Archived - Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement — Health Support component

Name of lead department: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Federal partner organization: Health Canada

Non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Start date: September 2003 (Resolution Health Support Program), July 2004 (Crisis Line). Funding was renewed in 2006, 2012, and 2015 (Resolution Health Support Program only)

End date: March 31, 2016 (Resolution Health Support Program), October 31, 2016 (Crisis Line)

Total federal funding allocated (start to end date): $480,690,019

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable

Description: 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 counsellors. AANDC also coordinates the verification of program eligibility. The Department ensures that Health Canada is aware of dates for Independent Assessment Process hearings and Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration events as they arise, so that former students can receive health supports in a seamless fashion.

Health Canada's Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRS RHSP) is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). IRS RHSP assists former students of Indian residential schools and their families in addressing a broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the disclosure of childhood abuse through all phases of the IRSSA.

The IRS RHSP components include the following:

• cultural support services provided by Elders;
• emotional support services provided by Resolution Health Support Workers;
• professional counselling; and
• assistance with the cost of transportation to access counselling and traditional healer services.

Shared outcome: The IRSSA Health Support component correlates with 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: AANDC oversees the IRSSA in partnership with Health Canada to ensure it has the capacity to provide services for former Indian residential school students throughout all phases of the IRSSA.

Performance highlights: 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. 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 2014–2015 (financially, slightly below total obligations; operationally, consistently exceeding the 95% service agreement level). In 2014–2015, a total of 6,083 calls for support were responded to by the team of crisis counselors, compared to 5,038 calls received in 2013–2014, providing a wide range of services including suicide intervention on 45 calls.

Comments on variances: Health Canada — The demand-driven nature of the IRS RHSP resulted in less expenditures for the counselling and transportation components than were anticipated during the year. The final Truth and Reconciliation Commission National Event was postponed to 2015–2016; therefore the planned spending for this event was retained.

Results achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners: Not applicable