Departments

Health Services

In case of an emergency, please contact 250-848-2254 or use the VHF

Health Services

Besides primary health services, the Health Centre provides other specialty services, eg. Dentist, Optometrist, Foot Care, Physiotherapy, Mental Health & Addictions Counselling.

Health Director: Merle Bolton

Email:  healthdirector@gitxaalanation.com
Reception Email:   healthreception@gitxaalanation.com

See Health Station full staff directory

Department Summary

Community Health Programs including Healthy Beginnings, Vision and Dental Clinics. Mental Health Counselling – One on One Counselling, Women’s Circle, Mental Health & Addictions Workshops.

Offered Programs
  • Vision clinics are offered from New Westminster Optometry once a year
  • Food Safety Training is offered to prevent food borne illness
  • School liaison for Healthy Beginnings Program and communicable disease program
  • Environmental Health, water testing program
  • Dental Clinics
  • Run/Walk Program
  • Women’s Health
  • Sound Sense (school students)
  • Offers advocacy and support for nation members.

Provides one-on-One Counselling
Appointments are available daily, evenings and weekends, to assist with developing coping skills, self-care, anxiety, anger management, life-skills, and couples relationships and to increase healthier choices.

Alcohol and Drug Program
Focus is on increasing healing, sobriety and improving coping and wellbeing; referrals to treatment centres and after treatment support, intergeneration effects of residential schools, child welfare apprehensions and other mental health concerns.

Offers home visiting and early childhood enrichment groups for parents with children birth to 6 years old. Provides support and strategies for children to gain child development skills and assists children with school readiness skills, social skills and building self-esteem. The MCH has infant formula and diapers available on loan. Prenatal classes are offered on a continuous basis.

Baby Bunnies Group
Weekly drop-in group for parents with children under two (older children welcome as well), crafts, snacks, children’s story telling, child development, children’s health and child play-time.

Honey Bunnies Group
Weekly drop in-group for parents with children over two years of age, (younger children also welcome), crafts, snacks, children’s story-time, play time and parenting education. Honey Bunnies is designed to improve parent’s understanding of what children need to thrive, including how and why to set limits, children’s behaviour and health care.

Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve
FOR BOTH MATERNAL CHILD AND AHSOR

  • Since early life IS critical to lifelong health, programs focus on early childhood development, in a culturally appropriate manner, to support the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of a child.
  • It supports and encourages children to enjoy life- long learning.
  • It supports parents, guardians and extended family members as the primary teachers.
  • It encourages parents and the broader First Nations community to play a role in planning, implementing and evaluating the AHSOR program.
  • It builds partnerships with other community programs and services to enhance the program’s effectiveness.
  • It encourages the best use of community resources for children, parents, families and communities.

 

Maternal and Child Health Program
This program is designed to support pregnant First Nations women to experience healthy pregnancies. It is designed to support parents of infants and young children and their families to support their children’s optimal development to adulthood.

In funded First Nations communities, Maternal and Child Health programs aim to reach all pregnant women and new parents, providing longer-term support for those who require additional supports.

  • Services include screening and assessment of pregnant women and new parents and case management through home visitation.
  • Home visits allow interaction between the support staff and family to assess and provide education.
  • Support to pregnant women and families with infants on parenting skills and knowledge of healthy child development, positive lifestyle changes, preconception health, optimal maternal reproductive health and access to social supports.

The program offers support to parents and families with Ministry of Children and Family Development involvement, parent-education classes and in home visiting, home management skills, nutrition, and parenting groups for community. The program works to help families keep children safe and healthy. In partnership with www.nifcs.org offers foster parent training and recruitment to keep children needing short and long term care in community homes

Active Parenting Groups
1-2-3-4 Parent, parenting program that teaches the basics of parenting children ages 1 through 4 years, includes what children need from their parents at each age of development. Groups offered throughout the year.

Strengthening Families Program
The Strengthening Families Program is co- facilitated with NIFCS, Gitxaala Health and trained community members. The program runs from 12-14 weeks and is designed to improve parenting skills, reduce problem behaviours, delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse in children and improve social competency and school performance. Targets parents with children ages 6 to 11 years.

 

Youth Services Brighter Futures and Building Healthy Communities

The Youth Services program is made of five components, mental health (community based health promotion, child development, parenting, healthy babies and injury prevention. The community centre offers a variety of children’s activities, including physical recreational, community gym, arts and crafts, and cultural programs for community members of all ages. 

Boys and Girls Group for youth 12 years and up.
This is a positive, fun group for youth designed to improve positive communication skills, develop a positive sense of identity and increase self-esteem.

The Home Care program helps community members with disabilities and Elders who require assistance and health care at home. The program concentrates on community wellness, and provides help managing in-home health care, home management, medication management, wound management, prevention and management of chronic diseases, and social support. Lunch preparation available for home care clients.

Diabetes Prevention Program
Everyone is welcome to attend the diabetes prevention support group. The focus is on improved health, nutrition, and diabetes management, increased awareness of simple lifestyle changes and benefits of self-care.

Food Skills for Families
The Food Skills for Families program is a healthy eating, healthy cooking, hands-on curriculum based six week program that teaches people to make healthy meals, snacks and beverages. The program is based on recommendations from the Canadian Diabetes Association. The program is offered by a certified, trained facilitator.

Home Visits
Provides support in home to allow clients to live in their home and to maintain their independence.

Dental services are provided from North Raven Dental Clinic. Services are offered in the dental room at the Health Centre. The dental team and denturist team spend a week in community every 4 months. The Health Centre encourages community members to support the dental program and increase dental health. Call the Health Centre for an appointment.