Unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations | VANCOUVER – The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) and Adler University have signed a three-year partnership agreement to enhance access to mental health and wellness services for First Nations in British Columbia.
“Our partnership with Adler University is a meaningful step forward in our work to transform mental health and wellness services for First Nations communities," said Monica McAlduff, Chief Executive Officer of the First Nations Health Authority. “This collaboration represents an opportunity to co-develop culturally safe, community-informed education and training pathways that honour First Nations knowledge and healing practices. I am excited about the potential of these programs for strengthening capacity, supporting First Nations professionals, and ultimately advancing systems of care rooted in respect, humility, and lived experiences of our people."
FNHA and Adler University will co-develop and deliver customized training programs that embed cultural safety and humility principles to address the mental health and wellness needs of First Nations communities. These collaborative efforts are designed to support FNHA staff, the First Nations, and the communities they serve across British Columbia by building capacity, strengthening professional development, and creating sustainable, community-informed education pathways. The goals of the partnership include:
- Custom, evidence-based programs with a “train the trainer" model for applied learning.
- Clinical internship and practicum opportunities to learn alongside community health teams.
- Coaching programs to support First Nations students and professionals long-term.
- Continuing Education programs to further executive and professional development for First Nations students and professionals.
“Transformative education must be inextricably linked to collective community well-being," said Adler University President Lisa Coleman, Ph.D. “This partnership is focused on the intentional integration of First Nations' knowledge traditions to further advance dynamic pedagogical environments and reduce disparities. Our scholarly and research endeavours, combined with the knowledge that comes from the lived experiences of communities, are central to transforming global systems of public health, well-being, and care as we continue to expand access to mental health services for all communities."
FNHA and Adler will collaborate to address systemic barriers that prevent First Nations clients from accessing culturally safe mental health and wellness services in their community. Their common goal is to address the social determinants of health and advance the mental health and wellness of First Nations people in British Columbia.
Learn More:
About First Nations Health Authority
The FNHA is the health and wellness partner to over 200 diverse First Nations communities and citizens across BC.
In 2013, the FNHA began a new era in BC First Nations health governance and health care delivery by taking responsibility for the programs and services formerly delivered by Health Canada. Since then, the FNHA has been working to address service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration, health systems innovation, reform, and redesign of health programs and services for individuals, families, communities, and Nations.
The FNHA champions culturally safe practices throughout the broader health care system. Actively collaborates with its health partners to embed cultural safety and humility into health service delivery and improve health outcomes for First Nations people. As part of its commitment to eliminating anti-Indigenous racism in health care, FNHA affirms that every individual must be a leader for change — where harm, injustice, or inequality is witnessed, they must speak, act, protect, and empower First Nations peoples through quality care and accountability processes.
About Adler University
Adler University is a global nonprofit institution that develops breakaway thinkers who create scalable solutions to transform systems, strengthen communities, advance public health initiatives, and collective well-being. Founded in 1952 and anchored in the scholarship of Alfred Adler, the University educates students through more than 25 master's and doctoral programs in psychology, counselling, and mental health. Adler, as a global higher education institution, combines multiple modalities, theories, research, and immersive real-world practices to equip graduates to become impact-driven leaders, scholars, researchers, and practitioners who transform systems.
