FNHA eBlast: Putting Health back in Health Benefits, Granting Opportunities, Spirit Mag seeks Male (Role) Models

Putting Health Back In Health Benefits

Image: Vancouver Island Health Directors dialogue on Health Benefits plan design, November 26th, 2014.

First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB) program redesign was a key area of focus during the fall 2014 round of Regional Caucus sessions. Key points of the new design options include the introduction of a Health Spending Account and Case Management Approach. Discussion at the sessions was passionate... read more here.

Lil'wat Nation First to Complete FNREEES!

"Being out in the field has been such a pleasure, getting to visit and learn something new from our Nation members is so rewarding. My heartfelt thanks to all who are taking the time to participate."
- FNREES Crew Lead Deanna Lewis, Squamish Nation

A big thank you and congratulations to the Lil’wat Nation, the first community to meet their FNREEES survey quota! To date 1,192 surveys have been completed (nearly 1/3 of the projected goal). There are 27 communities actively participating out of 39 randomly selected communities. The end date for this program is March 31st 2015.

This is important work that allows BC First Nations to create a detailed picture of our daily lives in community, including school experiences, our family supports, employment opportunities, housing, and the First Nations languages we use or traditional activities we participate in. This survey stands apart from the rest: it is by First Nations, for First Nations. If you have any questions, concerns and good news to share, please email FNREEES@FNHA.ca

Spirit Magazine Men's Issue Seeking your Male (Role) Models

Tell us about a special man in your life, brother, father, uncle, son, grandfather, cousin or friend! We are looking to profile male (Role) Models in the Community-Driven “Have Your Say” section of Spirit Magazine.

To submit:

Email us a photo of your chosen role mode with your answer to the question:
Name a male role model in your life and tell us why they are your health hero?
Please include name and Nation of your hero.
For examples from past issues please read "Have your Say" on page 4.

Email your submissions to Spirit.Magazine@fnha.ca by January 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM.

Join the UBC Learning Circle this winter for a five-part series on Addiction and Health

The UBC Learning Circle team is hosting five learning circle sessions focused on fresh perspectives to healing addicition and mental wellness. Sessions include:

Healing Touch Through Indigenous Perspectives with Damien John - January 13 10:30 - 11:30 am PST
Harm Reduction 101 with Pamela Robertson (RN) and Elder Gerry Oleman - January 20 10:00 - 11:30 am PST
Taming the Hungry Ghost with Gabor Maté - February 5 10:30 - 11:30 am PST
How to Address Family Violence Using The Medicine Bundle with Corinne Stone - February 17 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST
Decolonizing Tobacco Use & Smoking Cessation. with Pamela Robertson (RN) and Elder Gerry Oleman - March 24 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST

Visit the UBCLC website for more information!

Second release of Equipment Grant Program

Photo: Gitanmaax Youth enjoy equipment from last round of equipment grants.

Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council of BC is announcing the Second release of the Equipment Grant Program, accepting applications beginning January 6, 2015.
All applications MUST be accompanied by an official purchase quote or statement from retailer(s), supplier, or distributor.

Grants of $500-$1500 are available, successful applicants will be chosen by Regional Selection Committees and notified in February 2015.

Deadline: 5pm (PST) Friday January 30, 2015

http://aboriginalsportbc.ca/grants-and-opportunities/

To request an application please email: jakerman@bcaafc.com

A Night for Women on Haida Gwaii - Partially Supported by FNHA Winter Wellness Grant!

Photo: FNHA Team Honored by Invitation to Connect From the Women of Haida Gwaii.

"As soon as we stepped into the Massett Legion Hall from a storm of wind, rain and cold we were welcomed with light, laughter and inclusion by the organizers Sandra Dan (Haida Health Centre), Debra Coutoreille (Old Massett Village Council Social Development) and Rachel Lavrisa (Haida Gwaii Society for Community Peace), as well as 40- 50 other women from the community.

The purpose of the ‘My Walk to Healing Women’s Group’ is to enhance connections and build peer supports within the community. The group started in November 2013 after it was identified through discussions at the Haida Health Hub that women needed a space and a safety network to address the trauma many had lived through or were currently experiencing, and to share life lessons about topics such as boundaries, communication, and relationships."

Read the full story here!

Time to Honour Nurses in Your Community!

