Component: IHWS – Promotion and Prevention

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service objectives

  • Improve the health and wellness of Indigenous child-bearing individuals, newborns and their families through the provision of culturally safe and appropriate care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum period

Service description

  • The Maternal and Child Centre provides culturally safe pre- and post-natal care to Indigenous women, child-bearing individuals, and families in the Six Nations/ southwest areas to foster and support their well-being during pregnancy and following childbirth
  • Low risk child-bearing individuals will be offered the choice to birth at the clinic or in their home. High risk clients with pre-existing or new medical conditions are eligible to receive support and advocacy in the hospital by Midwives during delivery
  • Services will be provided by midwives, and incorporate traditional midwifery practices
  • The program includes the provision of rooms for use by child-bearing individuals during the active delivery of the baby and immediate postnatal period
  • Midwives will provide screening, testing and support throughout the lifecycle

People served

  • Indigenous women, child-bearing persons, and families in the Six Nations and southwest Ontario area

Program / Service Features

The program/services contracted by the Ministry will reflect the following features

  • Indigenous cultural approaches are reflected or used as a part of the activities and services
  • Maternal and Child Centre services available 365 days per year. Any proposed difference in this schedule requires explanation and MCCSS agreement

Specific service provided

Client-specific services

  • Client-specific services are intended to foster healthy conception, pregnancy and childbirth by
  • Identifying, reducing or preventing risk to the health and well-being of mothers, child-bearers, and children
  • Treating and/or managing a health condition or problem that may affect the pregnancy or birthing
  • Managing/supporting healthy (low risk) childbirth
  • Supporting care for high-risk childbirth
  • Promoting health and wellness
  • Client-specific services include coordination and case management services provided to, or on behalf of, clients, including referrals to traditional and contemporary practitioners and specialists, hospitals, or other health services
  • Client-specific services also address sexual and reproductive health issues, including
  • Fertility concerns
  • Promoting and supporting healthy sexuality
  • Supporting health and wellness throughout the life cycle, including pap smears, breast screening, pregnancy testing, fertility services, pregnancy testing, menopause support and education, puberty, and coming-of-age support
  • Provide support and care to Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals throughout the life cycle

The following services are mandatory funding requirements

  • Primary health care including traditional midwifery and ancillary services, including consultations/counselling and well-person care visits provided by a dietician, nutritionist, nurse practitioner, traditional or contemporary practitioner, or physician.
  • Traditional birthing services including the provision of a bed for use by individuals during active delivery and support services, including housekeeping and meal preparation.
  • Traditional health/healing services which may include provision of access to services of a traditional practitioner (healer, medicine person or Elder); traditional Indigenous ceremonies as requested by clients (naming ceremony, rites of passage ceremonies, etc.); traditional Indigenous healing and wellness teachings; and the use/application of traditional Indigenous medicines to treat or manage a health condition.

Group activities

  • Activities are provided in a group-based setting and are oriented towards reducing and preventing family violence and improving Indigenous health by
  • Increasing awareness of specific issues, risks or concerns in the community or group
  • Providing education and information to improve Indigenous health, and reduce and prevent community or group risk factors
  • Promoting positive change in values, attitudes and behaviours
  • Fostering healing and enabling individuals, families and communities to achieve and enjoy a healthy and balanced life
  • Group activities may include
  • Healing/cultural teaching circles and/or support groups
  • Fitness and/or recreational activities
  • Land-based activities
  • Pre-natal classes
  • Postpartum programs/workshops
  • Breastfeeding classes/lactation support
  • Specialty programs including preparation for parenthood, caregiver training to support pregnancy/birth or postpartum concerns, maternal/infant fitness, or use/preparation of traditional foods

Community outreach, engagement & relationship building

  • Community outreach, engagement and relationship building activities are offered to the community-at-large and/or other organizations and oriented towards reducing and preventing family violence and improving Indigenous health
  • Activities may include
  • Public presentations
  • Public awareness and education campaigns
  • Organizing or participating in community, health and wellness fairs or events (e.g. pow-wows, feasts)
  • Participating in local committees
  • Outreach and relationship-building with health and social service organizations and other community partners (e.g., information sharing, referral protocol development, building cultural awareness and competency, hosting gatherings)

Reporting requirements

Year-end narrative report

  • The transfer payment recipients (TPRs) are required to submit year-end narrative report. TPRs can self-determine how the narrative will be reported
  • Service partners can highlight participant feedback on programs and services and use participants’ own words when possible
  • Narrative reports can include creative forms of communication and reporting, including audio, visual, oral and/or written formats

Service data

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets

Service Data Name Definition

# of Births: Maternal & Child Centre

Unique, or unduplicated, count of births supported through the Maternal & Child Centre Program during the reporting period. The count includes births supported by an Indigenous Midwife at any location (i.e., Maternal & Child centre, home, hospital).

