Long Plain Health Services

Phone: (204) 252-2369
Fax: (204) 252-2898
Toll Free: 1-866-212-3429

On this page:

• Mandatory Programs
• Investigation of Reportable Diseases
• Discretionary Programs:
• Mental Health
• Health Promotion & Prevention Activities
• Injury Prevention/First Aid Training
• School Health - Home Promotion and Education
• Environmental Health
• Podiatry/Foot Care Nursing Clinics
• Home Visiting Program
• Adult Health - Health Assessment And Monitoring
• Maternal and Newborn Health
• Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program
• Dental Therapy Services
• National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NNADAP) Program
• Brighter Futures Initiative (BFI)
• Building Healthy Communities (BHC)
• Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI)
• Home and Community Care Program
• Little Hands Head Start Program
• New Programs based on approved Proposals during 2005 - 2006

Health Transfer Agreement

In 1992 Long Plain First Nation was successful in negotiating with Medical Services Branch (MSB) of Health Canada and entered into a Health Transfer Agreement. This style of agreement allows Long Plain Health Services to develop programs within the funding guidelines based on community needs.

Programs through this original agreement included:

• Community Health Programs by a Community Health Nurse and Community Health Representative
• Data Entry/Nurse Assistance by the Administrative Assistant
• Brighter Futures Initiative (BFI)
• Building Healthy Communities (BHC)
• National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP)
• Canadian Prenatal Nutrition-core funding (CPNP)
• Dental Therapy Services on-reserve

In 2002 Long Plain First Nation was successful in entering into a 5-year agreement (2002 - 2007) with First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB); formerly MSB, and maintained all of the above programs, the following changes from the original agreement have been made based on community needs:

• Podiatry and Foot Care Services were added in 2004-2005
• Building Healthy Communities and NNADAP programs were combined in 2004/2005 to provide more services in the NNADAP areas.
• Weekly Walk-In-Clinic with Dr. Paula Flattery in 2005-2006

Our current agreement will be completed in August 2007, in order to begin negotiations for our new agreement we will be completing a Community Needs Assessment, which includes a community survey to ensure the band members have the opportunity to evaluate the current programs and assist in the development of new programs.

Community Health Programs
Includes both Mandatory and Discretionary Programs provided by the Community Health Nurse and Community Health Representative.

Mandatory Programs

Immunization Program
Immunization reduces the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. All immunizations are given in accordance with Manitoba Health's immunization schedule and are recorded in the client's medical files, the Manitoba Immunization Monitoring System (MIMS) and the First Nations and Inuit Health Information System (FNIHIS).

The following table indicates LPHS immunization statistics, areas with an * indicate a change in immunization requirements by Manitoba Health.

Age	Vaccination	2001/2002	2002/2003	2003/2004	2004/2005	2005/2006
1 year old	BCG	N/A	56%	32%	50%	54%
	DaPTP/HIB	N/A	N/A	60%	61%	77%
	PCV-7 (3 doses)	*	*	*	*	38%
2 year old	BCG	78%	70%	78%	28%	41%
	MMR	60%	59%	58%	76%	94%
	DaPTP/HIB	25%	32%	39%	40%	82%
7 year old	BCG	N/A	*	50%	76%	12%
	DaPTP/HIB	N/A	*	61%	24%	58%
	DaPTP	*	*	*	*	63%
	MMR	N/A	*	63%	52%	83%
Grade 4	Hep B (3 doses)	N/A	N/A	N/A	5%	17%
	Varicella	N/A	N/A	*	*	1%
	MC	N/A	N/A	*	*	38%
14-16 year old	Td or Tdap	60%	55%	N/A	7%	13%
High Risk-2-64	Pneumo	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	11%
	Total Pneumo	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	37%
Adults-over 65	Tetanus	N/A	N/A	65%	0%	0%
	Influenza	43%	16%	38%	70%	56%
	Pneumo	10%	10%	25%	57%	26%
	Total Pneumo	10%	20%	N/A	N/A	74%

Comparisons show an increase in infants and children who are immunized against communicable diseases.

