Health Authority Capacity Building Program

This one-time funding program recognized that each BC health authority is unique, with significant variation in their capacity to participate in, and/or utilize research to support evidence based policy and practice change. To this end, health authorities were supported in developing a vision and plan for creating a basic platform of or augmenting existing capacity to facilitate uptake and use of existing research and more effective engagement in research and evaluation activities. These plans were required to take into account the longer and shorter-term priority requirements to:

• Answer questions and apply evaluation and research findings important and specific to their region.
• Respond to, and work collaboratively in addressing provincial question or those affecting multiple regions, including the ability to contribute a region-specific perspective on such issues.
• Obtain and interpret or develop information for planning in their region.
• Build their capacity to engage in coordinated planning with all stakeholders as appropriate, such that the system becomes more strategic and forward looking in addressing health services and policy issues.
• Allow for staged implementation.

The original term of the awards was for three years ending December 31, 2007. At that time the awards were extended for an additional 21 months to September 30, 2009 to provide opportunity for MSFHR to explore the possibility of incorporating the Health Authority Capacity Building Program into their institutional infrastructure program. MSFHR was unable to proceed in this direction so the health authorities were provided with bridge funding for a further six months to enable them to sustain current activities while transitioning expenses for activities they want to maintain. The program will end on March 31, 2010 after five and a quarter years.

MSFHR is working with health authorities to evaluate the impact of this program. Read about the process and timeline for the evaluation in Health Authority Capacity Building Grants – A preliminary report on the first three years (PDF).

Read about the process for the evaluation in the Evaluation Plan (PDF)  The evaluation report is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

Last updated December 1, 2009