The White Bear Health Station Currently has eighteen employees who provide variety of services for the Whitebear Indian Reserve community.

Details for each programs through the Health Department are as follows:

HEALTH DIRECTOR

The Health Director oversees all of the department programs including:

• Child Care Initiatives (Lil Bear Paws Day Care and Aborginal Head Start On Reserve)
• Home & Community Care
• Medical Transportation Program
• Community Addictions Program
• Mental Health Services
• Brighter Futures
• Solvent Abuse Initiatives
• Aboriginal Diabetes Initiatives
• Prenatal Nutrition
• Tobacco Control Strategy
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• The Health Director has also been appointed to: Four Nations Care Lodge Board of Directors, Fsin Health & Social Development Commision's Senior Technical Advisory Group and Sun Country Regional Health Authority

HEALTH COMMITTEE

The Health Committee provides advice and recommendations on policy, procedures and program management to the Health Director
and the staff of the Health Department. This process ensures representation from the Band Council, band members living in the
community and interagency care providers. The members meet at monthly and are updated on all issues and services that pertain to the
Health Department. These members include:

• Francis McArthur (Councilor with the Health Portfolio)
• Sarah McAthur (White Bear Education Complex)
• Deborah Shepherd (medical transportation)
• Carolyn Standingready (community band member) and;
• Darlene Standing Ready (Health Director)

HEALTH CLINIC

The White Bear First Nations' Health Clinic serves as a centralized health service delivery agency. The Clinic operates under the auspices of the Chief & Council and with the advice and recommendations of the Health Committee. As the needs of the community change, programs are negotiated for and placed at the Clinic.

Dental Therapist

We currently have a Dental Therapist contracted through Dr. Oyster, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. FNIHB provides funding for the acquisition and maintenance of dental equipment that is required for daily and routine procedures within the clinic including a dental chair, x-ray machine and the various drills and medications. Through the contract, Dr. Oyster provides the overall supervision for the Dental Therapist when professional advice is required.

Podiatrist

The Clinic provides a podiatrist once every six weeks. Dr. Stewart, from Regina, Saskatchewan is contracted through the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Program. Most clients are those affected with diabetes and the elderly who require assistance with foot care. The podiatrist treats:

• Corns
• Calluses
• ingrown toenails
• bunions
• heel spurs and arch problems
• ankle and foot injuries, deformities, and infections;
• and foot complaints associated with diseases such as diabetes.

To treat these problems, podiatrists prescribe drugs, order physical therapy, set fractures, and perform surgery. They also fit corrective inserts called orthotics, design plaster casts and strappings to correct deformities, and design custom­made shoes.

Community Health Nurse

This program deals with areas in health promotion, prevention, immunization, communicable disease control, health teaching, home visits, community visits, prenatal and post natal teaching, well baby clinics, school health, adult health, chronic disease and long term care. Two registered nurses are employed to run this program for the White Bear Indian Reserve community.

Pre Natal / Post Natal Care

This program is directed to all pregnant women and their partners. One of the goals of this program is to see each mother at least once during each trimester. Early identification of all pregnancies is a priority. Mothers are also encouraged to get early medical attention and have regular physician visits. The community health nurse and community health representative promote this program to community members, follow up participants, assist mothers with registration of infants for Health Care Coverage and provide support and counseling to parents. This can include growth and weight monitoring of infants, nutrition counseling and referrals to other professionals.

• Baby Day Clinics
• Building Better Babies
• Pregnancy Testing
• Pre-school Program
• Infant/Pre-school Development Program

Community Health Representative

The CHR program delivers a variety of health care services specific to the community:

• Home Visits for community members including diabetics, chronics, etc.
• Hospital Visits
• Interpretor between health care personnel and patients
• Conduct vision and hearing screening
• Assist with clinics such as immunizations, weigh-ins, pre-school care, pre-natal care, post-natal care, nutrition, flu vaccines
• Planning and Facilitating of workshops in the following areas:
• Diabetes
• AIDS
• Family
• Education
• Nutrition
• Teaching and demonstrating home nursing care for the sick, aged, infirm
• Explaining Federal and Provincial Health services and programs to community members
• Organize and/or work with existing community groups to improve community health

Non Emergency Transportation

The medical transportation program was implemented to meet the community members' need to access health services located outside the community. At present, the program employs two full time medical drivers who drive on a local and long distance schedule. The community has two medical vans which are operated on a daily basis and are on call in evenings for emergencies.

Transportation is provided for community members and their families to access treatment from local physicians, dentists, etc. The vans also travel to the larger communities such as Estevan, Weyburn, Yorkton, Moosomin, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina to access services from various specialists as needed. When the Driver's schedule conflicts with other appointments we issue private purchase orders for patients to purchase fuel.

Community Addictions Program

We have two full time staff members working with the community addictions program: one (1) coordinator and one (1) counselor.

The main focus here is alcohol/drug use prevention. Throughout the year different events are scheduled such as the annual sobriety walk - celebrated during National Drug Awareness Week - to recognize the accomplishments of many of our community members in their commitment to sobriety. The Addictions Program also facilitates several confidential group and individual counseling services to our community members such as AA meetings, NA, Alternative to Violence and transporting their clients to different treatment centers when necessary.

Transportation is usually provided through the Medical Transportation Program. Based on the recommendations of the Counselor, referrals are made from the CAP office for treatment centers, outpatient programs at treatment centers, or to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous Meetings.

Other services available through the CAP Office include referrals for:

• Mental Health Counseling
• Family Therapy
• Youth Counseling
• Sexual Abuse Counseling
• Domestic Violence Counseling
• Anger Management Programs
• Impaired Driver's Program