The Health and Community Services Department oversees various community health and social initiatives in NunatuKavut. We nurture and support physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual health to ensure the wellbeing of our families and communities.
Indigenous Cancer Project
Funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the Courage, Compassion and Connection – The journey to healing: exploring cancer pre-diagnosis for Indigenous peoples in Labrador Project is a partnership between the Nunatsiavut Government – Department of Health and Social Development, NunatuKavut Community Council and Memorial University.
Building upon a previous cancer initiative (Journey in the Big Land), this project will respond to opportunities that have been identified by Indigenous stakeholders and health professionals. Two main themes of this project include: challenges during the pre-diagnosis cancer journey and challenges during transitions in care.
Innovate and culturally appropriate methods will be employed to collect data on the experiences of patients and family members from all Indigenous groups. For example, accompanying patients during time spent on the land or fishing can provide a comfortable place for them to recount sometimes difficult and negative experiences.
Team Lead Contact:
Kathy Michelin, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) – Policy Analyst
Telephone: 709-896-9750 ext 244
Kathy.Michelin@nunatsiavut.com
Mental Wellness
NunatuKavut Inuit Mental Wellness Initiative
The “Understanding People, Place, and Culture: A NunatuKavut Inuit Mental Wellness Initiative” endeavours to strengthen mental wellness resources in NunatuKavut. It includes the design, pilot, evaluation and implementation of a culturally appropriate mental wellness program.
Community members are invited to share their experiences and expertise through storytelling, photovoice and theatre. It involves local expertise from diverse people including patients, families, health care providers, and community leaders.
Provincial All-Party Committee
Over the past few years, an All-Party Committee was established to review the mental health and addictions system in Newfoundland and Labrador. The All-Party Committee heard from people throughout the province that mental health care needed to be more accessible. NunatuKavut was involved in these discussions.
The report from these sessions outlines recommendations on the following areas: Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention; Access to services; Quality of care; Policy and programming; Community supports; and Accountability and performance monitoring.
In June 2017, the Provincial Government accepted all 54 recommendations of the All-Party Committee and provided an action plan and timeline for implementing them in Towards Recovery: The Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador. This document can be found at www.health.gov.nl.ca
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
NCC received official legal standing to participate in the institutional, knowledge-keeper and expert hearings around the National Enquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Representatives participated in hearings across the country and provided a written submission to the National Enquiry Commission.
The National Inquiry formally presented its Final Report during a closing ceremony on June 3, 2019 at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec. It is comprised of the truths of more than 2,380 family members, survivors of violence, experts and Knowledge Keepers shared over two years of cross-country public hearings and evidence gathering. It delivers 231 individual Calls for Justice directed at governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians.
To download a copy of the report and accompanying documents, please visit mmiwg-ffada.ca
This may be a triggering subject for some readers. 1-844-413-6649 is a national, toll-free support line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
NL Residential Schools
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered an official apology to former students of Newfoundland and Labrador residential schools in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on November 24, 2017. Implementation of the remaining elements of the settlement agreement has continued over the past year. A ministerial special representative was retained and a historian was contracted. Community healing and commemoration sessions have taken place in several communities.
There will be six commemorative plaques installed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NWR, Cartwright, Makkovik, Nain and St. Anthony. There will also be an educational traveling exhibition developed and preservation of a documentary record related to the schools.
NCC will work with former students to plan community healing and commemoration activities in NunatuKavut.
Liz’s Walk
Liz’s Walk is a cause started by Guy Poole over 13 years ago to raise money for Diabetes Canada. Guy does this in memory of his wife, Elizabeth (Liz) Poole, who lost her life to complications from diabetes. Each year, he walks approximately 300 kilometres in different parts of Labrador and on the island of Newfoundland to raise awareness and money for diabetes research and to help find a cure.
NCC is inspired by Guy’s dedication to this cause and has supported Liz’s Walk since its inception, dedicating financial and human resources every year since. As a result of our many contributions, NCC was the recipient of the 2016 Provincial Outstanding Partnership Award from the Newfoundland and Labrador Region of Canadian Diabetes Canada, which is now Diabetes Canada.
Links to Other Health and Social Resources
Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP)
The Medical Transportation Assistance Program (MTAP) provides financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Medical Care Plan (MCP) who incur substantial out-of-pocket travel costs to access specialized insured medical services which are not available in their immediate area of residence and / or within the Province.
MCP beneficiaries required to travel for specialized insured medical services may be eligible to apply for financial assistance under MTAP for airfare (and related eligible taxi fares); private vehicle usage; purchased registered accommodations (and related meal allowance); busing and use of ferries based on program criteria (deductibles may apply).
Claims
must be submitted to:
Medical Transportation Assistance Program
Department of Health and Community Services
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL
A1B 4J6
For more information about the Medical Transportation Assistance Program, call 1-877-475-2412 or visit https://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/mcp/travelassistance.html
Air Daffodil
In partnership with Provincial Airlines – Innu Mikun Airlines, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) offers transportation support through the Air Daffodil Program. The Air Daffodil Program is for cancer patients who live in Labrador and need to travel for a cancer related appointment under the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Care Plan (MCP). The Society will provide the following:
- Three return flights, per patient per year
- These flights can be split between the patient and an escort if one is required (e.g., 3 return flights per patient, 1.5 flights for the patient and 1.5 flights for the escort, or 2 flights for the patient and 1 flight for the escort).
