Archived - Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement — Health Support component
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Name of lead department: Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Federal partner organizations: Health Canada
Start date: September 2003 (Resolution Health Support Program), July 2004 (Crisis Line).
End date: March 31, 2016 (Resolution Health Support Program), March 31, 2016 (Crisis Line)
Total federal funding allocated (start to end date): $480,690,019
Description: INAC'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 crisis counselors, including Indigenous counselors. INAC 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; professional counseling; and assistance with the cost of transportation to access counseling, Elder, and/or Traditional Healer services.
Shared outcome: 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: INAC 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: 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 2015–2016 (financially, slightly below total obligations; operationally, consistently exceeding the 95% service agreement level). In 2015–2016, a total of 7,968 calls for support were responded to by the team of crisis counselors, compared to 6,083 calls received in 2014–2015, providing a wide range of services including suicide intervention on 31 calls. In addition, the mandate of the Crisis Line was expanded to provide similar services for callers affected by the pre-inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
| Federal organizations | Link to the organization’s program | Contributing programs and activities | Total allocation (from start to end date) (dollars) | 2015–2016 Planned spending (dollars) | 2015–2016 Actual spending (dollars) | 2015–2016 Expected results | 2015–2016 Actual results against targets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada | Residential Schools Resolution | Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line | $38,900,000 | $3,800,000 | $3,389,330 | ER1.1 | T1.1 AR1.1 |
| Health Canada | Mental Wellness | Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRS RHSP) | $441,800,000 | $56,900,000 | $59,981,089 | ER1.2 | T1.2 AR1.2 |
| Total for all federal organizations | $480,700,000 | $60,700,000 | $63,370,419 | ||||
| 2015–2016 Expected results | 2015–2016 Targets | 2015–2016 Actual results against targetsa |
|---|---|---|
| ER1.1 Former Indian residential school students and their families have access to a 24-hour, national crisis line operated by trained crisis counselors |
T1.1 Maximum of 5% busy signal 95% of calls answered within 120 seconds as per contract |
AR1.1 In 2015–2016, a total of 7,968 calls for support were responded to by the team of crisis counselors, compared to 6,083 calls received in 2014–2015. A wide range of services were provided, including suicide intervention on 31 calls. The results were as expected and within service levels for 2015–2016, with an average annual service level of 97.84% and a percentage of calls unanswered during the year of 3.11%. |
| ER1.2 Demand-driven health support services will be accessible to former Indian residential school students and their families throughout all phases of the IRSSA |
T1.2 90% of Contribution Agreement funded services will be in place by the end of Q1 (June) |
AR1.2 100% of services funded through contribution agreements (i.e. emotional and cultural support services) were in place by the end of Q1 (June 2015). Health support services provided by the IRS RHSP included mental health services (from professional mental health counsellors) and emotional and cultural support services (from resolution health support workers and cultural support providers). Health supports were provided to 1,823 former Indian residential school students who requested support at their Independent Assessment Process hearings. The IRS RHSP also provided mental health counselling services for 47,043 requests (does not include Q4 data from the British Columbia First Nations Health Authority, expected in July 2016). |
| 100% of counselling requests will be processed within 2 weeks of receipt. | Statistical information for this target was not available; however, substantial efforts were made to process all requests for counselling in a timely manner. | |
| a Performance indicators are defined in the Performance Measurement Strategies and/or Performance Measurement Frameworks of each federal partner. | ||
Comments on variances: The variance between planned and actual spending is mainly due to the demand for services being higher than anticipated for the year. Funds were reallocated internally to meet the program needs.
Results achieved by non-federal partners and non-governmental partners: Not applicable
Contact information:
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Denis Bouthillette
Information Manager
Settlement Agreement Operations
Resolution and Individual Affairs Sector
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Telephone: 613-894-2823
denis.bouthillette@aandc-aadnc.gc.ca
Health Canada
Mathieu Larose
Acting Manager
Population Health and Primary Care Directorate
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
Health Canada
Telephone: 613-796-3546
mathieu.larose@hc-sc.gc.ca