Investigation of Reportable Diseases

Communicable disease testing is completed by the client's physician and is reported to Manitoba Health. It is the CHN's responsibility to investigate all reported cases. As with all medical information, this is kept confidential in the client's medical records and has restricted access.

Discretionary Programs

Mental Health
The goal is to enable people with mental health disabilities to live healthy productive lives through:

• Referral of clients presenting with symptoms of mental wellness to a physician or to other mental health specialists
• Provide crisis intervention and follow up counseling as necessary
• Provide counseling, support and education to the client's family and community to enhance their support of the client.

Health Promotion & Prevention Activities
The objective is to enable all adults in the community to attain and maintain an optimal level of physical, emotional, social and spiritual health. These activities/workshops include:

• Elders Abuse Information Workshop
• Walking to Better Health Information Workshop
• Food Handling/Food Safety course
• Cancer: A Survivor's Story (ARHA)
• Health Fair
• Elders & Fire Safety Presentation
• Family Literacy Day
• Breast Screening Campaign

Injury Prevention/First Aid Training
The goal of this program is to provide education in the community for tribal members to give care, to someone suffering from an injury or medical emergency, until trained medical help can arrive.

Two classes were scheduled to provide CPR and First Aide for staff from other LPFN entities, but cancelled due to lack of attendance.

School Health - Home Promotion and Education
This program involves services and activities within the school designed to give children the opportunity to achieve good health and normal development.

• 84% of children received vision screening in Grades 1,3,5, 7 & 8
• 79% of children received hearing screening in grades K to 5
• 20 students were not screened due to absenteeism on 3 scheduled visits
• All abnormal screening results were referred for professional attention
• Only parents of children with abnormal results were notified
• 100% of results were documented in client files

Environmental Health
Environmental health involves preventing and identifying health problems, monitoring of food borne illness, which affect the health of the community members. Referrals are made to the Environmental Health Officer (EHO).

• 1 Food Handling Safety Course was held — 11 participants
• 4 band buildings were inspected and recommendations made
• 30 home inspections were completed
• 100% of all homes inspected were documented in client files
• 4 reports of dog bites were followed up

Podiatry/Foot Care Nursing Clinics
Podiatry Clinics are offered to all community members by a podiatrist or foot care nurse. All client treatment is documented in the client's file and follow-up treatment is provided.

Home Visiting Program
This program provides a home visiting service that is family centered with a defined purpose and is designed to promote and enhance one-on-one health education in the home to attain and maintain an optimal level of physical, emotional, social and spiritual health. The goal for this program is the CHR will visit 100% of the homes annually. This is not always achievable due to time restraints, individual client preferences.

Adult Health - Health Assessment And Monitoring
The goal of this program is to enable adults in the community to attain and maintain an optimal level of physical, emotional, social and spiritual health. The prevalent chronic illnesses in the adult population remain: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental health problems combined with substance abuse. Services are provided on an individual basis.

Maternal And Newborn Health
The maternal and newborn health program includes care and guidance of mothers from pre-conception through the first 6 weeks postpartum with 80% of newborns seen within 2 weeks of birth and 100% of client contacts are recorded on patient charts.

Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program
The goals of this program are to improve maternal and infant nutritional health to on-reserve clients by providing a greater depth of service to women earlier in their pregnancy, with a particular focus on those at high risk.

Objectives include:

• Improving the adequacy of the diet of prenatal and breastfeeding women
• Increasing access to nutrition information, services and resources particularly to those at high risk
• Increase breastfeeding initiation and duration rates
• Increase knowledge and skill building opportunities
• Increase the number of infants fed age-appropriate foods

In the 2005-2006 fiscal years there were 71 participants in the program. Healthy food supplementation coupons were issued on a bi-weekly basis. Nutrition screening and counseling was done on an individual basis during clinic visits. "Baby and Me" classes were scheduled monthly to provide education and support to pregnant women and women with young children.