- Note: The escort is not eligible to receive more flights than the patient as the escort must be with the patient to receive the flight.
The criteria are as follows:
- Must live in Labrador;
- Have a scheduled cancer related appointment outside of Labrador but within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Clients must provide an appointment verification letter from their physician that confirms cancer related appointment(s) to the Canadian Cancer Society;
- The escort must travel with the patient receiving treatment, to and from their cancer related appointment, to be eligible for coverage;
- The return flight is booked after the cancer related appointment is completed unless return date is known in advance.
The Air Daffodil program is offered based on funding received from generous donors and the CCS continue to provide the service as funds allows.
For any further information about the Air Daffodil Program, please contact:
Phone: 709-753-6520
Toll-free: 1-888-753-6520
Fax: 709-753-9314
Email: airdaffodil@nl.cancer.ca
Help Lines
Newfoundland and Labrador HealthLine 811 Toll-Free TTY | yourhealthline.ca 1-888-709-2929 1-888-709-3555 |
Pediatric Telephone Advice Line Toll-Free | (709) 722-1126 1-866-722-1126 |
Poison Control Centre (24 Hour) Toll-Free | (709) 722-1110 1-866-727-1110 |
Children’s Protection Services (24 Hour) | (709) 752-4619 |
Kid’s Help Phone 24 Hour | 1-800-668-6868 |
Libra House (Emergency Women’s Shelter) | (709) 896-3014 |
Sexual Assault Crisis Line 24 Hour | (709) 726-1411 |
Mental Health Crisis Line 24 hour | 1-888-737-4668 |
Gambling Help Line (Toll-Free) | 1-888-899-HELP (4357) 1-800-363-5864 |
Smokers Help Line (Toll Free) | 1-800-363-5864 |
Pap Screening or the Cervical Screening Initiatives Program (Toll Free) | 1-866-643-8719 |
CHANNAL Peer Support Warm Line | 1-855-753-2560 |
Mental Health and Addictions System Navigator | 1-877-999-7589 |
Housing supports
Struggling with housing or homelessness? Contact your nearest:
- NL Housing Corporation office (Goose Bay: 1-800-563-4434)
- Salvation Army
- HVGB Housing Liaison Worker 896-5977
- Labrador West Housing Support Worker 944-3757
- Housing and Homelessness Coalitions: HVGB – Kelly Goudie 897-2110; Labrador West – Noreen Careen 944-6562
Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation Programs
For Rental Applicants:
- Rental Housing Program
Homeowner Support:
- Down Payment Assistance Program (DAP)
- Provincial Home Repair Program (PHRP)
- Home Modification Program (HMP)
- Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP)
For Contractors, Developers, and Non-Profit Groups:
- Provincial Homelessness Fund (PHF)
- Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH)
- Partner-Managed Housing Program
- Supportive Living Program (SLP)
For further information, please visit website: http://www.nlhc.nf.ca/programs/programs.html
Federal
Homelessness Partnering Strategy (capital & capacity-building funding):
Contact Person: Crystal Cater – Town of Grand Falls-Windsor
(709) 489-0436; Email: hps@townofgfw.com
Website: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/communities/homelessness/funding/index.shtml
Canadian Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC):
Contact Person: Glenn Furlong – 709-772-4949 Email: gfurlong@cmhc.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John’s Point of Service
Dorset Building; 6 Mount Carson Avenue, Suite 106; Mount Pearl, NL; A1N 3K4
Phone: 709-772-4400
CMHC SEED Funding: Contributions and Interest-Free Loans
Website: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/afhoce/afhoce_001.cfm
CMHC Proposal Development Funding (PDF):
Website: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/first-nation/financial-assistance/non-profit/proposal-development-funding.cfm
CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Flexibilities:
Website: https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/afhoce/afhoce/afhoce_007.cfm
Staff
Kristy Dyson
Director of Health and Community Services
Tel: (709) 896-5872
kdyson@nunatukavut.ca
Benita Penney
Home Repair Program Officer
(Port Hope Simpson)
Tel/Fax: (709) 960-0453
bpenney@nunatukavut.ca
Lisa Rumbolt
A/Medical Transportation Program Officer
(Happy Valley-Goose Bay)
Tel: 709-896-0482
Fax: (709) 896-0939
mtpassistant@nunatukavut.ca
Cynthia Burt
Medical Transportation Program Officer
(Charlottetown)
Tel: (709) 949-0202
Fax: (709) 949-0204
cburt@nunatukavut.ca
Trent Acreman
Housing Inspector
(Cartwright)
Tel: (709) 899-1454
Fax: (709) 938-7063
tacreman@nunatukavut.ca
Clint Clark
Community Health and Wellness Coordinator
Tel: (709) 896-0438
cclark@nunatukavut.ca