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Mr. Speaker. For the past several years, the Health and Social Services system has been undergoing an important transformation. Today I am presenting an update on the ways that system governance has changed and how those changes help empower communities.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities Award for Accessibility and Inclusion.
The annual award provides an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of an outstanding volunteer, community member, or business that strives to make the NWT more inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities.
Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories, and Julie Green, Minister of Health and Social Services, met with the team from Supporting Wellbeing to congratulate them on receiving the Council of the Federation (COF) Award for Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions Care.
The award is presented by Premiers in each province and territory for innovative initiatives that positively impact mental health and addictions care in their respective jurisdictions. Each award winner also receives a $5,000 prize to advance their initiative.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has partnered with Indigenous Services Canada and Gahcho Kué Mine’s joint venture partners, De Beers Group and Mountain Province Diamonds, to launch a new social innovation project, the Baby Bundle Program..
This project will connect families with supports to give babies a strong start to life, with essential care items as well as information and resources to help parents and caregivers, including foster and adoptive families.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has extended its deadline for feedback on the proposed changes to the Extended Health Benefits Policy. The new deadline is November 23, 2022.
Additional examples along with a calculator tool have been developed to help residents understand how the proposed changes will affect them. A virtual town hall will be held in mid-November to explain the proposed changes and to answer residents’ questions. Details on the town hall event will be provided in the coming weeks.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) wants residents to be aware that COVID-19 and other communicable illnesses are still present and continue to spread. In order to encourage residents to protect themselves by strengthening their immune system, the GNWT is launching a multifaceted campaign called “Building a Stronger You!”.
It is important for us to stay vigilant and take small but vital steps to protect our health and wellbeing. Boosting your immune system is a simple way to make sure your body is ready to fight any illnesses that you come in contact with.
Today, Minister of Health and Social Services, Julie Green, tabled the 2021-2022 Annual Report of the Director of Child and Family Services in the Legislative Assembly. The Annual Report provides a summary of data on the delivery of services under the NWT’s Child and Family Services Act, Adoption Act, Custom Adoption Recognition Act, and the federal government’s Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to this House and residents of the NWT on the progress we are making to transform the child and family services system to better serve children, youth, families, and communities. We want to create a system that provides services that are culturally safe and anti-racist.
Minister of Health and Social Services Julie Green, has announced this year’s recipients of the Healthy Choices Fund. A total of 22 eligible organizations will receive funding to help maximize the impact of their health promotion work, and prevention activities that support individuals, families, and communities in making positive lifestyle choices.
Some of this year’s successful proposals include:
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by again expressing my gratitude to all health and social services workers in the Northwest Territories. These dedicated professionals have been serving the needs of residents through some very difficult times. I want to assure staff, as well as my colleagues here today, and residents of the Northwest Territories, that the Department of Health and Social Services is working hard to find solutions that will ease the pressure on the system.
