CAP Health Policy Program
Aboriginal Health Transfer Fund (AHTF) (2005 - 2010)

Aboriginal Health Transfer Fund (AHTF) 2005-2010

Aboriginal peoples’ overall health status falls far below that of the general Canadian population: A fact that does not change with residency. Barriers to increased health status are not alleviated with mobility; in fact, some barriers are compounded off reserve.  The purpose of the AHTF is to address some of these issues by encouraging provincial and territorial governments to adapt existing health programs and services to better meet the unique needs of Aboriginal people.

Many CAP constituents share common concerns about the jurisdictional obstacles they face off reserve. They experience prohibitive, inaccessible health care services and stress that more culturally relevant health care should be made available. Health authorities and delivery mechanisms typically do not approach health and healing from a wholistic or traditional perspective. It is anticipated that Aboriginal peoples’ poor health status might be addressed if services are offered in a culturally sensitive manner

.Provincial Territorial Contact List

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AHTF Principles
The Fund is designed to benefit ALL Aboriginal peoples and is intended to:

• Improve the integration of Federal, Provincial and Territorial-funded health services
• Improve access to health services
• Make health programs and services better suited to Aboriginal peoples;
• Increase the participation of Aboriginal peoples in the design, delivery and evaluation of health programs and services.

The dollars funnel through three envelopes:

Adaptation ($80M): to support provincial and territorial governments to adapt their existing health programs to the unique needs of all Aboriginal peoples including those in urban areas and Métis settlements and communities.
Integration ($80M): to improve the coordination and integration between provincial/territorial health systems and federally funded health systems within First Nations and Inuit communities.

Pan-Canadian ($40M): will fund cross-jurisdictional integration and adaptation initiatives in three streams: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, capacity funding to NAOs, workshops, evaluation activities, and the overall administration of the AHTF.

Adaptation $80M

CAP Regional Affiliates have opportunity to collaborate with the Provinces through the Adaptation envelope and access available dollars to support specific objectives. Proposals should be submitted directly to the Province for incorporation into Provincial plans for adaptation. (See contact list below)
Each Province is allocated an equal base amount plus a calculated percentage of the total (total provincial allocations are population-based, i.e. based on the number of Aboriginal people residing in the province). Provinces are required to submit detailed plans to Health Canada, in consultation with their Aboriginal constituents, outlining proposed activities that would best adapt existing health programs and services to be more culturally relevant.

The CAP National office provides support to our Affiliate Offices through participation on the Fund’s National Advisory Group.  The Advisory Group reviews Provincial Adaptation plans to ensure they adequately reflect Aboriginal-specific needs. As of May 2007, no Provincial plans have been submitted to Health Canada.

Provincial Territorial Contact List