National Aboriginal Health Organization NAHO

1
National Aboriginal Health Organization (NAHO)
Initiatives in Aboriginal Health Information
Presentation to the Second Annual Forum
on Connecting Aboriginal Canadians by Effie
Panousos, Policy Analyst, First Nations Centre,
NAHO Ottawa, Ontario March 25, 2003
1
2
Focus of Presentation

• Brief introduction to NAHO and three Centres
• Summary of the mandate and key activities of the
  First Nations, Métis and Inuit Centres
• Overview of Aboriginal health information
  initiatives
• - Aboriginal Health Infostructure
• - Information Clearinghouse on Aboriginal Health
• - Aboriginal Health Portal

2
3
Who we are - NAHO

• Vision
• NAHO is an Aboriginal designed and controlled
  body that seeks to influence and advance the
  health and well being of Aboriginal
• peoples through knowledge-based activities
• Objectives
• To improve and promote Aboriginal health through
  knowledge-based activities
• To promote understanding of health issues
  affecting Aboriginal peoples
• To facilitate and promote research and develop
  research partnerships
• To foster participation of Aboriginal peoples in
  the delivery of health care
• To affirm and protect indigeous knowledge and
  healing practices

3
4
Who we are Three Distinct Centres

• Three centres estabished in 2001, as integral
  parts of NAHO
• Provide a discrete voice in the advancement of
  First Nations, Métis and Inuit health and their
  distinct and diverse health issues and needs
• Centres vision, objectives and activities in
  keeping with NAHO mandate
• Centre priorities and activities directed and
  managed through their respective Governing
  Commitees

4
5
First Nations Centre (FNC)

• Vision
• Dedicated to improving the health and well being
  of First Nations
• peoples and their communities, regardless
  residency,
• including women, children, youth and the elderly
• Objectives
• Conduct, facilitate, promote and diseminate
  research on First Nations health
• Build capacity of First Nations and their
  communities
• - research and research analysis
• - health career development
• - health governance (planning, administration,
  policy/program design and implementation,
  surveillance, etc.)
• Advocate, advance and support First Nations
  indigenous knowledge and healing practices
• Develop/enhance partnerships and relationships
  relating to First Nations health

5
6
FNC Key Initiatives and Activities

• First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey
  (RHS), 2002
• - National mandate from the Assembly of First
  Nations Chiefs Committee on Health
• - second round of data collection (post 1997
  RHS)
• - 10 regional trained teams involved in data
  collection
• - data collection August 2002 April 2003
• ? 270 communities, every province and territory
  (except Nunavut)
• ? 28,000 interviews
• - Next Steps
• ? national and regional analysis,
  interpretation and dissemination
• ? undertake spin-off surveys (children youth,
  mental health, women, food and nutrition)
• Environmental scan of First Nations health
  priorities
• - literature review, regional visits, informant
  interviews

6
7
FNC Key Initiatives and Activities (contd)

• Develop/promote Ownership Control and Access
  Principles (OCAP)
• Prepare First Nations Health Report Card (annual)
• - synthesis and analysis of FNC and external
  research and information on First Nations health
• Explore and undertake research initiatives on
  urban First Nations health
• Develop and disseminate toolkits to First Nations
  communities
• - privacy, research, ethics, surveillance
• Envision a First Nations public health
  surveillance system, including national and
  regional capacity building for First Nations
  public health surveillance

7
8
Métis Centre

• Vision
• Dedicated to improving the physical, social,
  mental, emotional
• and spiritual health of the Métis People in
  Canada, with a fundamental
• belief that the advancement and sharing of
  knowledge in the field
• of Métis health is key to empowering the Métis
  People in Canada
• Objectives
• Improve and promote through knowledge-based
  activities the health of Métis People
• Promote health issues pertaining to Métis People
  by means that include communications and public
  education activities
• Facilitate and promote research and develop
  research partnerships relating to health issues
  of Métis People
• Foster the recruitment, retention, training and
  utilization of Métis People in the Aboriginal
  workforce in the delivery of health care
• Affirm traditional Métis healing practices
  through validating holistic traditional practices
  and medicines and ensuring such practices receive
  recognition

8
9
Métis Centre Key Initiatives and Activities

• Establishment of a virtual Métis Centre
• Establishment/strengthening relationships with
  Métis organizations
• Contribution to the development of NAHO
  initiatives
• - Urban Aboriginal Health Centres Meeting, NAHO
  Public Opinion Poll, palliative care, OCAP, NAHO
  Western Forum, other NAHO conferences
• Métis Health Policy Forum
• Environmental Scan of Métis health information,
  initiatives and programs
• Contribution to the development of the MNC
  submission to the Romanow Commission
• Participation to the NAHO/Romanow Forum

