Indigenous Hospital Liaison Services
The Indigenous Hospital Liaison (IHL) works with Indigenous patients and families at the Alberta Children's Hospital.
The Indigenous Liason can:
- Provide inpatient support to indigenous patients and families.
- Incorporate their traditional and spiritual practices during their hospital stay.
- Coordinate use of ceremony room (scared space).
- Coordinate smudging in the patient room when requested by families.
- Refer to the Traditional Wellness Coordinator as needed.
- Make referrals on and off the reserve and provide resource/contact information on indigenous specific resources. Such as NIHB, First Nations Health Consortium and Jordan’s Principle.
- Advocate for the patient and their families.
- Help plan and support the patients discharge from hospital.
- Establish supportive relationships with patients and families.
- Provide referral support to connect patients and families to culturally safe and traditional healing resources and services.
- Consult the healthcare providers about indigenous centered practices and care.
- any healthcare provider
- a family member or support person
- Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, except statutory holidays. During service hours, you can visit the Family & Community Resource Centre on the 2nd floor of the Alberta Children's Hospital.
- On weekends and statutory holidays, unit staff can consult the on-call social worker for NIHB supports.
- Cultural Support/Spiritual Guidance and Healing
- Create a safe space for Smudging/Prayers/Blessings
- Elder Support/Connection to Elder
- Emotional/Psychosocial support
- End of life support to patient and family
- Share knowledge about Cultural Traditions, Sacred Medicines and Protocols
- Ceremony Policy Education
- Youth Cultural Connections and Support
- Translation
- Advocacy (voice for the voiceless)
- Build meaningful relationships with patient, family and AHS staff
- Assist with special events within AHS
- Yes. A referral is made through the Indigenous Hospital Liason.
- Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM, except statutory holidays. During service hours, you can visit the Family & Community Resource Centre on the 2nd floor of the Alberta Children's Hospital to speak with the Liason
Do I need a referral to see the IHL?
You can ask to see the IHL yourself by requesting at the Family and Community Resource Centre. Or, you can be referred by:
When is the IHL available?
Indigenous Wellness Coordinator
Do I need a referral to speak with the Indigenous Wellness Coordinator?
Additional Resources
Indigenous services for children and families in the Calgary Zone