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Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to remind members of the funding the Department of Health and Human Services is providing to help provide community-based programs focused on mental health and addiction recovery.
These funds were created following consultations with First Nations governments who asked the GNWT to provide more flexible funding that they could use to implement programs that respond to First Nations needs in their own communities and territories.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to meet these needs and am pleased to provide information about available funding.
Each year, $3.05 million is available through the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ Community Wellness and Addiction Recovery Fund. The fund prioritizes Indigenous governments and supports the provision of culturally appropriate community-based options for residents with mental health and addiction issues. Created in response to feedback from the NWT Council of Leaders for 2023-2024, the fund combines the On the Land Healing Fund, Addiction Recovery Peer Support Fund and Addiction Recovery and Aftercare Fund. The purpose of the merger is to reduce the administrative burden on Indigenous governments and provide them more flexibility in identifying priorities and allocating resources. This funding opportunity opened to community governing authorities and other community organizations on April 1.
The second fund administered by the Ministry is the Community Suicide Prevention Fund, which will assist communities in the development and implementation of culturally safe community-based programs focused on suicide prevention, awareness and stigma reduction.
Funds are also available to support communities interested in developing or implementing their own suicide prevention strategies. The fund is in the amount of $725,000 per year, and one project will be approved per community. The fund is available to a variety of community organizations.
These funds have a very simple application form and Ministry staff will support communities through the application process, answering questions and providing feedback on potential activities where necessary.
First Nations governments are well placed to understand the unique needs of their communities, and community-based programs are an important part of our overall mental health and addictions services.
Mr. Speaker, there is still funding available in both funding pools and we hope that communities will work with the Ministry to take advantage of these opportunities to further strengthen community support.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
