In 2015, Indigenous Health and the First Nations Health Authority partnered to offer Northern Indigenous Community Wellness Funding Awards for the first time. These provide a maximum of $5,000 to support Indigenous communities and organizations working to improve health and wellness in Northern BC.
To be eligible for these funding awards, applicants must be:
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Located within Northern BC (Northern Health and First Nations Health Authority Northern Region)
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A First Nations Band, Indigenous community organization and/or Health Centre
Projects must support community-based initiatives that focus on holistic health and wellness and one or more of the following priorities:
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Cultural safety
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Primary care
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Mental wellness and substance use
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Population and public health: community wellness activities for Indigenous youth and Elders
Preference will be given to projects that:
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Support collaboration by encouraging different groups to work together towards a common goal such as community members (youth, families, Elders, etc.), health staff (Band, NH, FNHA), physicians, Aboriginal Health Improvement Committees (AHICs), other communities.
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Support health and well-being by combining Indigenous Wellness approaches with current health care approaches.
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Build healthy relationships and enhance how people connect with each other, their families and their community (e.g. community holiday gatherings).
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Capacity building and training of local First Nations and Indigenous staff.
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COVID-19: To protect those most vulnerable, and to make sure that our health system is able to care for those who become severely ill, we ask that all projects follow COVID-19 BCCDC guidelines.
Applications now open
Applications are open from September 13, 2021 to October 8, 2021. Successful applicants will be notified in November 2021.
IMAGINE Grants support communities that are committed to staying healthy, preventing injury and improving the well-being of residents in the Northern Health region. Indigenous Health is one of several partners within Northern Health who provide the funds for IMAGINE grants.
Criteria:
Projects must support community-based initiatives that focus on one or more of the following chronic disease prevention or health promotion priorities:
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Healthy Eating and Food Security
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Physical Activity/ Active Living
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Injury Prevention
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Tobacco-Free Communities
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Positive Mental Health
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Prevention of Substance Harms
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Healthy Early Childhood Development
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Healthy Aging
Preference will be given to projects that:
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Support partnerships and build relationships - will encourage different groups to work together, connecting people to each other and their community
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Identify a community need - will address something that is missing that could benefit the community and its residents to improve health and well-being
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Promote healthy outcomes - will include activities that reduce the risks and impacts of chronic disease and injury through education, awareness and collective action
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Reduce health inequities - will help those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable to improve their access to supports and resources for better health
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Build capacity - will develop and strengthen skills and resources within the community
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Endure - will have a good chance of living on after the funding ends
Learn more about IMAGINE Grants on the Northern Health website.
