Aboriginal and Ethno-cultural Work
HEALTHY HORIZONS CONSULTING – John McCready, Principal, 1992 to Present
Consulting to Health Canada, the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre, the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, the Métis Nation of Ontario and many other community-based health and social service organizations, including Aboriginal communities, a wide variety of projects have been completed.
Selected Accomplishments in Aboriginal Related Work:
- Worked with Aboriginal communities from Labrador to Vancouver Island
- Developed a coordinated problem gambling prevention strategy for supporting ethno-cultural communities
- Conducted four comprehensive governance and operational reviews of Aboriginal service organizations and provided reports and practical recommendations
- Served as Co-investigator for a large-scale Participatory Action Research gambling project with five Aboriginal communities, the Ontario Federation Indian Friendship Centres and the Métis Nation of Ontario
- Developed a Discussion Paper on the integration of First Nations and Inuit addiction and mental health services for a National Working Group established by Health Canada
- Developed a provincial prevention response strategy for supporting ethno-cultural communities and served as co-investigator for a large-scale Participatory Action Research gambling project with eight ethnic communities and COSTI Immigrant Services
- Served on an Expert Committee to advise Health Canada on how to influence the return and ongoing care of Innu children who had been taken to St. John’s for assessment
- Conducted a Needs Assessment for an Aboriginal Addictions Information System: conducted a national survey of 750 Aboriginal communities, facilitated a national focus group and wrote several reports on the need and nature of an information system that was used in the development of part of Canada’s Health Information System
- Served as the Principal Author of a successful Healing Centre funding proposal for one of the first eleven healing centres to be funded in Canada by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation
- Served as a team member for the evaluation of four publicly funded addiction programs, including the General Review on the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program (NNADAP)
- Pursued a number of projects with the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Directorate, including a needs assessment of an Innu community, a program review of a residential service, a progress review of a residential youth service, a review and survey to develop treatment outcome measures and a variety of other initiatives with First Nations
SELECTED PAPERS, REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS
McCready, John. Review of Gambling with the Future: The Evolution of Aboriginal Gambling in Canada, by Yale D. Belanger. Journal of Gambling Issues, 21 July 2008, pp. 117-119.
McCready, John. Supporting Ethno-cultural Communities in Ontario: The Development of a Coordinated Prevention Response to Problem Gambling. Toronto: COSTI Immigrant Services, 2007.
McCready, John. Serving the Collective Interests: A Report on the Review of the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council and Northern Shuswap Treaty Society. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, 2007.
McCready, John. Investing in Northern Secwepemc Communities: Final Report on the Review of the Knucwentwecw Society Child and Family Services. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, September 2006.
Wynne, Harold J., and McCready, John. Examining Gambling and Problem Gambling in Ontario Aboriginal Communities: Final Summary Report. Toronto: Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and Métis Nation of Ontario, 2005.
Wynne, Harold J., and McCready, John. Addressing Problem Gambling in Toronto and Windsor/Essex County Ethnic Communities: Final Action Plan Summary Report. Toronto: COSTI Immigrant Services, 2004.
Wynne, Harold J., and McCready, John. Addressing Problem Gambling in Toronto and Windsor/Essex County Ethnic Communities: Final Summary Report. Toronto: COSTI Immigrant Services, 2004.
McCready, John. Integration of First Nations and Inuit Addiction and Mental Health Services: A Discussion Paper. A paper prepared for the Integration of Mental Health and Addictions Working Group and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, 2003.
McCready, John. Nenqayni Treatment Centre Society: A Progress Review of the Family Alcohol and Drug Program and the Youth and Family Inhalant Program. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, March 2001.
McCready, John. Nenqayni Treatment Centre Society: A Report on a Review of the Family and Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre Programs. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, May 1999.
McCready, John. First Nations and Inuit Addictions Information System: User Requirements. The results of a national survey and national focus group. A report to the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Directorate, Medical Services Branch of Health Canada. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, December 1999.
McCready, John. Sheshatshiu: A Community Assessment Report. A needs assessment of an Innu community near Goose Bay, Labrador with very high solvent abuse and suicide rates. A report to the First Nations and Inuit Health Programs Directorate, Medical Services Branch of Health Canada. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, September 1999.
McCready, John. A National First Nations and Inuit Addictions Information System: An Introductory Presentation. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, August 1999.
McCready, John. First Nations and Inuit Addictions Information System: A Methodology to Identify the User Requirements. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, July 1999.
McCready, John. First Nations and Inuit Addictions Information System: The Role and Composition of the National Steering Committee. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, July 1999.
McCready, John. Needs Assessment for a National First Nations and Inuit Registry of Substance Abuse Services: Final Report of the National Advisory Group. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, March 1999.
McCready, John. Treatment Outcome Measures and Data Collection Methods for First Nations and Inuit Substance Abuse Programs: Final Project Report. Toronto: Healthy Horizons Consulting, March 1999.
McCready, John. Tsow-Tun Le Lum Helping House – Aboriginal Healing Centre: Residential School and Intergenerational Effects Healing Initiative. A proposal for one of the first healing centres to be funded by the Aboriginal Healing Centre. Lantzville, British Columbia: Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, February 1999.