What is the Aboriginal Health transition Fund (AHTF)?
In September 2004, the First Ministers and national Aboriginal leaders met in Ottawa to discuss joint actions to address the disparity in the health status of Aboriginal peoples in Canada compared to the rest of the Canadian population. In support of the directions agreed upon at the meeting, the Government of Canada announced $700 million in new investments.
Among these measures was the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF), a five year, $200-million initiative to enable governments and communities to devise new ways to integrate and adapt existing health services to better meet the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people including those living off reserve and in urban areas. The AHTF originally ran from 2004/2005 - 2009/2010.
The AHTF Secretariat has received official approval to continue the AHTF initiative for an additional year to end March 2011 and to access re profiled funds from previous years. The purpose of the additional year is to allow more time for current projects to complete their work, as well as for partners to conduct evaluation, communication and knowledge transfer activities that will share the results and best practices of the AHTF. (Please note that there will be no funds for new projects or new project activities in this additional year) Provinces and regions were required to submit their respective Adaptation and Integration plans for the 2010/2011 fiscal year on December 1, 2009. These submissions will be reviewed by Ottawa and approval for each will be determined and communicated prior to the end of the 09/10 fiscal year.
Through the AHTF the federal, provincial governments and Aboriginal organizations are working to:
- Improve the integration of federally funded health systems in First Nations and Inuit communities with provincial and territorial health services;
- Support the adaptation of provincial and territorial health services to better meet the needs of Aboriginal peoples;
- Increase the participation of all Aboriginal peoples in the design, delivery and evaluation of health programs and services; and
- Improve access to health services for all Aboriginal peoples.
AHTF Funding Envelopes
Funding under the AHTF has been allocated through the Adaptation, Integration and Pan-Canadian Envelopes:
- Adaptation Envelope: supports provincial and territorial governments in adapting their existing health programs to the unique needs of all Aboriginal peoples including those living off reserve, in urban areas and in Métis settlements and communities.
- Integration Envelope: supports improved coordination and integration between existing provincially/territorially funded systems and the federally funded health systems in First Nations communities and to the Inuit.
- Pan-Canadian Envelope: (1) supports cross-jurisdictional integration and adaptation initiatives in three streams: First Nations, Inuit and Métis; (2) Provides capacity funding to national Aboriginal organizations; (3) funds workshops; (4) supports evaluation/research activities; and (5) funds the overall administration of the AHTF.
Atlantic AHTF Project Update
Integration
- Integration plans have been developed and approved by the Assistant Deputy Minister of FNIHB for each of the four provinces. Each plan has been developed by federal-provincial-First Nations/Inuit advisory committees including representation from regional and provincial First Nations organizations. The Atlantic region submitted its final integration plan by the June 30, 2008 deadline, and received approval from Ottawa. Consistent with the top priorities of the Atlantic Chiefs (see MMAHB Priorities) a large number of projects support the advancement of mental health, and all support the advancement of provincial/district health authority relationships.
- Following plan approval, FNIH Atlantic submitted detailed integration proposals to Ottawa for approval. Eighteen (18) proposals have been approved.
- A Call for Proposals health earlier this fiscal ear resulted in funding for one (1) new projects as well as additional funding for six (6) existing projects to carry out expanded activities.
- An Addendum to the AHTF Regional Integration Plan has been submitted to Ottawa on December 1, 2009 outlining plans for regional Evaluation and Knowledge Transfer activities intended to take place in the 2010/2011 Extended AHTF year. The region is currently awaiting approval on this.
Adaptation
- Ottawa has approved a Nova Scotia Adaptation Plan which includes three (3) projects as well as a process for the Nova Scotia Department of Health to develop an Aboriginal Health Policy Framework. Through a call for proposals held earlier this year, the province received further funding from Ottawa to cover the costs of a Cultural Safety project. As of December 1, 2009, the province also submitted a plan to Ottawa outlining the Evaluation and Knowledge Transfer activities it hopes to undertake in 2010/2011
- Ottawa has approved seven (7) projects through the New Brunswick Adaptation Plan and well as a planning component. The province received additional funds from Ottawa through a call for proposals held earlier this fiscal year. The additional funds are intended to cover provincial evaluation costs related to AHTF. As of December 1, 2009, New Brunswick has submitted its plan to Ottawa for the 2010/2011 extended year. Its focus is on evaluation.
- Ottawa has approved four (4) project areas for Prince Edward Island focusing on: addictions, mental health, cultural competency and diabetes. As of December 1, 2009, Prince Edward Island has submitted its plan for Evaluation and Knowledge Transfer activities in the 2010/2011 fiscal year.
- Ottawa has approved three (3) projects for Newfoundland and Labrador (Innu) as well as a planning and implementation component. The province received approval from Ottawa for two (2) additional Adaptation projects in response to a call for proposals held earlier this year. As of December 1, 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador had submitted a plan for activities in the 2010/2011 fiscal year. The emphasis of this plan is on supporting existing projects and completing their intended work plans.
Pan-Canadian
Pan-Canadian projects advance the overall adaptation and/or integration objectives of AHTF and have relevance across provinces.
- First Nations Stream: The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) has developed two detailed proposals with community and other partner support. The proposals are consistent with the top priorities of Atlantic Chiefs, and the criteria outlined by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). These proposals focus on creating mental health first responder capacity and determining how to improve access to midwifery services for First Nations.
Summary Chart of Atlantic AHTF Projects
APC and the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund
APC has a role in all of the AHTF projects in the region to varying degrees. At a high level APC oversees all the projects by sitting on the provincial advisory committees of NL, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. This is the table that projects are reviewed prior to being rolled up to National. Proponents can get feedback about their project from these tables.
APC has a position at the NS and the NB Provincial Advisory Committee where the recommendations on provincial policies concerning Aboriginal health are being developed through Provincial streams of the AHTF.
There are a couple of projects where APC provides more of a hands on role, such as co-chairing the NS Home Care project, and of course we do sit as partners on a variety of AHTF committees.
Health Services Integration Fund (HSIF)
With the sunsetting of the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund (AHTF) a new initiative from the federal government has been introduced, the Health Services Integration Fund (HSIF). The HSIF provides $80 million in transition funding to March 2015 and is intended to:
• Build on the work that was created by Aboriginal Health Transition Fund:
• improve participation of Aboriginal peoples in the design, delivery and evaluation of health programs and services,
• improve the integration of federally and provincially funded health services, and ultimately
• improve access to health services.
In the Atlantic region there will be 4 Provincial Advisory Committees (PAC). Each PAC will include First Nations, federal, & provincial membership. The PACs will develop provincial HSIF plans which will include:
• priorities for integration
• provincial context and lessons learned from AHTF, etc.
• the processes used for project solicitation
• communication and evaluation mechanisms
• the process to develop and endorse the plan
Key timeline:
• Establish HSIF PAC & develop TOR in each Province: March 2011
• Take stock of Lessons Learned under AHTF : March 2011
• Establish Integration Priorities in each province: June 2011
• Develop & Submit Provincial Integration Plans: September 2011
• Solicitation & Approval of LOI's/Proposals: March 2012
• Implementation of Projects: April 2012
• Monitoring & Evaluation: April 2012 - March 2015
The role of APC remains the same as under the Aboriginal Health Transition Fund.
Contact Information
Loraine Etter, Policy Analyst
***Please note that some information on this page has been taken from the Health Canada website and can be found at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/services/acces/ahtf-eng.php
