The 2020/2021 First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) Summary Service Plan (SSP) is now available.
The Summary Service Plan affirms guiding elements, including the FNHA's Shared Vision, Values and Principles, and it articulates a set of goals, objectives, key priorities and annual key priorities.
The SSP includes yearly, measurable actions that help to advance the FNHA's four goals:
- Enhance First Nations health governance
- Champion the BC First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness
- Advance excellence in programs and services
- Operate as an efficient, effective and excellent First Nations health organization
Activities in the coming year will continue to advance the seven key priorities identified in 2019:
• Evolving the FNHA Operating Model, including Regionalization
• Renewed Partnerships with First Nations
• Wellness
• Knowledge Development and Exchange
• Cultural Safety and Humility
• Service Excellence – Mental Health and Wellness, Primary Health Care and Health Benefits
• Leadership and Culture Development
The 2020/2021 SSP reflects on achievements the FNHA has made together with First Nations, health, and governance partners. Over the past five years, the FNHA has achieved a majority of priority actions and made significant progress in all four goal areas. In the past year, the organization strengthened regional decision-making and community engagement; continued to 'hardwire' First Nations values and perspectives in the health system; implemented initiatives to promote wellness and advance quality and cultural safety and humility; and enhanced programs and services with a focus on mental health and wellness, primary health care and health benefits.
The two simultaneous public health emergencies—the opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic—have shown that organizations can never be truly prepared for what comes next. What is certain is the shared belief among the FNHA and its partners in a wholistic approach to health and wellness that reflects the interconnectedness of mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
2020/21 is an important year for the FNHA, as the organization embarks on the renewal of its five year plan. In addition to adapting work to meet changing circumstances, such as emerging public health emergencies, the FNHA has significant work ahead on the five year plan renewal.
Work entails engagement with BC First Nations and governance and service partners; extensive review of evaluations and other key documents to learn how the FNHA can be more effective as an organization and as a partner; and carefully looking at the inner workings of the organization to assess what is working well and what needs to be strengthened. A key area of focus will be on further shaping and implementing the approach to regionalization, which includes ensuring that regional offices continue to evolve to meet the unique needs of First Nations communities and nations in their regions.
In addition, recent events have shown that the FNHA, along with its partners, needs to put renewed focused on strategies and implementation of measures to address racism in all facets of health service delivery. The FNHA strongly encourages health care workers to participate in the health care workers survey launched by former judge and provincial child advocate Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, which has been extended to August 27, 2020. The survey can be accessed here: https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/653748?lang=en
As a First Nations organization dedicated to continuous learning and improvement, the FNHA commits to learn from the past and implement an effective and responsive organization that executes the vision of “healthy, self-determining and vibrant BC First Nations children, families and communities."
Over the next five years, the annual Summary Service Plan will continue to be guided by the FNHA's Vision, Seven Directives, Shared Values and the First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness. These foundational documents are rooted in First Nations knowledge and teachings in alignment with the consensus leadership expressed by First Nations communities in BC.
View the 2020/2021 Summary Service Plan.
