First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program - Annual Report 2002-2003

The Regions

The Territories (Northern Secretariat)

About the Northern Secretariat

The Northern Secretariat was created in the fall of 1998 to provide a coordinated, cohesive and equitable approach to First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) program delivery issues for First Nations and Inuit living in Yukon, the Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut. The Northern Secretariat was also the departmental lead in assisting the Government of Nunavut establish their Department of Health & Social Services. In the fall of 2000, the Northern Secretariat was also charged with the additional responsibility of becoming the single focus for Health Canada's health promotion and illness prevention programs and other interactions with territorial governments and territorial stakeholders in a partnership relationship.

The main responsibilities of the Northern Secretariat are to:

• manage the implementation and delivery of Health Canada's community-based health promotion and illness prevention programs in the territories;

• integrate and streamline Health Canada's health promotion and illness prevention programs planning, management and implementation;

• manage the delivery of Non-Insured Health Benefits in all three territories;

• represent, advocate, advise on, and coordinate matters relating to Health Canada's involvement and role in the territories;

• participate in the negotiation and implementation of self-government agreements in the territories; and

• maintain and strengthen partnerships with territorial governments, First Nations, Inuit and other stakeholders in the territories.

The Northern Secretariat also provides additional support, which includes:

• assuming the lead in policy development regarding health programs development and implementation in the territories;

• participation on Inter/Intra departmental committees on issues which affect health programs and services in the territories;

• developing a strategically coordinated approach to the development, adaptation and implementation of health promotion and illness prevention programs and services in the territories; and

• a focal point for all of Health Canada's activities in the territories.

Fast Facts - Nunavut

Population: 21,244
Average Population per Community: 787
Number of Communities Eligible for Funding: 27
Number of Communities Funded: 25
% of Needs Assessments Completed: 93%
% of Communities with Submitted Plans: 93%
% of Communities in Planning Implementation: 93%
% of Communities with Access to Service Delivery: 93%
% of Population with Access to Service Delivery: 99%
2002/03

Fast Facts - Northwest Territories

Population: 15,378
Average Population per Community: 466
Number of Communities Eligible for Funding: 33
Number of Communities Funded: 33
% of Needs Assessments Completed: 100%
% of Communities with Submitted Plans: 100%
% of Communities in Planning Implementation: 100%
% of Communities with Access to Service Delivery: 100%
% of Population with Access to Service Delivery: 100%
2002/03

Fast Facts - Yukon

Population: 7,558
Average Population per Community: 540
Number of Communities Eligible for Funding: 14
Number of Communities Funded: 14
% of Needs Assessments Completed: 57%
% of Communities with Submitted Plans: 21%
% of Communities in Planning Implementation: 7%
% of Communities with Access to Service Delivery: 7%
% of Population with Access to Service Delivery: 9%
2002/03

Fast Facts -Total

Population: 44,180
Average Population per Community: 597
Number of Communities Eligible for Funding: 74
Number of Communities Funded: 72
% of Needs Assessments Completed: 89%
% of Communities with Submitted Plans: 82%
% of Communities in Planning Implementation: 80%
% of Communities with Access to Service Delivery: 80%
% of Population with Access to Service Delivery: 84%
2002/03

The Region

The Northern Secretariat of Health Canada administers the Program for the three territories.

Nunavut

The Nunavut region is vast, covering almost 2 million square kilometres. Within the boundaries lie 27 Inuit communities with a combined Inuit population of over 21,000.

Northwest Territories

The territory is home to 33 communities, which represent a mix of both First Nations and Inuit settlements. As in the other territories, the communities tend to be small and relatively isolated; however the average size is the smallest among the three territories.

Yukon

Approximately half of the 14 First Nations in the Yukon have a population under 500 and only one community, Kwanlin Dun, has a population over 1,000. At the end of 2001/02, five communities had completed needs assessments and by the end of 2002/03, three additional communities had completed needs assessments in the Yukon. As with the end of 2001/02, only one community was in service delivery at the end of 2002/03.

Linkages and Partnerships

• Service delivery plans submitted by the Regional Health and Social Service Authorities or First Nations/ Inuit Organizations were reviewed and approved as applicable.

• A partnership was developed with Aurora College for curriculum revisions for the Home and Community Care Program.

• Partnerships were also strengthened between the Health and Social Services Authorities, Department of Health and Social Services, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Dene Nation.

• Conference calls and meetings were held with the Territorial/Regional Home Care Coordinators and Northern Secretariat.

Training and Recruitment

• Recruitment of nursing and other Home Care personnel was ongoing.

• Regional Home Care meetings/workshops were held.

• Work continued on strategies to increase interest in the Home and Community Care profession.

Resources Developed and Distributed

A key component of the regional workplan for 2002/03 was to "educate, communicate, share and listen to/ with Community Leaders, Home and Community Care (HCC) Eligible Populations and Service Providers by communicating with community groups and organizations about home care service and finding ways to support families in the provision of home care."

This was achieved, in part, through newsletters, home care fact sheets, pamphlets, posters, videos, and public service announcements.