Originally published in the Vancouver Sun- May 27th, 2016

Five years ago Thursday, B.C. chiefs voted to take control of federally delivered First Nations health programs and services for their peoples. The historic vote led to the most significant change for federal health services since the 1986 Indian Health Transfer Policy.

Read the full editorial ​​​by Lydia Hwitsum and Joe Gallagher

An Operational Plan for the Fiscal Year 2016/2017

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) is pleased to share 2016/2017 FNHA Summary Service Plan: An Operational Plan for the Fiscal Year 2016/2017. The fourth Summary Service Plan describes the overall strategic and operational direction of the FNHA. It marks a new chapter for the FNHA – one in which we articulate a set of five-year goals, outcome statements, objectives, and a set of specific strategies and key priorities for 2016/17.

Read the Summary Service Plan here.

​A blog by Patricial Vickers, Director, Mental Wellness

As children, we can sense that there are roots to the suffering in our family, but social conditioning makes it difficult for First Nations peoples to understand the roots of the suffering. In my case, by the time I was in my mid-teen years, I'd been conditioned to believe that the abuse, addiction and violence in my family existed because my father was an "Indian." Something deeper inside me rebelled against this judgement, but after witnessing and experiencing the violence and abuse, I eventually succumbed to the external conditioning and agreed – it must be because we are Indians.

Read the full blog here.

"Indicators are like the weather, if you are headed outside you want to check the temperature and be aware of the conditions."

"Do you feel happy, do you feel useful, are you valued in your community, those are indicators of social connection."

Listen to the rest of this great primer on Health Indicators here

A Journey of Personal and Family Wellness​

By Kayla Serrato

The nurturing of a new life begins even before pregnancy, as the overall health, living environment and relationships of both a woman and her partner influence the way a baby can develop.  Many First Nations communities know this, and are strongly committed to supporting the wellness of women and their role and importance as life givers. When you or someone you love becomes pregnant, it is a major, life-changing event that can inspire positive action and personal growth.

Read the full blog post here.

In this second issue of 'Research Rounds,' we explore Health Indicators and some of the information garnered from them. Take me to Research Rounds #2.

Have a question you would like answered in a future issue of Research Rounds? Email RHS@fnha.ca

Sign up for a follow-up webinar on the recent Data Governance Engagement Sessions!

Over February and March, First Nations communities gathered in each of the five regions to talk data governance, discussing how data and information can support decision-making in Nation rebuilding and community development.

Webinar Dates and Times

Northern: Monday June 20, 2016 10:00am – 12:00pm
Vancouver Island: Wednesday June 22, 2016 10:00am – 12:00pm
Interior: Thursday June 23, 2016 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fraser ​​Salish:​ Friday June 24, 2016 10:00am – 12:00pm
Vancouver Coastal: Monday June 27, 2016 10:00am – 12:00pm

Find out more and register here.

The First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA) held a Cultural Safety & Humility webinar. The webinar included First Nations Health Authority's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Evan Adams, and Quality, Care & Safety Manager, Katie Procter, and was hosted by FNHDA Vice-President Keith Marshall.

Cultural safety and humility have been identified as care approaches to reduce health inequities and improve health outcomes for First Nations peoples in BC. Some questions that are explored include, what is cultural safety and what does it look like in the health care system? How can Health Directors advocate cultural safety and humility in their own work and in the communities they serve? And what is FNHA doing to support cultural safety and humility?

Watch the recorded webinar here.

Sign up for the 24hr challenge today.

Don't forget! On June 7th take the Tobacco Timeout Challenge and quit commercial tobacco for 24hrs. Making the decision to try is the first step on the journey to becoming tobacco-free.

You don’t have to quit forever – just 24 hrs. And you don’t have to do this on your own – there will be hundreds of other people joining with you from across BC.

Find out more and sign up here.

Regional Health Liaison
Location(s): Nanaimo
Deadline: June 3, 2016 at 4:00 PM

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Home Care Nurse Advisor

Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Wednesday June 15, 2016 at 4:00pm
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Program Consultant, Mental Health
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: June 3, 2016 at 4:00pm
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Transfer Nursing Admin Asst
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Friday June 10, 2016 at 4:00pm
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Community Engagement Coordinator South Coast
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: Friday June 10, 2016 at 4:00pm
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Change Management Lead
Location(s): Vancouver
Deadline: June 15, 2016 at 4:00pm
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Specialist, Board Policy & Executive Directives
June 16, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Location(s): West Vancouver
Deadline: June 16, 2016 at 4:00 PM
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View more job postings here.

Clinical Care Coordinator
Organization: Westbank First Nation
Location(s): Kelowna BC
Deadline: Jun 14, 2016 by 4:00 PM

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Self-Government Implementation Coordinator/Researcher
Organization: Westbank First Nation
Location(s): Kelowna BC
Deadline: Jun 14, 2016 by 4:00 PM

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Alcohol and Drug Counsellor
Organization: 'Namgis Treatment Centre
Location(s): Alert Bay
Deadline: Jun 10, 2016 by 11:55 PM

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Alcohol and Drug Counsellor
Organization: 'Namgis Substance Abuse Treatment Centre Society
Location(s): Alert Bay BC
Deadline: Jun 10, 2016 by 4:00 PM

Job description