Funding for this program is received through core funding in our 5-year Heath Transfer Agreement as well as enhanced funding though our annual Contribution Agreement. Long Plain Health Services has been successful in maintaining the enhanced funding at the community level; enabling the staff to develop a community based program.

Dental Therapy Services
Routine cleaning, restorative and preventative services are provided by a Dental Therapist at the Health Centre 2-3 days a week during the Long Plain School Calendar Year. Preventative education is provided at Long Plain School, Little Hands Head Start and Mikinaak Day Care.

National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NNADAP) Program
This program strives to provide realistic alternatives to alcohol and drug abuse by educating the community members on the harmful effects of addiction. The program is dedicated to assisting our community members in combating all issues related to addictions.

Activity	2004-05	2005-06
Alcohol Reports (Drivers License)	15 clients	8 clients
One to One Counseling	168 clients	371 clients
Treatment Centre Applications	46 clients	46 clients
Accepted treatment applications	16 clients	18 clients
Completed treatment	3 clients	18 clients
Training Workshops	5	10
AA Meetings)	4	32
Alcohol Assessments	49 clients	15 clients

Brighter Futures Initiative (BFI)
The goal of the Brighter Future Initiative program is to encourage the well-being of children, individuals, and families through a community-determined approach and to increase awareness of the conditions of risks affecting our community. The program addresses issues related to: Mental Health, Solvent Abuse, Healthy Babies, Child Development, Injury Prevention and Parenting Skills dependant on the needs of the community. Events held during this fiscal year included:

• 4 Adult Card Nights
• 5 Elders Lunch and Bingos
• 1 Youth Card Night
• 1 Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
• 2 Celebration of Life Events
• Yard Contest
• Xmas Light Contest
• Career Symposium
• Volunteer of the Year Awards Night
• Youth Cultural Camp
• Youth Closing Dance
• Trips to Island of Lights and Monster Truck Jam
• 1 workshop on Injury Prevention-Road Safety

Building Healthy Communities (BHC)
The goal of the Building Healthy Communities program is to promote healthy lifestyles and enriching wellness to all youth, elders, parents and community members.

Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI)
The goals of this program are to provide diabetes-related education, resources and support to community members.

The objectives of this program are to create and enhance the community's awareness of diabetes, through providing the necessary knowledge to help the community members make positive healthy lifestyle changes with the hope of preventing diabetes where possible, reducing the time between the onset of diabetes, diagnosis and the pursuit of treatment.

Long Plain Health Services has been successful in maintaining the enhanced funding enabling the staff to develop a community based program.

Activities during this fiscal year include:

• Community Workshops
• Walking program
• Teaching and education
• Random blood glucose testing
• Blood Pressure Monitoring
• Glucometer education
• Skin and Foot Care Education
• Nutrition Information
• One to one basis education
• Home Visits
• Dietician services on-reserve

Home and Community Care Program
Long Plain Home and Community Care Program will provide service to anyone in the community who has a physical, emotional, mental or social need for assistance, in order to continue living in their own home, near family and friends. At all times, respect will be shown for the individual recognizing the family and cultural uniqueness of every home. Service needs will be assessed in a fair and consistent manner at all times. Service will be provided as needed to enhance the individual and the family's independence.

This program includes the following services:

• Case Management — client assessments defining the need for Home Care
• Direct Nursing Care Services — at Health Centre and through home visits
• Therapeutic Bath Program — available at the Health Centre
• Combined Adult Day Program/Meal Program
• Transportation Program — Handivan
• Respite Care — in the client's home/in facility
• Assisted Living — includes homemaking, ADP, meals made in the client's home, and a Home Care Aide escorting the Home Care Client to a scheduled medical appointment

Little Hands Head Start Program
Phone: (204) 252-2774 or (204) 252-2469

Little Hands Head Start will strive to improve the quality of life for the families of Long Plain First Nation by building a solid foundation for the children through positive and traditional teachings.

