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.
For more information, email Indigenous.Health@northernhealth.ca or phone 250-649-7226.
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
