Thunder Bay, ON – The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) has graduated to designate status as an Indigenous-focused Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO). ONWA has been working towards this designation for three years in partnership with the Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO). ONWA is part of the first Indigenous cohort advising on Best Practice Guidelines (BPG) which will support ONWA, and other Indigenous-focused BPSOs, in promoting the health, wellbeing, and safety of Indigenous women across the province.
As part of this project, ONWA initiated the implementation of two BPG: Woman Abuse: Screening, Identification and Initial Response, and Promoting Smoking Reduction and Cessation with Indigenous Peoples of Reproductive Age and Their Communities. ONWA is now working on implementing a third BPG: Reducing Foot Complications for People with Diabetes. This work builds upon ONWA’s existing commitment to end violence against Indigenous women and support healthy families and communities.
ONWA’s work with the RNAO BPSO brings an Indigenous perspective to BPG. ONWA understands community members are the experts in their wellbeing and uses this lens when reporting on BPG. This partnership has continued to grow the relationship between ONWA and the mainstream healthcare system, while enabling ONWA to standardize practices based on our more than 50-years of experience in gender-based, trauma-informed, and culturally rooted programs and services.
If you would like more information about these BPG, please visit:
ONWA BPSO page at https://www.onwa.ca/bpso
RNAO BPSO page at https://rnao.ca/bpg/bpso
For more information and media inquiries, contact:
Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca
-30-