# of Individuals: Received Bed-based, Client-specific Services: Maternal & Child Centre

Unique, or unduplicated, count of individuals (including dependents/children) who received bed-based, client-specific services during the reporting period, which includes temporary residence and support services. See Service description for further details and examples of client-specific services. Each unique individual is counted only once per reporting period even if they received multiple services. If the individual carries into the next fiscal year, the individual is counted again in the new reporting period. Only individuals accessing bed-based, client specific services (i.e. individuals who are residing at the Maternal & Child Centre) are counted under this data element. Individuals who only access non-bed-based, client specific services are excluded from this data element. See Service description for further details and examples of client-specific services.

# of Individuals: Received Non-Bed-Based Services: Maternal & Child Centre

Unique, or unduplicated, count of individuals (including dependents/children) who received non-bed-based, client-specific services. Each unique individual is counted only once per reporting period even if they received multiple services. If the individual carries into the next fiscal year, the individual is counted again in the new reporting period. Only individuals accessing non-bed-based (day programming) client-specific services provided through the Maternal & Child Centre are counted under this data element. Individuals who access bed-based, client-specific services (i.e., are residing at the Maternal & Child Centre while accessing services) are excluded from this data element. See Service description for further details and examples of client-specific services.

# of Pre-Natal Visits: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of pre-natal visits delivered through the Maternal & Child Centre Program during the reporting period. This includes pre-natal consultations and diagnostic testing attended with a client. Pre-natal visits may take place in a number of locations, including homes or the Maternal & Child Centre. Each pre-natal visit held in the reporting period should be counted as 1.

# of Post-Natal Visits: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of post-natal visits delivered through the Maternal & Child Centre Program during the reporting period. This includes post-natal consultations and diagnostic testing attended with a client. Post-natal visits may take place in a number of locations, including homes or the Maternal & Child Centre. Each post-natal visit held in the reporting period should be counted as 1.

# of Well-Person Care Visits: Maternal & Child Centre

The total well-person care visits (e.g., reproductive health checks, pregnancy tests, menopausal counselling) delivered through the Maternal & Child Centre Program during the reporting period. Well-person care visits may take place in a number of locations, including homes or the Maternal & Child Centre. Each visit held in the reporting period should be counted as 1.

# of Resident Days: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of 24-hour periods for which an individual (including dependents/children) is provided bed-based care using an IHWS-funded birthing room (or bed). The day on which an individual is admitted is counted as one day of service. The day on which an individual is discharged is not counted. Each occupied bed/room counts as one day of bed-based care. When the individual enters and leaves the service on the same day, one day is counted. Beds occupied by a dependent or child are included in this count.

Note: The day of exit is not counted to allow accurate calculation of occupancy rates. Otherwise, the same bed would be counted twice for two different individuals on the same day. To track resident days, take a daily census of occupied IHWS- funded birthing rooms (or beds) and add up the census to calculate the total number of resident days for the reporting period.

# of Beds: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of birthing rooms (or beds) dedicated to the Maternal & Child Centre Program at the end of the reporting period. The total number of birthing rooms (or beds) includes the spaces that are and are not occupied at the time of count. The following types of birthing rooms (or beds) are counted:

  • Beds funded by MCCSS; and
  • Beds funded by other revenue (e.g., fundraising) but dedicated for use for IHWS clients

The following birthing rooms (or beds) are NOT included in the count:

  • Beds funded by other programs (e.g., homelessness); and
  • Alternate settings (e.g., overflow beds, cots, hotel rooms, cribs, etc.)

# of Group Activities: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of group activities supported through the Maternal & Child Centre Program in the reporting period. Each activity held in the reporting period should be counted as 1. If a group activity is jointly organized/funded with another IHWS program, only one program should report the group activity (to be decided by the service provider). The program that reports the group activity should also report the total number of individuals who attended that group activity under the “Number of Individuals: Accessed Group Activities: Maternal & Child Centre”.

If group activities are not provided through your IHWS- funded program, put “0”. See Service description for further details and examples of group activities.

# of Individuals: Accessed Group Activities: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of individuals who took part in group activities offered through the Maternal & Child Centre Program. The same individual can be counted more than once if they participate in more than one group activity in the same reporting period. The total number of unique participants for each group activity is added to calculate the total number of individuals who took part in group activities in the reporting period. For example, if an individual attends four group activities in a reporting period, count four (4). If a group activity is jointly organized/funded with another IHWS program, only one program should report the group activity (to be decided by the service provider). The program that reported the group activity (to be decided by the service provider) is responsible for reporting the total number of individuals who accessed the group activity under this data element. Do not include participants of the group activities that were not reported in “Number of Group Activities: Maternal & Child Centre”. If group activities are not provided through your IHWS-funded program, put “0”. See Service description for further details and examples of group activities.

# of Community outreach, engagement & relationship building Activities: Maternal & Child Centre

The total number of community outreach, engagement & relationship building activities delivered through the Maternal & Child Centre Program during the reporting period. Each activity should be counted as 1.

See Service description for further details and examples of community outreach, engagement & relationship building activities.
If Community outreach, engagement & relationship building activities are not provided through your IHWS-funded program, put “0”.

Ministry- funded Agency Expenditures: Maternal & Child Centre

Total ministry-funded expenses for the Transfer Payment Recipient to administer and/or deliver the Maternal & Child Centre program in the reporting year (cumulative).