July 17, 2009
Yet another exciting year has passed at N.A.C.M. February 21, 2009 marked the agency's thirty-seventh (37th) year in operation. N.A.C.M.'s survival journey over almost four decades is remarkable at times.
The organization continues to provide quality addictions services for not only the First Peoples of Manitoba, but of Canada as well. Culturally appropriate programming is still requested by the People we serve.
The agency continues to work towards and maintains accreditation for its services in all departments including board governance. N.A.C.M. is accredited by Accrediation Canada until December 2011. Accreditation is time-consuming and continually challenges the agency to evolve, especially with such a small compliment of staff. One of the major hurdles is appointing individuals to roles such as coordinator of accreditation, human resources, etc when finances are limited. On a positive note, N.A.C.M. has one again achieved accreditation status. Congratulations to everyone at N.A.C.M.!
The agency is funded through three major sources The First Nations & Inuit Health Branch, the Manitoba Healthy Living Department and the Aboriginal Healing Foundation. These funding agencies allow us to operate Pritchard House, our live-in treatment program, our Outpatient treatment program and our Women's/Youth healing program.
Statistical data indicates that 2,156 individuals registered for our inpatient and outpatient treatment programs this past year from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009. (Note that statistics for the Women's/Youth Healing Program are not available.) In numbers: Alcohol is still identified as the most frequently used by our program participants. However, cocaine, crack cocaine and prescription drugs are constantly rising in numbers in recent years. Prescription drugs abused are oxycontin, valium, percicets, Talwin and Ritlin (T&R's) are also returing in our reports.
Centre Performance Statistics
N.A.C.M. data also indicates that the age groups that requently use our services are ages 25 to 35 years old. More females participate in our programs in all age groups except for the 45 and older age group. Men over the age of 45 tend to use our services on an equal basis as females.
Client Age Groups - Percentage
Clients By Gender
Some new program initiatives this year have been to expand the outpatient program to 8 weeks to include more counselling sessions. Pre-treatment preparation is also offered prior to entering our programs. The Women's Sage/Youth Healing Program has added an aftercare component for program participants. These are home visits for families to enhance healing and community connectedness.
Programs at N.A.C.M. are readily available as indicated:
- Prithard House Treatment Program 5 weeks
- Outpatient Treatment Program (including pre-treatment) - 8 weeks
- Outpatient Aftercare Program - 8 weeks
- Women's Sage Healing Program - 6 weeks
- Youth Program - One on One Counselling
In June of 2008, we received confirmation that FNIHB was willing to fund N.A.C.M. for a new building for just under $3 million. We are grateful for this important piece to our five year plan. During this past year much effort has been given to acquiring land for this facility. The biggest single obstacle has been the zoning for a building that will house our services. We have had several near purchases, but with no successful land base at this time.
N.A.C.M. was part of a Regional Needs Assessment on FNIHB's National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (NNADAP) agencies and workers. Although there were 10 major recommendations for regional improvements including fiscal improvements, the report generally showed that N.A.C.M. is providing strong programming for First People.
Other links that the organization networks with are the Manitoba First Nations Addictions Committee (MFNAC) mandated by the Association of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC), which is connected nationally to the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation (NNAPF). N.A.C.M. is also a part of the provincial network of agencies funded by te province through Manitoba Healthy Living. N.A.C.M. staff is receiving accreditation through FNWAAC is BC which is an international accreditation body.
Other activities that are on-going are:
- The Annual Walk for Sobriety
- The Youth Kookum's Camp
- Feasts and celebrations of participants' completions of programs in outpatient and the Women's healing programs.
- Development of a self-care agency through a staffed committee.
- On-going community presentations
The N.A.C.M. regularly works to imporve services to the community. Some accomplishments this year have been:
- Treatment facility funding
- Accreditation work on all levels
- Staff accreditation
- Partial security
Other ongoing plans include:
- Land acquisition that is zoned for our services
- Funding for increased bed capacity
- 24 hour security for the premises and people we serve
- Adequate funding for Youth for prevention and intervention work
- Wage parity for Workforce Retention
- Fundraising to cover costs for many initiatives
At N.A.C.M., staff are fortunate to witness the many personal achievements that are made by program participants. We are grateful for that opportunity.
Meegwetch to the hardworking staff at our agency. Meegwetch to the Board who dedicate time and effort to help uphold our vision and mission. - - Bertha Fontaine
Client Statistics for April 1, 2008-March 31, 2009
Address of the Chief Governing Officer
GREAT STRIDES INTO THE FUTURE
It's that time again and we are all gathered to take up the challenge of a new plan forward.
This last year has been full of struggles, but no doubt one also filled with many successes for the huge amount of clientele who have walked through our doors. As a Governing Council, we have endorsed more policies which, we think, will create more accountability in the form of clear approaches in certain areas.
... A lot of focus has been given to the acquisition of land property and the construction of a facility which will house our programs. Procuring the land property has not been an easy task. Our Chief Executive Officer has spent an incredible amount of time reviewing, negotiating and making reasonable offers for land property considered feasible for our purposes. We have communicated with a few real estate possibilities near the city and one which was near Matlock. Acquiring the right property with the right price and zoning availability are all items of concern in our search.
...This year marks the end of the 5-Year Plan which we had established and endorsed in 2004. We have reviewed the plan to see where we are and have established a new 10-Year Plan which we have called, "Plan 10".
I would like to take this opportunity as well, to congratulate all our employees in the pursuit of excellence. We realize the necessary struggles and the resulting successes. Thank you also to all our colleagues on the Governing Council. I wish to thank them for a very fruitful year in conducting business. Last, but not least thank you to all our members for attending. May the new plan forward bring many more successes in the next 10 years. Thank you all - - - -
Chief Governing Officer
