Fonds 317 - Northwest Territories. Department of Health and Social Services fonds

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Title proper

Northwest Territories. Department of Health and Social Services fonds

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  • Multiple media

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Fonds

Reference code

317

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  • [1955-2014] (Creation)
    Creator
    Northwest Territories. Department of Health and Social Services (1995-present)

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Physical description

ca. 56.33 meters of textual records and other material

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Administrative history

In 1995, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Services consolidated to form the Department of Health and Social Services. The mission of the Department of Health and Social Services is to promote, maintain and enhance the health and well being of individuals and families in the Northwest Territories. In doing so, it has sole or joint responsibility for the administration of the following Acts: Aboriginal Custom Adoption Recognition Act; Adoption Act; Change of Name Act; Child and Family Services Act; Child Welfare Act; Dental Auxiliaries Act; Dental Mechanics Act; Dental Profession Act; Disease Registries Act; Emergency Medical Aid Act; Guardianship and Trusteeship Act; Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act (formerly Territorial Hospital Insurance Services Act); Human Tissue Act; Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act; Licensed Practical Nurses Act; Marriage Act; Medical Care Act; Medical Profession Act; Mental Health Act; Midwifery Profession Act; Nursing Profession Act; Ophthalmic Medical Assistants Act; Optometry Act; Personal Directives Act; Pharmacy Act; Psychologists Act; Public Health Act; Tobacco Control Act; Veterinary Profession Act; Vital Statistics Act.

The Department of Health and Social Services is responsible for programs related to: Adoption Management; Family Support and Child Protection Services; Community Wellness; Guardianship; Mental Health and Addictions; Environmental Health, Health Insurance Services; Licensing of Professionals; and reporting of health and illness related issues to the federal government. The Department also has responsibility for the office of the Chief Medical Health Officer, which is responsible for health and disease surveillance activities across the NWT, as well as prevention and disease control activities. Community Wellness programs are designed to provide funding to communities under health related programs such as: Aboriginal Head Start; AIDS Community Action Program ; Brighter Futures; Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program; Community Action Program for Children; Health Promotion Strategy Fund; Healthy Children Initiative; Hepatitis C Prevention; Population Health Fund. Environmental health provides for the delivery of various programs and services under the NWT Public Health Act and Regulations, and focuses on preventing disease and injury; promoting health; and improving the environment through the use of education, consultation, inspection, monitoring, and if necessary, by the enforcement of public health legislation.

The primary vehicles for the provision of health care are the eight Health and Social Services (HSS) Authorities which plan, manage and deliver a full spectrum of community and facility-based services for health care and social services. The eight Authorities are: Beaufort-Delta HSS Authority; Dehcho HSS Authority; Fort Smith HSS Authority; Hay River HSS Authority; Sahtu HSS Authority; Stanton Territorial Health Authority; Tlicho Community Services Agency; Yellowknife HSS Authority.

Organizationally the Department has under gone many reorganizations and realignments of its program delivery units and renaming of its divisions. In general, the organizational structures has tended to reflect departmental responsibilities and activities with divisions responsible for: directorate and finance support activities; policy, planning and reporting activities; community health issues, population health issues, territorial health services including insurance services and administration and support of the regional health authorities; child protection and family support services.

Custodial history

Scope and content

This fonds consists of approximately 56.27 meters of textual records, 1,600 colour and black and white photographs, 26 audio recordings and 18 videos. The photographs depict medical facilities, medical personnel, procedures and health education activities. The audio materials are primarily related to health education, health studies and reports on healthcare in the north. The videos are primarily health promotion video related to nutrition and diet.

The textual material is derived from the various iterations of the divisions responsible for policy, planning and reporting; directorate and finance support activities, population health issues; community health issues; board support services, child protection and family services. The records cover issues such as legislative initiatives, departmental organization and strategic planning, the Territorial Hospital Insurance Service, the transfer of health services to the GNWT from the Federal Government, the decentralization of health services to the communities, health and social services matters in self-government negotiations, and significant reports including the Cuff Report (It's Time to Act), the NWT Health Report, NWT Health Status Report and Ambulance Services Report. The records include files related to the management of the department including: Senior Management Chronos, Executive Committee files, records from the Recruitment and Retention Committee, the Joint Senior Management Committee and Senior Management Committee files.

The textual material also includes correspondence with regional health authorities and boards, program development and delivery records, reports and promotional materials. These records cover programs such as Brighter Futures, Community Action Fund, Social Agenda Community Demonstration Projects, Traditional Knowledge, Community Wellness, nutrition, promoting nursing in the NWT, midwifery, clinical standards of practice, and many programs directed towards promoting healthy lifestyles. Included within these materials are records from various committees such as: the Community Wellness Committee, the Aboriginal Wellness Coalition, the Committee on Nursing Education, the Northwest Territories Pregnancy Risk Score Steering Committee, the NWT Clinical Practice Committee, The NWT Advisory Committee on Immunization, the Antimicrobial Steering Committee, the NWT Maternal and Perinatal Committee, the Childhood Fatality Review Committee, the Mental Health Task Team, Joint Standing Committee-Independent Seniors, the Addictions and Mental Health Committee, and the Traditional Knowledge Working Group.

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      2 audiocassettes that accompany slide presentations are in Dogrib and Chipewyan. Brochures in Inuvialuktun, Tlicho, North Slavey, South Slavey, Innuinaktun, Gwich'in, Chipewyan and Inuktitut.

      Location of originals

      Availability of other formats

      Restrictions on access

      Access restricted under the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

      Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

      Finding aids

      Finding aids in various formats available; see accessions for details.

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      Physical description

      ca. 56.33 meters of text; ca. 1606 photographs : b&w, col., prints, slides and negatives; 24 audio cassettes; 2 audio reels; 15 videocassettes : Umatic; 3 videocassettes : VHS.

      Rights

      Copyright held by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

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