Health Canada Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Mental Health
Support Program Bulletin - November 2003
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
2003
ISSN: 1708-8348
HC Pub. No.: 3017
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Welcome to the first edition of the Health Canada Indian Residential
Schools (IRS) Mental Health Supports Program Bulletin. The IRS
Mental Health Supports Program provides mental health supports
to all former students of Indian Residential Schools who are resolving
claims against the Government of Canada through the new Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process or through litigation for abuse(s)
suffered while attending Indian Residential Schools. The IRS Mental
Health Supports Program Bulletin will be published as needed to
provide information about the program.
Background about Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada
(IRSRC)
Since 1997, Canada has resolved nearly 1,000 IRS legal claims.
Through this experience Canada has learned that claimants often
experience various emotional reactions when disclosing abuses suffered
while attending those schools. This has led the Government of Canada
to develop a mental health support program to meet the needs of
eligible claimants.
Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada (IRSRC) was established
in June, 2001 to resolve claims associated with the legacy of the
residential school system. In December 2002, IRSRC announced the
creation of a Resolution Framework. The key element of the Resolution
Framework is an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process to
administer, validate and resolve claims in a timely and supportive
manner as an alternative to litigation.
If you are interested in learning about how to apply to the ADR
Process, call the Indian Residential Schools Help Desk at 1-800-816-7293
or visit  Indian
Residential Schools Resolution Canada's website.
The Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Mental Health Support Program
The First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada
works in partnership with Indian Residential Schools Resolution
Canada (IRSRC) to coordinate and fund services.
The IRS Mental Health Supports Program provides mental health
and transportation benefits and emotional support services for
eligible claimants through the Health Canada FNIHB Regional Offices.
Each FNIHB Regional Office has an IRS Mental Health Supports Program
Co-ordinator to assist claimants and providers and process benefit
requests using Health Canada guidelines and policies. Eligible
claimants may include any former IRS attendee with a claim against
Canada who is in the process of actively resolving their claim
through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process or the
courts.
In addition, claimants will have access to the support services
of a community based Resolution Health Support Worker (RHSW) while
trying to resolve their claim. The RHSW will provide emotional
support services to claimants before, during and after their litigation
events or ADR hearings.
The IRS Mental Health Supports Program will co-ordinate the following
services for eligible claimants:
-
mental health counseling - based on receipt of a completed
treatment plan including the number of couselling sessions recommended
and cost, from a recognized Health Canada provider and approval
by FNIHB.
-
transportation to access individual/ limited family mental
health counselling and /or traditional healer services not available
in the home community and approved by FNIHB.
-
RHSW emotional support services will be available in each
region and will be provided by individual RHSWs contracted by
Aboriginal or Aboriginally affiliated organizations funded by
FNIHB. The services of the RHSW will include, but will not be
limited to, providing a variety of "front-line" supports
and coordination services directly to claimants involved in the
ADR processes or the litigation stream. RHSW activities will
vary depending on the needs of the region but will also endeavour
to build relationships with key stakeholders in an effort to
promote a greater understanding of the National Resolution Framework.
The following is an overview of IRS Mental Health Support Program
policies and prior approval (PA) processes. More
detailed information about this program is available on the
Health Canada website.
Information for Mental Health Service Providers
Mental health service providers recognized by Health Canada must
have the following qualifications:
- Registration as a psychologist in the province/territory in
which service is being provided with clinical or counselling
orientation; or
- Registration as a social worker in the province/territory
in which service is being provided (Masters of Social Work or
PhD in social work with clinical orientation); or
- A member in good standing with their provincial/territorial
College or Association.
Mental health service providers not already recognized by the
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Health Canada are
required to submit:
- a current resume (including at least two professional references
and indication of areas of practice);
- photocopy of their degree(s) (certified true copies);
- proof of registration (yearly) with a regulatory body in the
province/territory in which they provide service;
- an original clearance certificate from the local police department
(to be returned upon verification);
- hourly rate for services as per existing FNIHB rates; and
- professional insurance coverage.
Prior Approval (PA) Process
If you have previously provided services as a recognized Health
Canada mental health service provider please:
- submit PA - requests for mental health counselling to support
Indian Residential School (IRS) claimants to the FNIHB Regional
Office in your province/territory of service;
- indicate if your PA request is for an IRS claimant.
For additional information, please contact the FNIHB Regional
Office in your province/territory on the list provided in this
bulletin.
Information for Claimants
To access Indian Residential Schools (IRS) Mental Health Supports
Program services:
-
You must be a registered Indian Residential Schools Resolution
Canada (IRSRC) claimant in the process of actively resolving
your IRS claim:
-
in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process
(completed the ADR application and accepted into the ADR
stream by IRSRC);
-
in litigation (preparing for, participating in
or have recently participated in a litigation event such
as an Examination of Discovery or Settlement Hearing);
-
Please have your ADR Process file number ready.
-
Complete an Authorization/Permission
Form so we can verify your eligibility with IRSRC. If you
do not have this form, you can obtain it from the Health Canada
website or by calling the Indian Residential Schools Help Desk
at 1-800-816-7293.
For additional information or to access counselling, please contact
the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) Regional Office
in your province/territory on the list provided in this bulletin.
If your request for services is denied, you - as the claimant
- have the right to appeal the decision.
There are three levels of appeal, each of which has to be initiated
by the claimant (not the provider). In each case, supporting information
will be required and reviewed and the decision will be made based
on your needs and Health Canada policy. Information on the appeals
process is available on the Health Canada website.
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) Regional Offices
Directory
FNIHB Atlantic Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
15th Floor, Suite 1525
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
1-866-414-8111
FNIHB Québec Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Complexe Guy-Favreau
200 West René Lévesque Boulevard
East Tower, Suite 216
Montréal, QC H2Z 1X4
1-877-583-2965
(in Montréal) 514-283-2965
FNIHB Ontario Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Emerald Plaza
1547 Merivale Road
3rd Floor, Postal Locator 6103A
Nepean, ON K1A 0L3
1-888-301-6426
FNIHB Manitoba Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Stanley Knowles Federal Building
391 York Avenue
Suite 300
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W1
1-866-818-3505
FNIHB Saskatchewan Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Château Tower
1920 Broad Street
18th Floor
Regina, SK S4P 3V2
1-866-250-1529
FNIHB Alberta Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue
Suite 730
Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3
1-888-495-6588
FNIHB Pacific Region
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Federal Building
757 West Hastings Street
Suite 540
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E6
1-888-666-5834
FNIHB Northern Secretariat ( Yukon )
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Elijah Smith Building
Suite 100 - 300 Main Street
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2B5
In Yukon : 1-867-667-3933
Toll free: 1-866-509-1769
FNIHB Northern Secretariat
( Northwest Territories and Nunavut )
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
14th Floor, Postal Locator 3914A
Sixty Queen Building
60 Queen Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
1-866-509-1769
Indian Residential Schools Help Desk:
1-800-816-7293
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