OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TOOLS
The following list is of course incomplete and will grow as the profession builds capacity to work with stakeholders within Indigenous communities.
We want to stress that any resource listed here should not be assumed to have relevance across all cultural groups. Rather, these resources should be viewed as examples to build upon in collaboration with local Indigenous leaders . We want to acknowledge Rochelle Starr's significant contribution to helping our group explore this issue.
We particularly want to draw attention to the lack of culturally relevant assessment tools and the importance of bringing a critical lens to existing tools developed to measure values and outcomes that may lack meaningfulness for Indigenous clients. A good resource to help you understand more about this complex issue is Exploring socially-responsive approaches to Children's rehabilitation with Indigenous communities, families, and children (Gerlach 2018) with particular note of section 3.2 https://www.nccah-ccnsa.ca/docs/health/RPT-Child-Rehab-Gerlach-EN-Web.pdf
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Position Statement 2018
Support Resources for Clients
New Journeys - online Friendship Centre
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) Occupational therapy and Aboriginal health flyer
Occupational Therapy and Aboriginal Health
Cultural Safety: Respect and Dignity in Relationships
Video from the Indigenous Health Team of Northern Health British Columbia
Cultural Safety Articles and Resources
The Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) Learning Series
National monthly webinar series on Indigenous cultural safety hosted by Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Indigenous Health and the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC). These webinars are intended for anyone who is interested in Indigenous Cultural Safety and/or working with Indigenous people in various settings.
Health and Health Care Implications of Systemic Racism on Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Prepared by the Indigenous Health Working Group of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, this factsheet provides information on the implications of systemic racism in Indigenous health.
https://www.cfpc.ca/uploadedFiles/Resources/_PDFs/SystemicRacism_ENG.pdf
The Social Participation of Indigenous Elders Toolkit
This research explains the different ways Indigenous Elders participate in their communities and shows the proven benefits of Elder social participation. To aid in the development and provision of policies and services, the Toolkit also offers strategies to leverage the skills and abilities of Elders within and outside their communities.
Truth and Reconciliation: Healthcare Organizational Leadership
This article explains how focusing on individual patients as the locus of any health problem, instead of socio-economic, political and environmental forces, perpetuates colonialism and accompanying mental and physical illness. There are concrete actions to address systemic racism within healthcare organizations.
Occupational Therapy Relevant Assessments
The Northern Pain Scale -Ellis, Jacqueline & Ootoova, Abigail & Blouin, Renee & Rowley, Betty & Taylor, Maurice & Decourtney, Christine & Joyce, Margaret & Greenley, Wilma & Gaboury, Isabelle. (2011). Establishing the psychometric properties and preferences for the Northern Pain Scale. International journal of circumpolar health. 70. 274-85. 10.3402/ijch.v70i3.17823. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51247846_Establishing_the_psychometric_properties_and_preferences_for_the_Northern_Pain_Scale
Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment. Project website https://www.i-caare.ca/cica
Other tools
Alberta Health Services
Indigenous Health Program and Learning Series
College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia
Indigenous Cultural Safety in OT Practice Webinar (Gerlach & Morgan, 2016)
Children & Youth
Canadian Paediatric Society: 8th International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health
Designed for community members, researchers, academics, and clinicians, the International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health is only conference dedicated to the health and well-being of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, American Indian, Alaska Native and other Indigenous children and youth in North America and around the world.
Canadian Paediatric Society: 2011 for Indigenous Child and Youth Health, Guidelines and Considerations for Paediatric Residents
A strategic framework that advocate for policies and practices that address historic and systemic barriers to care and living conditions that have unfairly affected Indigenous children and youth in Canada. Also has links to practice tools and guidelines.
https://www.cps.ca/en/issues-questions/aboriginal-child-health
Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA)
For 45 years, NCSA has assisted Aboriginal people gain fair and equitable access to the justice, children's services and corrections systems in Alberta. This resource provides information on: help with children's services, help with at-risk youth and information on eduction.
