performance of their governments. To facilitate this exploration, INAC is supporting the Governance Statistical Initiative to identify the statistical requirements of First Nation governments and to consider sustainable means of developing this data.

The above indicators can be compared inter-regionally and to similar provincial data.

The Joint Working Group, which consists of members from INAC, Health Canada and the AFN is assessing the needs of First Nations regarding Adult Care.

The Joint Working Group, which consists of members from INAC, Health Canada and the AFN is assessing the needs of First Nations regarding Adult Care.

Departmental Performance Report.

Basic Departmental Data report, available on the department website, provides summary information on number of individuals receiving service and funding provided.

In accordance with funding agreements, FN financial and activity reports, program evaluations, management assessments, and other standards, policies or procedures are made available to community members.

INAC works in partnership with First Nations, Health Canada and other government departments to deliver Adult Care programs on reserve. All partners review and report on outcomes to their own constituents.

Estimates, Part III: Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Report.

Departmental website.

Departmental Performance Report.

The funding agreement requires that First Nations make the eligibility criteria available to First Nation members.

In accordance with funding agreements, First Nation financial and activity reports, program evaluations, management assessments, and other standards, policies or procedures are available to community members.

First Nations also adopt a range of community specific provisions for making public service commitments and performance.

First Nations have access to data on the INAC website.

Most First Nations have not yet developed their own criteria or performance measures for adult care.

Funding Agreements require FNs to have in place a formally defined, publicly available appeals process for administrative decisions.

Self-Government Agreements must include provisions for appeals and dispute resolution.

Members of the public may also make allegations of any perceived inappropriate operations directly to INAC.

Allegations to INAC are tracked internally.

Federal Adult Care funding is intended to provide services to registered First Nation persons normally resident on reserve. There are three components to this program: In home Care (Homemaker services); foster care in a family setting; and institutional care in Type I and II institutions. With the exception of some FNs in the Atlantic and Quebec Regions, and the Manitoba region, protocol agreements are in place through which FNs provide In-home services to First Nation members and other residents on reserve.

Continuing work includes monitoring of these programs, including the maintenance of provisions in protocol agreements for consistent service delivery.

Efforts are currently underway between INAC, Health Canada and First Nations to develop a comprehensive policy on Adult Care which will address the issues of responsibility for the full range of social and medical services to the elderly and disabled on reserve.