Ontario’s First Nations Health Action Plan: Expression of Interest Application Kit to establish Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care (IPC) Teams

On May 25, 2016, the Government of Ontario launched the Ontario First Nations Health Action Plan (OFNHAP), a multi-year initiative to improve health care for Indigenous peoples in Ontario. A key part of this Plan is the creation or expansion of new primary care teams; community-based models of primary health care that are designed based on the needs and cultures of the communities they will serve.

We are pleased to inform you that the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for this important initiative has now opened. This process is an initial step associated with this commitment and will allow for the submission of applications for interprofessional primary care teams, which will then be evaluated and assessed. As part of the assessment process, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (the “ministry”) will engage an inter-ministerial committee as well as a committee of Indigenous partners.

While the primary focus of this initiative is on northern First Nations communities, as a means to addressing significant gaps in primary care access, Indigenous organizations and communities across Ontario are also welcome to submit applications through this process.

Once applications have been assessed and approved, successful applicants will proceed with developing a Business Plan and Operational Plan for your proposed Team. In order to accommodate communities at different levels of readiness, and ensure all communities have the opportunity to apply, the ministry is offering two (2) options when applying for an Indigenous IPC Team, including an option to request development funding to assist with the preparation of a Business Plan and Operational Plan.

Applicants will identify in their Application Form whether:

1) Resources are available to prepare a comprehensive Business Plan and Operational Plan and there is no need for development funding; or

2) Resources are not available and a Development Funding Application is being submitted along with the Application Form. Please note that development funding requests will only be considered for those applications that have been approved to proceed.

Application Kit and Guidance documents are posted below and have been developed to assist organizations and communities participating in the EOI process. The content of this Application Kit includes:

• Introduction to Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Teams;
• Guide to Completing an Application Form;
• Application Form;
• Development Funding Application;
• Guide to Business Plan and Operational Plan Development; and
• Operational Plan Template.

Please distribute the attached Application Kit to Indigenous organizations in your communities, and advise them of this opportunity to submit an Application Form as part of this important initiative.

The submission of Application Forms has been extended until September 8th, 2017. Applications received after this time will not be considered. We encourage interested organizations to read all of the Guides and materials in the Application Kit in order to prepare a comprehensive application for evaluation. If you have further questions, please email the ministry at IIPCT@ontario.ca or contact John Roininen, Northern Lead, Primary Health Care Branch, at 705-564-7494 or 1-866-727-9959.

NT5