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Working with Aboriginal Partners for positive results, positive change
TORONTO, April 7 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is building a healthier
Ontario by investing $166.5 million over five years to carry on an innovative
strategy that has dramatically improved the health of the province's
Aboriginal communities, Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Community and Social
Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues announced today.
Pupatello made the announcement with George Smitherman, Minister of
Health and Long-Term Care and Michael Bryant, Attorney General and Minister
Responsible for Native Affairs at the Native Women's Resource Centre in
Toronto.
The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy is a unique partnership
between the province and 15 Aboriginal organizations and First Nations
combining traditional Aboriginal and contemporary health and healing services.
"We are renewing the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy because it
works," said Pupatello. "The investment is more than paying for itself in
improved health and stronger family life in Aboriginal communities in
Ontario."
More than 90 per cent of participants have said their overall health and
family situations had improved as a result of the strategy's presence in
Aboriginal communities.
"The strategy blends Aboriginal medicine wheel concepts addressing
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs with contemporary health and
healing practices," said Patricia Baxter, Aboriginal Co-Chair of the strategy.
"We are working with the government to improve the health and healing of our
people."
"The strategy represents the best of both worlds," said Michael Bryant,
Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs. "We are pleased
to renew this success story for another five years."
"There are many roads to good health, and the strategy is among the most
innovative of them all," said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-
Term Care. "By working together to promote the health of all of our people -
and care for them when they need care - we are protecting our most precious
resource."
Disponible en français
For more information visit www.cfcs.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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McGUINTY GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION TO BUILD
HEALTHIER ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy combines traditional
Aboriginal and contemporary health and family healing services to meet the
specific needs of Aboriginal communities. The strategy is a unique partnership
between the government of Ontario and 15 Aboriginal organizations and First
Nations, serving Aboriginal people in Ontario residing on reserves and in
urban areas. This partnership ensures that Aboriginal people in Ontario have a
direct say in services that are a priority for their community. Programs and
services are designed, delivered and managed by Aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy will direct $166.5 million
over five years to a range of programs and services that promote improved
health and family healing in Aboriginal communities including:
- Shelters for Aboriginal women and children seeking refuge from
violence;
- Crisis intervention programs in 47 remote northern First Nations to
respond to risks to personal health or family well-being, such as
youth suicide and family violence;
- Aboriginal Health Access Centres to provide primary health care and a
range of other health services;
- Community wellness programs that promote individual and family health
and healing, and work to reduce health and other risks to family and
community well-being;
- Healing lodges for Aboriginal people looking for traditional healing
approaches to treatment for sexual assault, addictions and family
dysfunction; and
- Treatment centres for Aboriginal youth with addiction problems.
Additionally, the strategy delivers the Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy
Children program to improve the health of children and their families.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services, Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care, Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat and Ontario Women's
Directorate provide funding for the strategy, which was introduced in 1994.
Disponible en français
For more information visit www.cfcs.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Sara Best, Minister's Office, (416) 325-5213; Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; Sandra D'Ambrosio, Minister's Office, (416) 326-1000; Anne Machowski-Smith, Ministry of Community and Social Services, (416) 325-5156; Barbara McIntosh, Ontario Women's Directorate, (416) 314-7238; Dan Strasbourg, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Flavia Mussio, Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat, (416) 326-4778
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