Attend one of 112 events taking place across BC between June 15-28, 2015 - Where will you be? Tag us online! #FNHAWellness

First Nations communities across BC will be celebrating their health and wellness with events on and around June 21 as part of the First Nations Health Authority’s (FNHA) National Aboriginal Day of Wellness grant initiative. 112 events in major urban centres and remote villages will invite First Nations communities and neighbours together to celebrate the longest day of the year with each event organized by and for the local community. An estimated 20,000 First Nations citizens will take part in the Day of Wellness events that range from June 15-28, 2015.

“The June 21 Day of Wellness events are a venue for First Nations peoples to celebrate wellness on National Aboriginal Day,” said Joe Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer of the FNHA. “The number and variety of these events demonstrate local partnerships in action and illustrate how BC First Nations are owning and promoting their health and wellness journey.”

Find the map and full release here!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     June 19, 2015

Stó:lō Nation Territory - Chilliwack, BC – Stó:lō Nation Territory - Chilliwack, BC – Today, the Stó:lō Service Agency (SSA), First Nations Health Authority, BC Ministry of Health, Fraser Health, and Chilliwack Division of Family Practice officially celebrated the opening of the Stó:lō Nation Community Health Centre. The new centre will support improved access to health care services for Stó:lō Nation members, the community of Chilliwack and to the growing population across the eastern Fraser Valley by locating a range of services in one location.

The health centre will offer a multidisciplinary approach to health care with patients having access to a Fraser Health nurse practitioner and family physician through the primary care clinic. This project integrates an innovative funding model that moves from fee-for-service to ‘alternative payment’ which builds doctor and client relationships allowing for more one-on-one time, engaging in case management, addressing non-medical determinants of health and ultimately reducing emergency room admissions and acute care engagements. These services will be offered in the context of integrated primary care services that support the holistic care of patients in the community.

Read the full news release here.

Fraser-Salish Graduates from the FNHA and Red Cross First Responders Training on July 9.

The First Nations Health Authority, Red Cross and First Nations communities in BC are collaborating to establish training and infrastructure for First Responder services in rural and remote communities. Community staff or volunteers are being trained and licensed to provide pre-hospital emergency care, enhancing capacity directly in the community to save lives.

On July 9th at Tzeachten Community Hall in Chilliwack, nine Fraser-Salish First Nations individuals graduated from the intensive 9-day First Responder training program. These individuals, both men and women, represent six different First Nation communities in the Fraser-Salish Region. On Wednesday, July 17th, at Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge in Cape Mudge, on Quadra Island, twenty Vancouver Coastal First Nations individuals representing ten different First Nation communities in the region graduated from the same training.

Read on here!

FNHA Chief Information Officer Joeseph Kiet Mendez with a framed copy of the former Health Canada cord. 

IIMS' successful migration of Information Technology platform support health services that affect lives in communities.

On May 28th the FNHA celebrated a landmark step on the path to completing transfer. The FNHA is now operating its Information Technology infrastructure and applications separate from Health Canada networks.

“This success allows us to support real, life-changing health services in our communities through eHealth initiatives such as telehealth, whereby community members can access health and counselling providers in real time from multiple locations,” explained Joseph Mendez, CIO and Vice President of IIMS. “We are improving health and supporting wellness activities in our communities.”

Read the full scoop here.

In partnership with First Nations Health Authority, the BC Lung Association’s Health Promoter Team is hitting the road this summer to attend community events in the Fraser-Salish region and to talk with children and families about secondhand smoke and the gifts of smoke-free living through a fun and interactive campaign called Inside | Out.

The campaign is all about opening up a dialogue about secondhand smoke, understanding the differences between traditional and commercial tobacco, and how we can all work together to protect each other and children from secondhand smoke.

Find out more about the Inside | Out Campaign here.

​In partnership with Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey VII​, the FNHA Community Accreditation and Quality Improvement (CAQI) Program hosted its inaugural First Nations Quality Improvement and Safety (QIS) Network Forum.

The QIS Network offers BC First Nations health and treatment organizations a platform to connect and share leadership and capacity building on their journeys to accreditation. Accreditation is an effective quality-improvement process and tool that provides a structure to continuously examine, strengthen and maintain high quality programming with a focus on staff, client, and community safety.

What is the CAQI Program?

The FNHA Community Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, supports First Nation health and treatment services with their accreditation and quality improvement activities. The CAQI Program is a community based and community led program that provides funding, resources, learning opportunities and membership with the First Nations QIS Network.

Read more here! 

The FNHA is thrilled to announce that the BC team for the First Nations Regional Early Childhood, Education, and Employment Survey (FNREEES) has reached our survey target of 83% (3,107 of 3,740 surveys completed)!