Health Canada is seeking nominations for the First Nations and Inuit Health 2015 Annual Award of Excellence in Nursing. Celebrating the dedication, initiative, and distinction of nurses in First Nations communities, the awards will be presented to three nurses working across the country. The Award of Excellence in Nursing will be presented to the three recipients during National Nursing Week at a ceremony in Ottawa on Monday, May 11, 2015.

Nominated candidates will be assessed in two areas: people skills and leadership; and continuous learning.
Completed nomination packages must be received by Friday, February 20, 2015 @ 4:00 p.m. EST.

For full details on eligibility, nomination criteria, and other information please visit Health Canada’s website here

Deadline for nominations is February 20, 2015.

Northern Leaders Give Back

Photo from left to right: Renata Meconse, FNHA Regional Health Liaison, Nicole Cross, FNHA Regional Director – North, Riley Flannagan – Fire Pit Coordinator, Violet Bozoki – Fire Pit Elder, Nicole Doucette – PGNAETA Homelessness Partnership Strategy Program Manager

$1300 Raised for Prince George Christmas Dinner for the Homeless

On Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 FNHA Regional Director Nicole Cross, on behalf the 52 First Nations communities in Northern BC, presented a contribution of $1302.00 towards the Prince George Christmas Dinner for the Homeless.

The Christmas Dinner for the Homeless is an annual event that is a coordinated partnership between the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA) and the Fire Pit Cultural Drop In Centre which serves an estimated 150 – 175 people from the downtown area of Prince George.

Funds were raised through a 50/50 draw and a traditional gift giving led by the Louie Singers Drum group, at the 2014 Northern Caucus Dinner banquet on November 19th, 2014. The FNHA North Region is grateful for the kindness and contributions the from Northern Community Leadership to this cause and thankful for the opportunity to support such a worthy event in the community of Prince George.

Mental Health play tours BC First Nations Communities

Maladjusted is an audience interactive play about creating a more human centered mental health system – created and performed by First Nations and non-First Nations mental health patients and caregivers. This innovative dialogue about humanizing mental health is touring into 18 communities in BC, and 8 in Alberta, starting in January to March of 2015. They will be ending the tour with 9 shows at the Firehall Theatre in Vancouver, March 20 – 28, 2015.

To view the tour itinerary, please click here

To purchase tickets to the Vancouver shows, please visit the firehall website

Please contact David Ng at 604.871.0508 outreach@theatreforliving.com for more information
Or visit their website

Reminder! Call for Proposals Environmental Contaminants Program

The First Nations Health Authority Environmental Contaminants
Program (ECP) is still accepting Environmental Contaminants
Research Proposals for the 2015-16 fiscal year. Our call is a little different this year...Read more here.

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: Monday February 16th 2015

The proposal selection process will be concluded in late March 2015.

Grants to address Violence against Women

Applications for one-time grant funding are now available (see News Release – November 27, 2014) to support projects in the following areas:

All applications must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday January 14, 2015.

Late applications will not be accepted. Please click here to learn more.

Grant Opportunity for Life-Saving Automated External Defibrillators

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada/Federal Government, in partnership with MediQuest Technologies, will provide funding for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and training to public facilities in Canada. With an AED and training anyone can save a life. For each AED provided, successful applications receive training for 10 community members in CPR/AED use.

Applications are simple, only involve two pages, and are being accepted until the Grant funds are used up. Please highlight that the application is from a First Nation community for its public facilities.

Send completed applications to: hsf@mediquest.ca or Fax: 604.987.6119. For information about AEDs visit www.MediQuest.ca or call 1-866-831-3227

Download the application here

Send completed applications to: hsf@mediquest.ca or Fax: 604.987.6119

Need help finding and keeping partners?

There is no magic formula for developing agency partnerships. Often, the best way to learn is through one-on-one coaching from someone else with a great track record in building solid partnerships. The Community Action Initiative (CAI) is offering a unique experiential learning opportunity that will help you gain success in this area.

Four community-based, non-profit agencies and one Aboriginal agency have the chance to be mentored by an organization with past success in cultivating and maintaining key partnerships.

Mentee Agencies will:

Learn new approaches on developing community partnerships
Get coaching to explore and overcome past challenges
Build knowledge capital to cultivate strategic partnerships, which promotes organizational resilience to thrive in uncertain times
Besides learning from an experienced mentor organization, mentees agencies may apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to work on a convening or capacity-building project with newly acquired partner(s)!

Click HERE to meet the mentor agencies, view their partnership stories and find out details on how to apply.

Jobs! Vacancies at First Nations Health Authority