9
10
Métis Centre Key Initiatives and Activities
(contd)

• Presentation to the Healing our Spirit Worldwide
  Conference A culture-based approach to Métis
  Health Wellness in Canada
• Coordination of small Métis Elders Gatherings
  to discuss Métis traditional health knowledge
• - use, protection and promotion of traditional
  knowledge
• - balance with western medicine
• Métis health information meetings
• Proposal-writing workshops
• Identification of training gaps, barriers and
  opportunities for Métis

10
11
Ajunnginiq (Inuit) Centre - Vision

• The Ajunnginiq Centre shall promote practices,
• which will restore a healthy Inuit lifestyle
• and improve the health status of Inuit
• through research and research dissemination,
• education and awareness, human resource
• development and advocacy of Inuit-specific health
• policies and practices

11
12
Inuit Centre Key Initiatives and Activities

• Provide information and options for effective
  policies and programs
• - Substance abuse including tobacco use, fetal
  alcohol syndrome, diabetes, dental health
• Capacity Building
• - Environmental scan of health-related
  educational programs in Inuit regions
• - Options and strategies for success in health
  careers
• - Promotion of literacy and reading as tools for
  health and health careers
• - Participate in NAHOs Aboriginal Health Human
  Resource Analysis
• Research
• - Activities related to sexual and reproductive
  health and family planning
• - Health impacts of rapid economic development
  and climate change
• - Participation on ACADRE Board of Directors

12
13
Inuit Centre Key Initiatives and Activities
(contd)

• Language and Culture
• - Compile Inuktitut/English terminology
  reference tools
• - Facilitate workshop for Inuit medical
  interpreters to identify language needs
• - Activities to preserve, promote and protect
  Inuit traditional knowledge and intellectual
  property rights
• - Development of a patients rights/resource
  handbook for Inuit away from their communities
• Networking and Information-Sharing
• - Participation at national Aboriginal and
  mainstream conferences
• - Participation on ITK Health Committee and
  health technical committee
• - Facilitation of a national Inuit health
  conference/dialogue
• Information Gathering
• - Environmental scan of mental health services
  and information, including suicide prevention
  efforts
• - Report on Inuit best practices in health
  promotion
• - Report card on Inuit access to health
  programs and funding

13
14
Initiatives in Aboriginal Health Information

• Aboriginal Health Infostructure
• Information Clearinghouse on Aboriginal Health
• Aboriginal Health Portal

14
15

• Aboriginal Health Infostructure (AHI)

15
16
AHI Vision, Purpose and Objectives

• Vision
• Creation of an autonomous and distinct Aboriginal
  Health Infostructure that can be strategically
  and appropriately linked to the pan-Canadian
  infostructure
• Purpose
• To support Aboriginal peoples, their governments
  and organizations to strategically,
  collaboratively and holistically improve overall
  health status by building capacity, linkages and
  access to information, technology and
  communications
• Objectives
• ACCESS to information, services, communication
• DEVELOP a range of skills and capacity to use
  health information
• SUPPORT Aboriginal health organizations
• PROMOTE a holistic perspective on health
• NURTURE indigenous knowledge
• ENSURE sustainability of initiatives
• BUILD linkages with Canadian Health Infostructure

16
17
AHI The Process

• Proposal for a distinct AHI based on
• - two visioning documents prepared and submitted
  by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
• - commitment by federal Health Ministers
  Advisory Council on Health Infostructure in 1999
• AHI Planning Committee created in 2001 and
  mandated to
• - Develop a Blueprint and Tactical Plan
• - Develop a Vision
• - Determine who/what entity will oversee
  implementation and ongoing maintenance
• - Ensure that First Nations, Inuit and Métis
  participate as active, recognized, equal
  partners at the pan-Canadian table

17
18

• AHI Planning Committee

18
19
AHI Possible Applications
Information for Health Providers
Clinical Decision Support
Health Information for the Public
Health Information Management, Surveillance
Research
Electronic Health Records
Telehealth/Telecare
19
Privacy Protection
Information Linkages Standards
20
AHI Current Activities

• Environmental Scan
• Discussions and feedback sessions with First
  Nations, Métis, Inuit
• - Dialogue Circles with First Nations and Métis
• - Inuit National and Regional Meetings
• Development of a Blueprint and Tactical Plan
• - Each political organization will consult with
  its respective constituencies to develop and
  table recommendations
• Explore funding opportunities
• Explore potential links with the pan-Canadian
  health infostructure

