Archived - Horizontal Initiatives: Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement – Health Supports Component
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Name of lead department(s):
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)
Lead department program:
Residential Schools Resolution
Start date of the Horizontal Initiative:
September 2003 (RHSP), July 2004 (Crisis Line)
End date of the Horizontal Initiative:
March 31, 2016 (RHSP), March 31, 2016 (Crisis Line)
Total federal funding allocation (start to end date):
$480,690,019
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
AANDC's Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector supports former students in crisis by funding the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, a national, 24-hour toll-free support service (1-866-925-4419) operated by trained Aboriginal crisis counselors. AANDC is also responsible for coordinating the verification of program eligibility, and ensuring that Health Canada is aware of dates for Independent Assessment Process hearings and Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration events as they arise, so that health supports can be provided to former students in a seamless fashion.
Health Canada's Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRS RHSP), a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) ensures that former students of Indian residential schools and their families can safely address a broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the disclosure of childhood abuse through all phases of the IRSSA.
The RHSP components include: cultural support services provided by Elders; emotional support services provided by Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSWs); professional counseling; and assistance with the cost of transportation to access counseling, Elder, and/or Traditional Healer services.
Shared outcome(s):
The IRSSA Health Supports component works toward the achievement of two outcomes:
- Eligible former students of Indian residential schools and their families have access to mental health and emotional support services.
- Eligible former students of Indian residential schools can safely address a broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the disclosure of childhood abuse.
Governance structure(s):
AANDC is responsible for the overall implementation of the IRSSA and is working in partnership with Health Canada to coordinate and provide services for former Indian residential school students throughout all phases of the IRSSA.
Performance highlights:
AANDC and Health Canada jointly provide access to services in the claimants' community, at Independent Assessment Process hearings and at Truth and Reconciliation events. In 2013–2014, the Crisis Line responded to a total of 5,038 calls including 44 calls related to suicide intervention. Also in 2013–2014, Health Canada met the demand for health services at 4,165 Independent Assessment Process (IAP) hearings and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) 3 national events (Montréal, Vancouver, Edmonton) and 10 community events.
| Federal Partners | PAA Programs | Contributing activities/programs | Total Allocation (from start date to end date) ($ millions) |
2013–2014 ($ millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¹ Performance indicators are defined in the Performance Measurement Strategies and/or Performance Measurement Frameworks (PMF) of each federal partner. | ||||
| Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada | Residential Schools Resolution | Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line | 38.9 |
Planned Spending: 4.3
Actual Spending: 3.4 Expected Results: Demand-driven health supports are provided to former Indian residential school students and their families through all phases of the IRSSA. Contributing activity/program results (using specific indicators)¹: Demand-driven health supports have been provided to former Indian residential school students, their families and persons of interest, through all phases of the IRSSA. In 2013–2014, a total of 5,038 calls for support were responded to by the team of crisis counselors, compared to 7,787 calls received in 2012–2013, providing a wide range of services including suicide intervention on 44 calls. The Indian Residential School Crisis Line continues to provide critical and culturally appropriate support to former Indian residential school students, their families and persons of interest, from all areas of the country (including many isolated regions where alternate services are very limited). The results were as expected and within service levels for 2013–2014 (financially, slightly below total obligations; operationally, consistently exceeding the 95% service agreement level). |
| Health Canada | First Nations and Inuit Primary Health Care | Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program | 441.8 |
Planned Spending: 65.4
Actual Spending: 63.0 Expected Results: Demand-driven health support services are accessible to former Indian residential school students and their families throughout all phases of the IRSSA. Contributing activity/program results (using specific indicators): Provided health support services at the TRC national events in Montréal, Vancouver, and Edmonton. Results are not fully tabulated for the Edmonton event, but an estimated 50,000 health support interactions took place at the first two national events. Health supports were also provided to 100% of the 4,165 former Indian residential school students who requested support at their IAP hearing. |
| Total | 480.7 |
Total Planned Spending: 69.7
Total Actual Spending: 66.4 |
||
Comments on Variances:
The demand-driven nature of the IRS RHSP resulted in less expenditures than planned for the counselling and transportation components. The costs attributed to delivering health supports at the TRC events were less than originally planned as well. Expenditures included in Total Actual Spending are Employee Benefit Plan and internal services. Overhead, oversight and Non Controllable Salaries are not included.
Results achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
Not applicable
Contact Information:
Health Canada
Andrea Challis
Manager, Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program
Mental Health and Addictions Division
Community Programs Directorate
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
Telephone: 613-952-1377
andrea.challis@hc-sc.gc.ca
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Alia Butt
A/Director General
Settlement Agreement Policy and Partnerships
Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Telephone: 613-996-2603
alia.butt@aandc-aadnc.gc.ca