FNREEES is a national survey by First Nations, for First Nations. It is a chance to share stories on topics such as family support, school experiences, jobs, and traditional activities. Data collection completed on May 31, 2015.

This accomplishment would not have been possible without the commitment of the 39 participating communities across BC and the incredible effort of the field and project staff.

Read more.

Aboriginal Youth HIV Training & Video Making Workshop Supported by the FNHA.

This summer YouthCO is hosting an HIV, Sexual Health, and 'decolonizing our bodies' workshop that includes video making, info sessions on testing, treatment, and prevention, and driving change by First Nations youth for their peers! 

This training will include:

• A trip to our training site, which is a retreat located in Langley
• Learning about how colonization has affected our health—and what we can do about it
• Information about living with HIV and Hepatitis C, treatment, testing and prevention
• Video-making with Reel Youth
• And other fun activities!

Deadline for applications: July 15th, 2015

Find out more and apply here! 

As of August 2014, all people residing within First Nations communities, regardless of ancestry, and who meet CLBC eligibility requirements, can access CLBC funded services based upon their disability-related needs and availability of local CLBC resources.

Community Living BC funds services and supports that meet the disability-related needs of eligible adults, and their families, who have been diagnosed with:

• a developmental disability; or
• fetal alcohol sprectrum disorder or autism spectrum disorder who require extensive help to complete basic daily living activities.

The following Frequently Asked Questions provides information to First Nations about CLBC services to ensure eligible individuals residing in First Nations communities can access them.

FAQs for First Nations communities about CLBC Services in First Nations Communities (PDF)

Find out more information here.

B.C. Youth Invited to Apply for Unique Sport Leadership Opportunity by June 23!

The up-coming “ACTIVATE BC” initiative is a collaboration between Motivate Canada, the BC Aboriginal Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity Partners Council, the Ray-Cam Co-Operative Centre and More Sports. The project will bring together 50 youth from across the province to participate in a 3-day forum style workshop. Developed by youth for youth, ACTIVATE BC will be held at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver Campus from July 9th-12th.

Youth living in BC, who are between the ages of
16-25, are invited to apply to attend ACTIVATE BC by completing the on-line application form by Tuesday,
June 23, 2015.

Read more

If you are a First Nations or Aboriginal organization seeking funding for new or existing programs and services this event may be for you. Hosted by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, this event will bring together sixty federal, provincial, public, and private funders to share their funding opportunities with 400 BC First Nations and Aboriginal organizations. 

Registration is open and conference runs from September 23-25, 2015 in Victoria BC

Register Today

Are you a health care provider working in First Nations communities? The First Nation, Inuit and Métis Program offers on-line professional development free of charge with more than 10 health related courses, including:

• First Nation Cancer Care
• First Nation Elder Care
• First Nation Diabetes Circle of Care
• First Nation COPD Care
• First Nation Trauma Informed Relationships; Building Safety and Trust

All First Nation courses are developed with and for community health care providers to ensure content is culturally relevant and meet the community realities.

Find out more about Saint Elizabeth First Nation Inuit and Métis Program here

The N7 Fund is committed to creating early positive experiences in sport and physical activity for First Nations, Native American and Aboriginal youth in North America. Organizations that support Native American and Aboriginal communities through sport and physical activity programming for youth can apply.

The 2015-2016 N7 Fund Grant Application is now available online.

Lean how to apply here.

UC (Network) Analyst
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jul 2, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Funding Arrangements Developer
Location(s): Vancouver BC
Deadline: Jul 1, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Program & Service Performance Specialist
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jun 26, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Regional Project Developer
Location(s): Fraser Region
Deadline: Jun 26, 2015 by 4:00 AM
Job description

Summer Student / Intern
Location(s): Kamloops and Kelowna BC
Deadline: Jun 24, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Community Engagement Coordinator Central Coast
Location(s): Central Coast
Deadline: Jun 22, 2015 by 4:00 PM
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Compensation & Benefits Analyst
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Jun 22, 2015 by 4:00 PM
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HR Associate
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: Jun 22, 2015 by 4:00 PM
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Regional Project Developer
Location(s): Vancouver Coastal
Deadline: Jun 22, 2015 by 4:00 PM
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Addictions Specialist
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jun 19, 2015 by 4:00 PM
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Occupational Health Nurse
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Jun 19, 2015 by 4:00 PM
Job description

Community Health Nurse - Health Centre
Location(s): Lytton & Fort St. John
Deadline:
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Community Health Nurse – Nursing Stations
Location(s): Various
Deadline:
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Dental Therapist
Location(s): Various
Deadline:
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Nurse in Charge-Nursing Station
Location(s): Various
Deadline:
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