ARCHIVED - Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada

RPP Horizontal Initiative Template

6. Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $94,500,000

7. Description of the horizontal initiative (including funding agreement):

The IRS Resolution Health Support Program component of the IRSSA ensures that eligible former students, and their immediate families, have access to an appropriate level of health support services so that they may safely address a broad spectrum of mental wellness issues related to the disclosure of childhood abuses. Main program components include: Emotional support services provided by Resolution Health Support Workers (RHSWs); Cultural support services provided by Elders; Professional Counseling; and assistance with the cost of transportation to access counseling, Elder, and/or Traditional Healer services.

8. Shared outcome(s): Healing for former Indian Residential Schools students and their immediate families as they go through the IRSSA process.

9. Governance structure(s): Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada is responsible for the overall IRSSA model and is working in partnership with Health Canada to coordinate and provide services for former Indian Residential School students. Various program components of the Resolution Health Support Program will be delivered separately by Health Canada and Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada.

Indian Residential Schools Resolution Canada responsibilities relating to the Resolution Health Support Program include:

• Administration of the national 24-hour toll free Indian Residential School Crisis Line operated by an Aboriginal organization with trained Aboriginal crisis counsellors;
• Communicating the entire IRSSA to former Indian Residential Schools students and Aboriginal communities, including the various components of the Resolution Health Support Program;
• Facilitating Health Canada’s verification of eligibility; and
• Ensuring that Health Canada’s Resolution Health Support Program is aware of dates for Independent Assessment Process/Alternative Dispute Resolution hearings, litigation, and Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration events as they arise, so that Resolution Health Support Program regional coordinators are prepared to address high claimant settlement areas.

Health Canada’s responsibilities relating to the Resolution Health Support Program include:

• coordinating access to professional counselling for former students and their families;
• coordinating emotional and cultural support;
• coordinating transportation to access counselling, emotional and cultural supports not available in the home community to former students and their families; and
• raising awareness of the services available to former students and their immediate families.

10. Federal Partners	11. Federal Partner Program Activity (PA)	12. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	13. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	14. Planned Spending for 2008–09	15. Expected Results for 2008–09
Health Canada	First Nations and Inuit Health, Community Programs, Mental Health and Addictions	Resolution Health Support Program	$94.5 M	$17.5 M	provision of support at IAP, Truth and Reconciliation and Commemoration events; increase in the number of Elders available to provide Cultural Support; and increase in the number of RHSWs available to provide Emotional Support.
16. Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):
17. Health Canada Contact information: Andrea Challis, Manager, IRS Resolution Health Support Program