Tools for Service Providers
- is a national case management database launched in 2014 for the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP) and the Youth Substance Abuse Program Treatment Centres. (YSAP)
- was created in response to a need identified by Indigenous treatment centres for a modern information system, improving data collection, analysis and reporting.
Some Advantages of AMIS
- Streamlines intakes (only one form)
- Information on one secure database
- Generates an automated consent
- Tracks treatment
- Provides a release to transfer client record
- Files can be shared electronically
- Provides treatment centres with good information to examine their program and the impact they have on a client
- Referral process is automated
- Supports research initiatives.
The Native Wellness Assessment (NWATM)
- measures the effect of cultural interventions on a person’s wellness, from a whole person and strengths-based perspective.
- is a reliable measure of change in wellness over time, across all genders, age groups, and cultures.
- Thunderbird Partnership Foundation provides the NWATM to communities, organizations and treatment centres that provide Indigenous culturally based programs and services, to measure the impact of culture on wellness.
The assessment is a product of the Honouring Our Strengths: Indigenous Culture as Intervention in Addictions Treatment (CasI) research project developed by a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from across Canada, Elders, Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, Cultural Practitioners, service providers, and decision makers.
Who Uses the Tool?
More First Nation communities and Indigenous organizations are turning to the NWATM to support individual and community-based wellness strategies that are grounded in Indigenous Knowledge and ways of being. It is the only tool of its kind to measure the effect of cultural interventions on wellness over time.
How does the tool work?
People are asked a series of questions at the beginning, middle and end of their wellness program to assess their degree of connection to culture, aligning with the four wellness outcomes of Hope, Belonging, Meaning and Purpose as identified by the Indigenous Wellness Framework.
Cultural interventions are used and can include language programs, talking with an Elder/Knowledge Keeper, participating in ceremonies or spending time on the land/in country.
The NWATM has been primarily used by First Nations treatment centres across Canada since its release in 2015. However, a growing number of First Nations communities see it as an important tool to build evidence needed to support cultural programming for their community wellness strategies as well as using the data to accompany funding requests for cultural wellness programs.
Learn More
The NWATM is free for First Nations communities and organizations that facilitate cultural connections for their community members/clients.
To learn how your community can begin using the NWATM, contact us at info@thunderbirdpf.org or visit Thunderbirdpf.org.