Statement of Purpose

The Healthy Choices Fund (HCF) provides financial support for health promotion and prevention activities within the Northwest Territories. It aims to address risk factors associated with chronic and communicable diseases, as well as injury prevention. The fund seeks to promote healthier lifestyle choices through focused initiatives that encourages healthier lifestyle choices among individuals, families, and communities.

Fund Objectives

The Healthy Choices Fund seeks to fund projects that:

1. Address behavioural risk factors for chronic and communicable diseases, including healthy eating, physical activity, smoking, youth vaping, alcohol, and illicit drugs, and unprotected sex.
2. Address behavioural risk factors for unintentional injuries.
3. Encourage partnerships and community participation.
4. Enable NWT residents to learn and enhance skills for making healthy choices.

Targeted Health Issues

The Healthy Choices Fund focuses on preventing:

• Type 2 Diabetes.
• Preventable cancers including breast, colorectal and lung cancers.
• Cardiovascular disease.
• Unintentional injuries.
• Sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBIs).

Eligibility for Access to Fund

Eligible projects may include new initiatives or enhancements of existing projects. To qualify, projects should meet the following criteria:

1. The applicant and project must be located in the Northwest Territories.
2. Provide activities, programs, and services meeting community or regional needs.
3. Propose innovative approaches to existing activities, programs, or services.
4. Demonstrate partnerships and collaboration to promote healthy choices.

In the case of competing projects, priority will be given to those demonstrating strong partnerships and sustainability beyond the funding period.

NOTE: Health and Social Services Authorities, research projects or consultations are not eligible for funding.

Eligible Applicants

The following entities are eligible to apply:

1. Indigenous governments in the Northwest Territories with negotiated or ongoing self-government agreements.
2. Community governing authorities (Band Council, Metis Local, Charter Community, or municipal council).
3. Non-government not-for-profit organizations demonstrating Indigenous outreach and partnerships with Indigenous or community governing authorities.

Eligible Community-led Initiatives

Projects should aim to increase knowledge, build skills, actively engage residents, and strengthen community capacity.

Eligible initiatives include projects that:

1. Build skills and access to healthy foods, reduce tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use, and increase physical activity.
2. Educate and raise awareness on child passenger safety, water and boating safety, and prevention of falls and brain injuries.
3. Educate and raise awareness on sexually transmitted blood-borne infections, intimate relationships, the reproductive system, and the importance of consent.

Examples of Eligible Projects

1. Healthy Living Projects
   • Workshops promoting healthy cooking, improving shopping skills and providing nutrition education.
   • Community walking groups, learning new skills such as jigging, skiing or paddling.
   • Mobile phone text message interventions or developing peer support programs for addressing the risks of tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drug consumption.
2. Injury Prevention Projects
   • Home-based education on preventing falls.
   • Programs and campaigns focused on wearing lifejackets and increasing knowledge on water and boating safety.
   • Helmet education and equipment programs for biking, skating, and summer and winter sports.
   • Child passenger safety education.
3. Sexual Health Projects
   • Community engagements/events to learn or take action on sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections.
   • Small group sessions on intimate relationships, reproductive health, and consent.
   • Community-wide awareness campaigns promoting sexual health and well-being.

Eligible Expenses

Funding covers various expenses, including:

• Program materials and supplies.
• Equipment for food storage/preparation, injury prevention, and outdoor activities.
• Traditional structures such as teepees, smokehouses, and yurts.
• Rentals for venues and equipment.
• Staff expenses, facilitator fees, and travel within the NWT.
• Administration fees equal to 5% of total projected costs.

Expenses not eligible under this fund include:

• Vehicle purchase, including snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.
• Expenses exceeding 5,000, for minor renovations, or alteration of facilities or other buildings that are intended for human occupancy or that involve site-servicing works (i.e., the installation of electrical, water and/or wastewater infrastructure).

Fund Amount Available

1. Total available funds: $418,000 annually.
2. Minimum per project per year: $5,000.
3. Maximum per project per year: $20,000.
4. Multi-Year Projects: Yes, up to three (3) years subject to annual appropriation.

Supporting Data

1. Completed Healthy Choices Fund Application.
2. Valid liability insurance at time of application and for project duration.
3. Letter of good standing from Societies Registrar or Letter of Incorporation (if applicable).
4. List of confirmed or anticipated project funding from other sources.

Review and Appeal

1. Annual Application Deadline: January 31, 2026, at 12:00 PM MST, or until all available funding is allocated.
2. Contact for Review:
   
   Manager, Health Promotion
   Office of the Chief Public Health Officer
   Department of Health and Social Services
   Email: HCIF@gov.nt.ca

The review committee, chaired by the Manager, Health Promotion, will contact applicants within 30 business days of application submission date.

The review committee reserves the right to refer proponents to other funders where the proposed project does not fit the Healthy Choices Fund criteria or is a better fit with another GNWT funding program.

Appeals follow the procedures outlined in the Grants and Contributions Policy.