1. Service Expansion and Improved Accessibility

• The number of children served annually increased significantly, from 111 in 2019 to 1,091 in 2024.

• Communities such as Opaskwayak Cree Nation and Pimicikamak Cree Nation demonstrated consistently high engagement, while additional regions, including Chemawawin Cree Nation, began receiving services in 2023.

• Some variability in service delivery remained, with Sayisi Dene receiving its first visit in June 2024 due to early barriers such as pediatrician availability.

2. Life-Enhancing Impacts for Children and Families

• Families reported overwhelmingly positive outcomes, with 100% of focus group participants expressing satisfaction with services received.

• The program eliminated an estimated 1,880 trips for families, representing approximately 67,680 hours saved and between $4.6 and $7.5 million in combined family and system cost savings.

• Local service delivery reduced stress, improved access to timely diagnoses, and increased awareness and identification of conditions such as ADHD and autism.

3. Strengthened Equity-Based and Community-Based Practices

• Providers transitioned from comprehensive assessments to developmental screenings, allowing more children to be reached.

• The program supported cultural humility through provider engagement in community traditions, language learning, and reflection on implicit bias.

• Collaboration with community-based staff and access to professional development opportunities strengthened culturally responsive care.

4. Meaningful, Efficient, and Cost-Effective Investment

• • The average cost per client served was approximately $3,011, lower than comparable urban-centred service models.

  • Ninety-seven percent of clinics provided access to specialists otherwise unavailable in the community, and 62% of provider trips included community engagement or capacity-building activities.

Lessons and Opportunities 

Persistent System and Structural Challenges

• Ongoing challenges include staffing shortages, logistical barriers, and limited access to follow-up services.

• Key recommendations include expanding permanent positions, improving infrastructure such as telehealth capacity, and strengthening collaboration across service systems.

Opportunities for Growth

• Increase staffing and service capacity through more frequent visits and permanent roles.

• Improve infrastructure, including reliable Wi-Fi, updated equipment, and dedicated clinical spaces.

• Continue prioritizing culturally responsive care and capacity-building through training opportunities and the involvement of Elders.

• Strengthen coordination and communication among health services, schools, and community organizations.

Conclusion

The KIM Jordan’s Principle Pediatrician and Clinical Health Psychologist Services Program has made substantial progress in narrowing healthcare gaps, improving quality of life for children and families, and demonstrating cost-effective service delivery. Continued efforts to expand capacity, improve access to historically exclusionary provincial and federal services, and strengthen collaboration will be essential to sustaining progress toward equitable healthcare access for northern and remote First Nations children, youth, and families.

The KIM Jordan’s Principle Team

The Jordan’s Principle Pediatrician and Clinical Health Psychologist Services Program is supported by a dedicated team committed to improving access to healthcare for First Nations children and families in Northern Manitoba.

• Randi Paupanekis – Child and Youth Wellness Lead
• Lisa Monkman – Physician Advisor
• Kathleen North – Jordan’s Principle Liaison

If you are a community served by KIM and would like to explore these services for your community, please contact Randi Paupanekis for more information. Email – [email protected]