What are the Program Elements?

This content was archived on June 24, 2013.

The Aboriginal Health Human Resources Initiative (AHHRI) supports and strengthens health human resource (HHR) activities through strategic investments. Priority areas where investments have the most promise for improving HHR include:

• Increasing the Numbers of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health Care Providers
• Retaining Health Care Workers Providing Services to Aboriginal People
• Supporting Capacity and Collaboration, Information and Research

Increasing the Numbers of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health Care Providers

Background

The AHHRI’s strategies and support activities are directed to First Nations, Inuit and Métis in all areas of the country to increase their participation in the health work force. Core elements of this priority include:

• Health career awareness -- Awareness programs are needed for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students to inform them of the wide range of potential health career options. Students need information on health careers, high school prerequisite courses for post-secondary health care studies, and how to access such courses.
• Increase in students -- Expanded and more accessible bursary and scholarship programs are needed for undergraduate and postgraduate First Nations, Inuit and Métis health students. The AHHRI works with existing funding bodies to expand Canada’s investment in First Nations, Inuit and Métis health career students, and improve the accessibility of these programs.
• Education system transformation -- Bridging, access and mentorship programs for First Nations, Inuit and Métis students currently exist at some post-secondary institutions, but more of these programs are needed. The AHHRI provides support to develop more of these programs, and works with partner organizations to make changes to the post-secondary educational system to help address barriers to admission.
• Curriculum cultural inclusion -- To produce a health care work force that meets the needs of its clients, the curricula from which students are educated must be culturally relevant and address the diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Curricula for health studies are examined to determine how to address cultural competency.

Accomplishments to Date

Key activities supporting the increase of health care providers include the health careers bursaries and scholarships and a curriculum framework for undergraduate medical education. These are activities are described in greater detail as follows.

Opening the Doors of Opportunity: Health Careers Bursaries and Scholarships

With additional funding from the AHHRI, we have increased the health careers bursaries and scholarships, which are administered by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, from approximately $500,000 to $1.3 million. In 2007-08, 247 First Nations, Inuit and Métis health care students were awarded bursaries and scholarships, the majority of whom were studying nursing and medicine.

Curriculum Framework for Undergraduate Medical Education

Through contribution agreements with the Indigenous Physician's Association of Canada and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the AHHRI has enabled the development of a curriculum framework to increase medical students' core competencies in First Nations, Inuit and Métis health, thereby improving the cultural safety of the care that they deliver. Work is now underway to implement the framework in medical schools across Canada, and similar work has begun for nursing students.

Retaining Health Care Workers Providing Services to Aboriginal People

Background

The AHHRI lays the foundation for developing retention strategies for professional and allied/non-regulated health care workers. Core elements include:

• Conditions for retention -- The AHHRI undertakes research into the barriers to retaining First Nations, Inuit, Métis and non-Aboriginal health care workers, and the conditions that optimize retention. Tools and strategies are developed and partnerships with organizations dealing with retention issues are formed to disseminate research findings, tools and best practices.
• Core competencies and certification -- The AHHRI develops core competencies, standards for practice, and certification processes (where appropriate) either by, or in partnership with, appropriate organizations and/or associations. These standards and certification processes are implemented to help provide community-based allied health care workers with the necessary supports for safe practice, skills upgrading/continuing education, and career mobility. Initial investments are targeted toward community health representatives, health directors/administrators and mental health/addictions workers.
• Cultural competency -- Cultural competency is another key to improving health services and health outcomes. Health care workers who understand the determinants of health, the language, and the cultural factors that affect First Nations, Inuit and Métis people are much better prepared to provide optimal health care. The AHHRI supports Aboriginal organizations in examining the role of First Nations, Inuit and Métis traditional knowledge, cultural safety and cultural competence in health care, and supports the development of programs to encourage cultural competence.

Accomplishments to Date

Research has shown that properly trained and supported workers experience greater job satisfaction and are more likely to stay in their positions. One of the key activities supporting the retention of health care providers in First Nations communities is our work with the First Nations Health Managers. This activity is described in greater detail below.

First Nations Health Managers

Through a contribution agreement with the Assembly of First Nations, the AHHRI is enabling the development of a core competency framework for First Nations health managers. The framework will serve to guide the training of health managers and support them in delivering quality health care services in First Nations communities, thereby facilitating their recruitment and retention. In January 2009, the core competency framework will be validated at the second First Nations Health Managers Forum. To learn more, please visit First Nations Health Managers.

Supporting Capacity and Collaboration, Information and Research

Background

Core supportive elements include:

• Capacity and collaboration -- The success of the AHHRI requires investment in the capacity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people to participate meaningfully in the AHHRI, addressing HHR issues and carrying-out projects that are unique to their populations. These projects provide lessons that can be shared and used to engage provinces, territories, health associations, and educational institutions. Working with provinces, territories and other government departments helps to establish roles and responsibilities and create opportunities to leverage investments.
• Information and research -- Working with partners, the AHHRI establishes baseline information on the number and distribution of First Nations, Inuit and Métis health care workers and educational programs targeted to these populations; develops processes for data collection; and develops a research agenda aimed at determining the optimal numbers and mix of health care workers required. The research agenda is developed in consultation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and, where possible, the research is led by Aboriginal people or organizations.

Accomplishments to Date

Capacity and collaboration are at the heart of the AHHRI's activities. Contributions made to national Aboriginal organizations and regional First Nations and Inuit organizations are enabling them to build capacity in HHR and to meaningfully participate in the initiative. In the same vein, a key activity supporting information and research is our collaborative research with Statistics Canada. This activity is described in greater detail below.

Establishing Baseline Information to Inform Program and Policy Design

In collaboration with Statistics Canada, data from the 1996, 2001, and 2006 Census databases are currently being analysed as a means to establish baseline information on the supply and distribution of Canada's Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health care providers. Based on the 1996 and 2001 Census findings, preliminary results indicate the following:

• 1.57 percent of Canadian health care providers identified as Aboriginal. Of this, approximately 50 percent were First Nations, while 43 percent were Métis, and 3 percent, Inuit; and
• Upward trends were noted for registered nurses, midwives, practitioners of natural healing, dietitians, nutritionists, and physicians.

The baseline information established by this research will be valuable in informing the design, that is, the planning, implementation and evaluation, of HHR programs and policies, specifically the AHHRI.