National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health: British Columbia First Nations and Métis Parenting Booklets
Originally developed in 2013 by the FNHA and the NCCAH, the 2019 parenting booklets include updated guidelines and resources for parents and caregivers of children 0-6 years of age. All of the booklets are grounded in Indigenous knowledge and traditional approaches to parenting and send the message that “Even if you did not have the parenting that you wanted or needed, you can become the parent your child needs.”
https://www.nccah-ccnsa.ca/573/Launch_of_the_BC_First_Nations_and_Métis_Parenting_Booklets.nccah
Children & Youth Mental Health: National Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy (NAYSPS) Program Framework
NAYSPS was developed based on a review of evidence-based suicide prevention approaches and existing prevention strategies, both nationally and internationally. It was also informed by the Advisory Group on Suicide Prevention's final report, Acting on What We Know: Preventing Youth Suicide in First Nations. The Strategy incorporates the best available evidence with respect to youth suicide prevention and is focused on finding ways to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors for Aboriginal youth suicide.
Jordan's Principle
Jordan’s Principle is a child-first principle named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Born with complex medical needs, Jordan spent more than two years unnecessarily in hospital while the Province of Manitoba and the federal government argued over who should pay for his at home care. Jordan’s Principle aims to make sure First Nations children can access all public services in a way that is reflective of their distinct cultural needs, takes full account of the historical disadvantage linked to colonization, and without experiencing any service denials, delays or disruptions because they are First Nations.
https://fncaringsociety.com/jordans-principle
https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/services/jordans-principle.html
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation: Cannabis and Youth
https://thunderbirdpf.org/talking-cannabis/
Caring Society Indigenous Knowledge Portal, a searchable database providing access to resources related to Aboriginal children and families in Canada and similar countries. The database includes an annotated bibliography of journal articles, literature reviews, reports, guides, films and books, and links to all the Caring Society’s educational resources. It also provides links to all legal documents generated by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations child welfare and to the First Peoples Child & Family Review. Visit the Indigenous Knowledge Portal : fncaringsociety.com/ikp
Mental Health and Substance Use
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation: Resource Library
A library of toolkits available for substance use and mental health but also include resources regarding cultural safety.
Thunderbird Partnership Foundation: Accredited Courses
Courses that focus on mental health practice, addictions, and cultural safety - course contribute towards the training requirements of the First Nations Wellness/Addictions Counsellor Certification Board (FNWACCB).
https://thunderbirdpf.org/about-tpf/scope-of-work/training-programs/accredited-courses/
Thunderbird PArtnership Foundation:Native Wellness Assessment (TM)
The Native Wellness Assessment (TM) is an Indigenous knowledge based wellness assessment instrument that is available through the Addictions Management Information System (AMIS). It provides culturally-based information to guide treatment services and demonstrates the effectiveness of First Nations culture as a health intervention in addressing substance use and mental health issues.
https://thunderbirdpf.org/about-tpf/scope-of-work/native-wellness-assessment/
Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: First Nations, Inuit and Métis
First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada are increasingly re-engaging with their traditional cultures, redefining themselves and reasserting their distinct identities. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is working to understand the needs of these communities.
http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/topics/First-Nations-Inuit-and-Metis/Pages/default.aspx
Older Adults and Seniors
British Columbia Elders' Guide
DThe First Nations Health Authority and Province of B.C. are pleased to share the 2014 BC Elders’ Guide. The purpose of the Guide is to make sure that Elders, their families, and caregivers have access to information about the programs, services and resources that they need.
http://www.fnha.ca/wellnessContent/Wellness/BC_EldersGuide.pdf
Falls and Injury Prevention for Elders Living in First Nations Communities
In this presentation Dr. Vicky Scott will describe a new project to adapt an existing fall and fire prevention program specifically for First Nations Communities. The program known as ‘Strategies and Actions for Independent Living’ (SAIL), has been shown effective in the general population of home support clients. This 3-year project involves a series of training workshops and evaluation site visits for over a dozen First Nations communities to determine what is most appropriate and feasible with regard to fall and fire prevention in remote and urban First Nations communities.
