Honouring our Strengths: A Renewed Framework to Address Substance Use Issues Among First Nations People in Canada – Summary Report


Attached below is the Summary Report of Honouring Our Strengths: A Renewed Framework to Address Substance Use Issues Among First Nations People in Canada. This 14-page document provides an overview of the Framework’s guiding principles, elements of care, and supporting components of the full framework, which will be launched in the fall of 2011.

The vision outlined in both the summary and full versions of the framework is one that supports a strengths-based, systems approach to addressing substance use issues among First Nations people in Canada. This vision recognizes that a strengthened system of care is the shared responsibility of various jurisdictions (community, province, federal), as well as a wide range of care providers including family and community members, community service providers, primary care and other medical staff, and off-reserve service providers. Within this vision, the emphasis is on ensuring that people, families, and communities have access to a range of effective, culturally-relevant care options at any point in their healing journey. Realization of this vision will require ongoing commitment, collaboration, and sustained partnerships. Commitment and collaboration will, in turn, depend upon effective leadership throughout the system.

The NNADAP Renewal Leadership Team was formed in 2010 to exercise leadership in guiding the implementation of Honouring Our Strengths. The Leadership Team, with support from AFN, NNAPF, and Health Canada, will work with various networks and partners toward strengthening the system of care for First Nations people. However, solutions for renewal must also come from First Nations people, who own the vision of the framework and must guide its implementation in order to ensure the system remains responsive to their needs.

The Honouring Our Strengths Summary Report was first released at the Assembly of First Nations 32nd Annual Generally Assembly on July 12th, 2011 in Moncton, New Brunswick. The full renewed framework will be available fall 2011.

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