Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund?
2. What will the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund achieve?
3. Why is the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund needed?
4. How does the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund work?
5. What is meant by health system integration?
6. What is meant by health service adaptation?
7. What types of projects are being supported by the Pan-Canadian envelope?
8. Who is eligible for funding under the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund?
9. How do Aboriginal organizations/communities apply for funding?
10. What is gender-based analysis?
11. What is Health Canada's role?

1. What is the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund?

The Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF) is a five-year, $200-million fund designed to improve access to health care for Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The AHTF will achieve this overall goal by supporting better integration of federally funded health systems in First Nations and Inuit communities with provincial/territorial health systems and through the adaptation of existing provincial/territorial health service systems to better meet the needs of all Aboriginal peoples, including Métis and those living off-reserve. The AHTF is also intended to increase the participation of Aboriginal peoples in the design, delivery, and evaluation of health programs and services that affect them. It was launched in 2004-2005 and will run until 2009-2010.

2. What will the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund achieve?

The Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF) is part of a longer term plan to address the disparity in the health status of Aboriginal peoples in Canada when compared to the general population. By devising new ways to integrate and adapt existing health services to better meet the needs of Aboriginal peoples, and by more fully engaging Aboriginal peoples in health care decision-making processes that affect them, the AHTF will assist in closing gaps in heath status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians through coordinated efforts by all involved in Aboriginal health.

3. Why is the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund needed?

Unlike other Canadians, First Nations and Inuit must access two different systems for their health care: the federal government provides limited primary health care and health promotion services on First Nations reserves and to Inuit; while provinces and territories deliver universal health services to all Canadians, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis and those Aboriginal peoples living off reserve. It has been noted in several reports, including those of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Kirby Committee), and the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada (Romonow Commission), that there is need for better coordination of health services for Aboriginal peoples funded by federal/provincial/territorial governments.

4. How does the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund work?

The Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF) comprises three distinct funding envelopes:

• The Adaptation Envelope supports provincial and territorial governments in the adaptation of provincial and territorial health systems to better meet the unique needs of Aboriginal peoples, taking into account that Aboriginal peoples have different cultures;
• The Integration Envelope supports the integration of provincial/territorial health systems with the federally funded systems in place for First Nations communities and for the Inuit; and
• The Pan-Canadian Envelope supports cross-jurisdictional integration and adaptation initiatives for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, provides capacity-building funding to national Aboriginal organizations, and supports workshops, evaluation activities and the overall administration of the AHTF.

5. What is meant by health system integration?

In the context of the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF), integration refers to efforts to improve coordination and collaboration between the universal health systems funded by provincial/territorial governments and the health systems in First Nations and Inuit communities, funded by the federal government. Examples of integration activities include:

• Collaboration and integration of public health care strategies;
• Development of consolidated health centres to serve on-reserve and surrounding off-reserve communities;
• The development of common protocols and procedures for on and off-reserve health services such as screening procedures for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease;
• Reviewing and evaluating integrated systems within a given territory or province (this could include gap analysis, impact assessment, and planning for future integration); and
• Coordinated standards and access rules for sharing patient information between and across jurisdictions.
  

6. What is meant by health service adaptation?

Adaptation of health services means redesigning, reorienting or modifying existing programs and services to ensure that they are both available and appropriate to meet the needs of all Aboriginal peoples. Examples of adaptation activities include:

• Adapting mental health and addictions programs for Aboriginal peoples in provincial/territorial health and wellness strategies;
• Involving First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the establishment of advisory councils with the goal of enhancing the cultural competency of provincial or territorial health employees;
• Developing databases and resource guides of provincial or territorial wide health programs and services to increase awareness and access by urban Aboriginal people; and
• Consulting with communities to ensure health services are better suited to the culture of the Inuit within existing provincial/territorial programs and services.

7. What types of projects are being supported by the Pan-Canadian envelope?

The Pan-Canadian Envelope supports cross-jurisdictional integration and adaptation initiatives in three streams: First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Examples of pan-Canadian activities include:

• Adapting health services in the North to reflect cultural traditions and approaches to health used by Aboriginal people;
• Developing Inuit-specific tools and resources to support the delivery of culturally competent pre-natal care; and
• Documenting best practices for improved models of collaboration that could support developments of tripartite health governance.

8. Who is eligible for funding under the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund?

In all three envelopes funding is provided to eligible recipients following the development and approval of a plan. More specifically the eligible recipient for each envelope is as follows:

• Under the Integration Envelope, eligible recipients include First Nations and Inuit communities and organizations and provincial/territorial health departments and authorities;
• Under the Adaptation Envelope, provincial/territorial governments are eligible to receive funding to support the Adaptation Plan and then flow funds to the project recipient outlined in their plan; and
• Under the Pan-Canadian Envelope, eligible recipients for project funding include First Nations organizations and communities, Inuit organizations and communities, Métis organizations and communities, and research institutes/universities.

9. How do Aboriginal organizations/communities apply for funding?

Aboriginal organizations and communities can access funds through each of the three funding envelopes. The process varies for each of the envelopes.

Integration Envelope: Aboriginal organizations and communities that wish to secure funding must have worked in partnership with the appropriate Health Canada regional office to engage in the development of the Integration Plan. Integration plans and projects are submitted by Health Canada Regional Offices to Health Canada headquarters for review, internal consultation and approval.

Adaptation Envelope: Aboriginal communities and organizations must work with the appropriate provincial/territorial government to develop an Adaptation Plan and identify projects. Adaptation plans and projects are submitted by provincial and territorial governments to Health Canada headquarters for review, internal consultation and approval.

Pan-Canadian Envelope: Proposals for Pan-Canadian projects are first reviewed by the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund Secretariat and relevant subject experts within the federal government, and then by subject experts external to the federal government selected in collaboration with the relevant national Aboriginal organization. Projects that meet the AHTF criteria and fall within the funding strategy for the relevant stream are then recommended for final approval by Health Canada.

10. What is gender-based analysis?

Gender-based analysis is an analytical tool that uncovers social, economic, biological and other differences between women and men, girls and boys. It identifies how these differences affect women's and men's health status and their access to, and interaction with, the health care system. Health Canada has a number of tools and resources to assist with gender-based analysis.

11. What is Health Canada's role?

Health Canada is responsible and accountable for the overall administration of the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund.

The Aboriginal Health Transition Fund Secretariat reviews and recommends for approval:

• Adaptation Plans submitted by provincial/territorial governments;
• Integration Plans and projects; and
• Pan-Canadian plans and projects in collaboration with national Aboriginal organizations representing First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.

Health Canada's regional offices are responsible for developing Integration Plans in partnership with First Nations and Inuit organizations and provincial/territorial governments, and negotiating agreements for integration projects and some pan-Canadian projects.