Grant: IPPH Travel Awards - CPHA Annual Conference

Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council (KTC), located in Treaty 8 territory, consists of five First Nations communities in northern Alberta. A systematic service mapping and gap analysis was required to highlight current status of healthcare services and identify areas of need. The project was divided into two parts: (1) the development of a service map that includes the services available to youth aged 0-21 within KTC member nations; and (2) to identify service gaps, inadequacies and barriers to service. A site visit alongside a purposeful sample of community-based healthcare providers was used in conducting semi-structured interviews to assess the current services and gaps within community health services. A tangible visual map was created to highlight the services available within each community, as well as those accessed in larger centres. Emerging themes of preliminary findings include barriers with parental supports, consent, communication of services, transportation, residual trauma, systemic issues, youth engagement, addictions and cultural factors. Initial findings indicate gaps in each of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services. Inadequacies in services related to mental health and suicide prevention are pervasive. Further thematic analysis utilizing a culturally appropriate lens will be conducted. The findings from this service mapping and gap analysis will be used by front-line practitioners to increase awareness of available health services within and between communities. In addition, the barriers and gaps identified will be used to inform future direction and improve access to essential healthcare services. Further analysis needs to be conducted to identify relevant outcomes, including process and impact evaluations.