Safe for Elders, Safe for All
The Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council in Fraser Valley BC is dedicated to keeping our Elders safe and ensuring they are able to remain within their homes and their communities for as long as possible. The website has videos, brochures, games and many other resources to help provide falls prevention programs.
National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health: Dementia Care
This paper aims to identify the challenges and burdens Indigenous people in Canada face in accessing culturally safe and appropriate dementia care services and supports, and suggests ways of overcoming these challenges. It begins by providing an overview of the general challenges Indigenous seniors face in accessing health services, then summarizes the literature on Indigenous perspectives of aging well and caring for loved ones with dementia.
University of British Columbia: Alzheimer Disease Resource Books
The Mind Thief, a graphic novel for children to help them understand dementia developed in partnership with the UBC, Faculty of Medicine.
Indigenous Cognition & Aging Awareness Research Exchange (I-CAARE)
The goals of I-CAARE are to (1) explore and promote healthy aging with Indigneous peoples, and (2) raise awareness about cognitive health in Indigenous communities. To do this work, they manage a number of research projects, from developing health care technology for older Indigenous adults to understanding the lived experiences of Indigenous people with dementia and their caregivers.
Navigating Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)
What is NIHB?
Canada's Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program provides coverage for a specified range of medically necessary health-related goods and services.
Government of Canada - information about the program, what it covers and benefit claims.
Government of Canada - information about eligibility and benefit criteria.
NIHB - Information for First Nations Child and Family Services Agencies
Government of Canada Information Sheet
https://www.gesgapegiag.ca/docs/news/187/NIHB-CFSA-Info-Sheet-2018.pdf
First Nations Mental Wellness and the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Short Term Crisis Intervention Mental Health Counselling (STCIMHC) Benefit
The NIHB STCIMHC benefit is intended to provide coverage for mental health counselling to address crisis situations when no other mental health services are available and/or being provided”. It is to provide immediate psychological and emotional support to those in distress to stabilize their condition and help with transition to other mental health supports
https://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/2015_usb_documents/afn_document_review_stcimhc_nov_2015.pdf
Indigenous Mental Health: Imagining a Future Where Action Follows Obligations and Promises
Acting on current obligations could permit considerable short-term gains for the mental well-being of Indigenous peoples in Canada.” Meaningful follow-through is within the rights recognized under UNDRIP.
https://www.albertalawreview.com/index.php/ALR/article/viewFile/763/756
Practice Areas and Population Guidelines
Health Professionals Working with First Nations, Inuit, and Metis - Consensus Guidelines
Co-written by Indigenous stakeholders,obstetricians and gynecologists - relevant principles and case studies to apply across the lifespan https://sogc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/June-JOGC-2013-CPG293_Supplement_Eng_Online-Final_NO-cropmarks_REV-F.pdf
Pain Assessment:
Ellis et al (2011) the psychometric properties and preferences for the Northern Pain Scale
International Journal of Circumpolar Health 70:3 2011
Cognitive Assessments:
Canadian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment - Cognitive Screening Tool [By I-CAARE] - Assessment that is being piloted - that is culturally appropriate for use in Indigenous communities in Canada
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Practice tools and guidelines are also available https://www.i-caare.ca/practicetools and excellent educational materials about dementia co-created with Indigenous Elders https://www.i-caare.ca/factsheets
The Northern Cultural Assessment of Memory (N-CAM) - was developed by clinical researchers and graduate students at the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic in partnership with front-line health care workers from Keewatin Yatthé Regional Health Authority, and in consultation with Indigenous seniors and health care staff from the Saskatoon Community Clinic, and with support from the Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre and Northern Medical Services.
https://cchsa-ccssma.usask.ca/ruraldementiacare/publications/OverviewNCAM2015.pdf
Children and Youth
The Strong Souls Assessment Tool - measure of social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) for use in the Aboriginal Birth Cohort. It is Freely available and recommended only for research or screening purposes.
https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Resources/Strong_souls_assessment_tool/
The Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework (2017) - sets out a shared vision for providing high-quality, culturally-rooted, language-based, accessible, and affordable early learning and child care programs in Indigenous communities.