Little Hands Head Start Program is a pre-school intervention program, completing the 2nd year of a 5-year project.

The original proposal submitted to FNIHB identified the need for funding for 40 children; 20 children in the morning session and 20 children in the afternoon session. Enrollment has increased since the beginning of the program as indicated below:

The program operates Monday to Friday, Mondays being set aside for weekly grocery and materials/supplies shopping, staff meetings, program preparation. "Feasty Friday" or "Parent Focus Friday" alternate weekly with both the morning and afternoon sessions, as well as parents/guardians involvement.

Head Start classes operate in conjunction with the Long Plain School calendar, August to June of each year; no programs are scheduled for July due to closure for staff holidays.

The program's focus addresses six component areas:

• Language and Culture
• Education and School Readiness
• Health Promotion
• Nutrition
• Parental Involvement
• Social Supports

New Programs based on approved Proposals during 2005 - 2006

1. Community Based Health Careers: through FNIHB — provided funding for Health Careers Promotional Activities including Student Essay Writing Contest, Health Careers Symposium.
2. Summer Student Placement: through FNIHB — provided funding for a summer student enrolled in a health field and returning to complete their studies. Jackie Myran was employed in July and August before returning to complete her studies in Health Care Aide/Admin Assistant.
3. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: through FNIHB — provided funding to increase awareness of FASD through education, development of resource material and support for those living and dealing with children affected by FASD. Activities included a 3-day High Risk Kids Workshop, poster contest, billboards, resource material development, purchase of screening material and a support group.
4. Family Violence Prevention Project-INAC: — provides funding for projects/programs to raise awareness of the effects of family violence on the family and community to reduce the incidents of family violence.
5. Maternal Child Health-On Reserve Program (MCHOR) — Long Plain First Nation has been successful in obtaining funding for a 4-year program to provide education, support and assist in linking with on and off reserve resources to pregnant women and families with young children. A part-time Registered Nurse (RN) and 2 home visitors provide these services through coordination and home visits. This program is funded through FNIHB.

Two programs were developed and provided focus on Culture and Traditional Teachings:

• Enabling Healing Through The Medicine Wheel Facilitator Training provided by Emma Daniels
• Relationship Building Through Culture workshops provided by Cheryl and David Blacksmith

Health Services Staff as of March 31, 2006

Melanie Pritchard L.P.N. — Health Director
Lisa Assiniboine — Administrative Secretary
Doris Daniels — Administrative Assistant/Data Entry
Jamie Pelletier R.N. — Community Health Nurse
Liz Yellowquill — Community Health Representative
Helen Myran — Brighter Futures Initiative Coordinator
Garnet Meeches — NNADAP Worker
Marlene Peters — NNADAP Worker
Clara Lewthwaite — Dental Therapist
Ron Bruce — Janitor/Maintenance, Health Centre & 12-plex

Home & Community Care Staff as of March 31, 2006

Anne Lodwick L.P.N. — Home & Community Care Coordinator
Connie Meeches L.P.N. — Home Care Nurse/Diabetic Nurse Educator
Ron Stoney — Handivan Driver
Stella Smoke — Adult Day Program Activity Aide
Judy Kequahtooway — Congregate Meal Program Cook
Dorothy Cameron — Health Care Aide
Barbara Longclaws — Health Care Aide
Eunice Assiniboine — Health Care Aide
Helen Prince — Health Care Aide
Judy Mousseau — Health Care Aide
Agnes Monkman — Homemaker

Little Hands Headstart Staff as of March 31, 2006

Elizabeth Prince B.A., B.Ed (AD.) — Head Start Coordinator
Lizzie Daniels — Volunteer/Cultural Coordinator
Lorraine Myerion — ECE Level II
Violet Merrick — ECE Level II
Farrell Francis — Head Start Driver/Maintenance