Advocacy Program
Program Description
Advocacy is about creating change. Advocates deal with the full spectrum of issues faced by the community. Advocacy creates linkages, strengthens community relationships and builds infrastructure by increasing community education and awareness.
Program Objectives
- To ensure that Aboriginal people have access to culturally appropriate health care services and programs.
- To promote the empowerment of Aboriginal people in determining their own needs
- To assist Aboriginal people in the areas of education, income, employment/training, housing and life skills.
- To provide patient advocacy services in area hospitals to address language barriers, ensure patient and family understand diagnosis and treatment and accomodate cultural and traditional barriers
- Lobbying on behalf of Aboriginal People
- Lobby mainstream organizations to ensure Aboriginal representation on health related decision-making bodies, policy committees and boards.
- Lobby upper tier levels of government (or join lobbying forces) to ensure that the voice of the Aboriginal community is heard with respect to health policy decisions.
- Encourage mainstream organizations serving significant Aboriginal populations to hire Aboriginal staff that is familiar with customs and traditions.
Program Services
- Assistance on a one to one basis in areas of housing, financial issues, employment /training, education and life skills
- Health Coverage Information - OHIP & First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Assistive Devices Program, Private Insurance, Housing Organizations, budgeting.
- Assessments of the clients/Patients nedds - including family members - wholistic approach - Physical, Emotional, Mental & Spiritual.
- Case Management/Case Conferencing
- Hospital & Home Visits - support & Advocacy can be made by request &/or by referral
- Reporting Incidents of discrimination to appropriate authorities
- Friendly visits at the Hospital & Crisis Situations @ Hospital ER's
- Arrange to accommodate Cultural & Traditional Services requests, i.e.: Elders, Traditional Healers, Traditional Midwifes, Medicine People
- Client Support & Advocacy to Medical or Social Service Provider appointments
- Specialist appointments i.e.: Juravinski Cancer Care Centre
- Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Program & human Resource Centres, EI Benefits, CPP Benefits, Old Age Pension
- Referrals to the appropriate Health / Social Service Providers to recieve Health Care services and programs, that the client requires
- Cultural Sensitivity Training - Hospitals, Social Service organizations
- Traditional Healing & Outreach Programs
- Presentations to mainstream Health Care & Social Service Providers
- Bi-weekly Identification & Advocacy Clinics - Hamilton (Every other Wednesday) & Brantford (Every other Friday) Sites
- Drop in for Clients, patients & Community members
- Ontario Halth Card, Indian Status, Ontario Birth Certificate, Social Insurance
- Advocacy - Ontario Works & ODSP, CPP, EI Benefits & First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
- Workshops/Clinics - FNHIB, OHIP & Legal information, Medic Alert Days!
- Community based workshops - 2006
- Status Entitlement Information Workshops
- Budget & Credit Workshops
- Advocacy Resource & Materials Library - Updated Quarterly
- Providing Legal Information: ODSP/OW, Tenant & Landlord Act, Living Wills, Family Law
Program Contact
For information contact:
Tara Williams, Advocacy Program Coordinator
Hamilton Site: (905) 544-4320 ext.229
dahc_advocacy@cogeco.net
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