The First Nations Health Authority is pleased to release the British Columbia results of the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey and Summary Finding documents ‘Healthy Children, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities’. Information found here comes directly from 36 of 203 BC First Nation communities and gives us a greater understanding of the progress we have made since the last Regional Health Survey in 2002-03.
It is an opportunity for BC First Nations, health professionals, policy makers, government, partners, scholars and citizens to get an important updated insight into how our communities feel about their wellness, while exploring causal factors that relate to the Social Determinants of Health. The information in this report will support the planning, policy and strategic efforts of many organizations in moving forward to bring to life our vision of healthy, self-determining and vibrant BC First Nations children, families and communities.
Read it online:
Download it here: 2008-10 RHS Summary Report PDF (1.74 mb) | 2008-10 RHS Report PDF (6.93 mb)
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About the Tripartite Data Quality Sharing Agreement
The Tripartite Data Quality Sharing Agreement (TDQSA)is an agreement that was signed in April 2010 between the province of BC (represented by the then Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport and the Ministry of Health Services), the federal government (represented by First Nations Inuit Health, BC Region) and First Nations (represented by the First Nations Health Society) to ensure federally and provincially held information on First Nations is shared to facilitate health research and reporting.
The agreement allows for the creation of a First Nations Client File using an annual extract of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada’s (AANDC) Indian Registry. Access to the AANDC Indian Registry id made possible through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the BC Ministry of Health and AANDC.
BC Tripartite Data Quality and Sharing Agreement | pdf download |
The MoU and the TDQSA authorize the First Nations Client File to be used in combination with other data sources to enable First Nations in BC to monitor their health and the success of programs and services provided in First Nations communities by combining the First Nations Client File with other administrative or research data.
Background
In the past, it has often been difficult to get complete, accurate population health data about First Nations in BC, because both the federal and provincial governments held different pieces of the health data puzzle.
The Transformative Change Accord: Tripartite First Nations Health Plan (TCA:FNHP) outlines a vision where First Nations in BC will be more fully involved in decision-making regarding the health priorities of their people. One of the action items in the TFNHP is to improve the collection, use and sharing of First Nations health data so as to increase the availability of high quality First Nations data, increase First Nations involvement in decision-making concerning their data and services and develop the capacity of First Nations in the area of health information governance.
The TCA:FNHP states“The First Nation Chief’s Health Committee and the Province want to renew the tripartite agreement between the Government of British Columbia, Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and First Nations to ensure federally and provincially held information on First Nations is shared. These data will facilitate research and reports on the health of First Nations people living in British Columbia.” The signing of the TDQSA fulfills this Action Item.
The TDQSA is unique in Canada.