Aboriginal Health Transition Fund. Supporting Partnerships for Health Integration

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1 Aboriginal Health Transition Fund Supporting Partnerships for Health Integration

2 Promoting Improved Health Through Partnership and Collaboration Federal Government Provincial/Territorial Government First Nations and Inuit By focusing on collaboration, we will eliminate duplications and gaps experienced and improve the quality of health services

3 Initiatives Focussing on Collaboration Health Integration Initiative ( ) Aboriginal Health Transition Fund ( ) Health Services Integration Fund ( )

4 Aboriginal Health Transition Fund Funded over 300 projects across the country Projects varied in size and scope Integration projects included gap analyses, joint planning and protocol development, governance Adaptation projects included adapting health promotion programs, training in cultural safety, and hiring patient navigators

5 AHTF Outcomes: Partnershps The AHTF acted as a catalyst in supporting partnerships that sought new approaches to health care service planning and delivery in order to improve access to care for Aboriginal Canadians New ways of working together The AHTF projects have brought together representatives that had either never worked together before; or have done so predominantly on an ad hoc basis

6 AHTF Outcomes: Improved Planning and Delivery New ways of thinking in planning and delivering health care services formalized committees and working groups have enabled partners to openly discuss challenges and barriers to integrating and adapting health services to find solutions New ways of doing business in Aboriginal health several AHTF project proponents reported innovating ways of planning and delivering health services to Aboriginal Canadians this resulted in enhanced Aboriginal participation; more cultural relevance; and improved coordination of care for Aboriginal patients

7 AHTF Outcomes: Improved Access New ways to access health care services through partnerships, discussions and problem solving, improved access to health services has been achieved by: improved awareness of existing health services offering existing services closer to Aboriginal communities more suitable services for Aboriginal clients improved coordination of health services and referrals

8 Partners in health integration Ingredients for success Clear, shared understanding among participants of objectives, roles and direction Trust between parties Recognition of the values each party brings to the table Open minds, willingness to engage in dialogue and explore innovative options Commitment to on going collaboration adequate human resources time, senior level support Political will at all levels Community involvement and engagement (i.e. informing community members, band councils and health workers about the project and getting their support was a significant activity for many AHTF projects) Flexibility in approach, given the different levels of readiness and priorities among parties Realistic timelines Achievable outcomes

9 Challenges: Partnerships Participants stressed that partnerships can take time to develop and sometimes partners need to be convinced to come and sit together at the table It takes time for partners to learn to trust each other, agree on issues and areas to focus on and understand how each partner best contributes Sometimes questions of jurisdiction need to be understood Capacity Project Proposal development Finding project coordinators: Sustainability Once funding ended, some partnerships did too

10 Future Directions Health Services Integration Fund Integration Policy Framework Knowledge Translation Activities