20
21
AHI Aboriginal Feedback Sessions

• First Nations Dialogue Circles
• Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax (NAHO Regional Forum)
• First Nations Informant Interviews
• Quebec and Ontario representatives
• Métis Dialogue Circles
• Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Toronto
• First Nations and Métis Dialogue Circle
• Edmonton (NAHO Regional Forum)
• Inuit Component
• Inuit Health Information Conference (July 2002)
• Inuit Health Policy Forum (Feb. 2000)
• NAHO Inuit Centre Regional Sessions (Feb-Nov.
  2002)

21
22
AHI Feedback Sessions Challenges Barriers

• First Nations
• Jurisdictional constraints
• Program stovepipes
• Geography/Access
• Current capacity
• Inadequate cultural awareness and inclusion
• Individuals taking responsibility for their own
  health

• Inuit
• Multiple jurisdictions
• Access to basic services
• Capacity
• OCAP
• Relevance of existing information
• Culturally relevant services
• Transient health workers

• Métis
• Availability/access (mainly based on
  jurisdictional and recognition barriers)
• Issues internal to Métis

22
23
AHI Feedback Sessions - Suggestions for Technology

• First Nations
• Improve access to telehealth, client information,
  distance education, information for managers and
  front-line workers
• Improve provision of services, information and
  accountability
• Support coordination of client information
• - overview of health status
• - data keeping
• - networking

• Inuit
• Improve access to specialist services (i.e.,
  mental health) and information
• North-to-North networking
• South-to-North, smoother transition
  (cross-cultural training)
• Professional training

• Métis
• Improve access to
• information for empowerment, prevention, survey
  research
• Improve access to telehealth/telecare and other
  forms of health programs and services

23
24
AHI - Blueprint

• Provide NATIONAL DIRECTION for priority-setting
  and obtaining sustainable funding
• Ensure COMMUNITY CAPACITY AND OPPORTUNITY to
  apply AHI tools to meet their needs
• Address COMMON ISSUES at the national level
• protection of personal and community health
  information
• role of national Aboriginal organizations
• linkages with the pan-Canadian Health
  Infostructure

24
25

• Information Clearinghouse on Aboriginal Health
  (ICAH)

25
26
ICAH - Background

• Need for an information clearinghouse on
  Aboriginal health identified during the
  consultations that lead to the creation of NAHO
• Responds to NAHO objective of improving and
  promoting the health and well being of Aboriginal
  peoples and communities through knowledge-based
  activities
• Key NAHO activity and supported by three Centres
• - Clearinghouse to be housed within NAHO

26
27
ICAH - Mission

• Connecting people with information
• To disseminate Aboriginal health information to
  First Nations, Inuit, Métis peoples and the
  Canadian public
• Connecting people with people and organizations
• To facilitate capacities and linkages among those
  involved in building and maintaining Aboriginal
  health systems

27
28
ICAH Potential Services

• Discover, view, obtain relevant health research
  and information
• - in-person telephone and mail-out services
• - web-based Portal
• - mail-out catalogue and updates
• Review specially prepared material for
  orientation and education purposes
• Discover and reach appropriate people and
  organizations
• Engage in professional information exchange
• Stay abreast of current and upcoming events and
  new publications
• Visit relevant websites through a professionally
  developed portal

28
29
ICAH - Features

• The Library
• - Reading Room
• - Featured Papers
• - Highlight Capsules
• - References
• The Store
• - Select and order
• Facilities and Programs
• People and Organizations
• Career and Education Centre

• News and Current Events
• Research Register
• Conference Register
• Professional Exchange
• Keep Me Posted
• Community Profiles and Geography
• Funding and Budgets
• Policies and Legislation
• Feedback and Surveys

29
30

• Aboriginal Health Portal

30
31
Aboriginal Health Portal

• Portal will provide a window to information tools
  relating to Aboriginal health
• - Aboriginal organizations that deal with health
  issues
• ? national organizations (Phase I)
• ? regional organizations (Phase II)
• - NAHO and three Centres
• - Information Clearinghouse on Aboriginal Health

31
32
Aboriginal Health Information Initiatives - Next
Steps

• Aboriginal Health Infostructure
• NAHO and Centres to work with, and assist
  partners in the development and tabling of
  recommendations
• - MNC to hold two-day meeting to develop
  recommendations
• - ITK/Inuit Centre working in cooperation to
  formulate recommendations
• - First Nations Centre Information Governing
  Committee discussing the establishment of a
  process to develop recommendations
• Information Clearinghouse on Aboriginal Health
• NAHO Clearinghouse staff to begin preparation of
  a detailed plan for the establishment and
  implementation of the Clearinghouse
• Aboriginal Health Portal
• Creation and implementation of portal to be
  undertaken with launch of NAHOs new web site

32