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St. Joseph’s receives $550,000 to help expand culturally safe care for Indigenous

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation has announced a $550,000 donation from BMO, to be provided over three years, to fund two new positions aimed at improving culturally safe care for Indigenous individuals at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

These new roles will contribute to the hospital’s goal of establishing a five-person Indigenous care team by 2025. Additionally, over 5,000 staff, leaders, and volunteers will undergo Indigenous cultural safety training, which will enhance their ability to deliver culturally appropriate care. Through the Prioritizing Indigenous Wellness Pathway, the partnership aims to help 100 Indigenous clients annually access mental health and substance use care more efficiently, expanding much-needed support for Indigenous communities in the region.

Since 2017, BMO has committed over $10 million to support Indigenous health initiatives, continually increasing its support each year. This latest contribution reflects BMO’s ongoing investments in addressing health disparities affecting Indigenous populations.

About the Roles:

1. Full-Time Indigenous Clinician
This role is focused on providing mental health care to Indigenous individuals quickly and effectively. It will formalize the Prioritizing Indigenous Wellness Pathway and ensure access to culturally safe, trauma-informed care. The role builds on a pilot program, led by Dr. Caitlin Davey, that fast-tracked mental health referrals for Indigenous people. The program saw 50 referrals in just a few months, and St. Joe’s estimates the new clinician will assist 100 clients annually.

2. Part-Time Indigenous Advisor
The Indigenous Advisor will help develop and implement Indigenous Cultural Safety Training, review hospital policies through an anti-Indigenous racism lens, and strengthen relationships with local Indigenous leaders and communities to improve care and health equity.

BMO representatives joined St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton to announce this gift, supporting the Hospital’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. Job postings for both roles will be available in November 2024, focused on hiring Indigenous individuals.

BMO is committed to making a positive impact. In 2023, they donated over $84 million to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations in North America. Their employees also volunteered for almost 62,000 hours in the community and contributed over $31.2 million through their annual employee giving program.

About St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Foundation

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is an academic health sciences centre with three main campuses, a research institute, and community-based programs. Affiliated with McMaster University and Mohawk College, the hospital is a leader in respiratory health, kidney and urinary care, eye medicine, mental health, and addictions care. The Charlton Campus houses the city’s busiest emergency department and the only psychiatric emergency service.

Since 1970, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation has raised funds to support the hospital’s equipment needs, patient care programs, facility upgrades, and research. For more information, click here.

Source: Newswire