Canadian Armed Forces Military Personnel Instruction 04/05 – Health Promotion Program Implementation

1. Identification

Date of Issue: 2005-03-29

Date of Modification: 2024-12-01

Application: This instruction applies to officers and non-commissioned members (NCMs) of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

Supersession:

• NDHQ Policy Directive P2/95, Health Promotion in the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence, as it applies to the CAF
• CANFORGEN 035/94 CDS 065 07161430Z Jun 94
• CFAO 56-36, DND Drug and Alcohol Program
• CANFORGEN 121/02 ADMHRMIL 311350Z Oct 02

Approval Authority: Chief of Military Personnel (CMP)

Enquiries: Administrative Response Centre (ARC)

2. Definitions

Defence Team (Équipe de la défense)

Includes all components of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), foreign military personnel on exchange posting or training with the CAF, immediate family members of Regular and Reserve Force and the above-mentioned foreign military personnel, Department of National Defence (DND) civilian employees, Non-Public Funds (NPF) employees, Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers. 

3. Abbreviations

4. Background

Health Promotion is a Shared Responsibility

4.1 The success of military operations requires a CAF that is healthy - physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. An organizational environment enhances health and reduces or eliminates health risks by adopting health as a fundamental goal. This goal is achieved by fully endorsing multidisciplinary policies and programs that are based on research evidence and best practices. The CAF recognizes that the individual, organization and health services community all share the responsibility for health promotion and have an active role to play.

Strengthening the Forces Program

4.2 Strengthening the Forces is the name of the CAF Health Promotion (HP) program, consisting of four major interrelated areas of wellness and prevention:

1. Nutritional Wellness includes healthy diet, weight management, nutrition for special needs (eg. athletes, pregnant women), heart health and diabetes prevention. Nutritional wellness in the CAF involves providing the knowledge and environment to facilitate the ability of CAF members to make nutritional choices appropriate to their stage of life, activity level and overall health;
2. Social Wellness is a concept integral to overall HP and focuses on stress management, anger management, suicide prevention, healthy relationships, domestic violence prevention, spirituality, healthy workplaces and healthy families. Social Wellness in the CAF acknowledges the role that communities and families play in enhancing the health of individuals;
3. Addictions Awareness and Prevention focuses on healthy lifestyle choices to prevent the use of tobacco and other drugs, and reducing the risk of developing problems with alcohol and gambling by including effective coping, lifelong learning, positive social interactions, spirituality, balancing work and family, and supportive environmental conditions and organizational policies; and
4. Injury Prevention and Active Living will focus: on providing guidelines to prevent overuse or repetitive strain, sports or exercise-related injuries or harm; encouraging CAF members to maintain a way of life in which physical activity is valued and integrated into daily life; and reducing the risk of chronic illnesses such as osteoporosis. Injury prevention strategies address a combination of environmental, social and individual factors.

5. Operating Principles

5.1 The Strengthening the Forces Program is evidence-based, consistent with best practices in the field of HP, and will apply the following principles:

1. Strengthening the Forces is a HP program for CAF members. Where space and resources permit, or where necessary to support the health of a CAF member, invitations to participate in certain aspects of the program may be extended to the immediate family of CAF members and other members of the Defence Team;
2. The intended target groups are involved in the identification and prioritization of HP needs so that CAF HP policies, programs, services and activities are appropriate to them;
3. CAF HP efforts have evaluation criteria and processes to enable measurement of program effectiveness;
4. CAF HP activities recognize that an individual lifestyle is made up of an interdependent set of health behaviors and environmental influences; and
5. CAF HP efforts are aligned with and complementary to other CAF preventive health efforts. 

6. Policy Direction

Policy Statement

6.1 As part of health services, DND is committed to the provision of comprehensive HP programming to the CAF. The CAF is committed to HP as both an organizational and an individual responsibility by providing the environment, tools and information to enhance health and reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors among CAF members.

Surgeon General

6.2 The Surgeon General has professional and technical control over all CAF HP matters.

Service Delivery Model

6.3 The Strengthening the Forces Program delivery model is based on centralized policy and program development, implementation and evaluation with delivery of HP services on designated B/Ws through a formal arrangement with a service provider.

Base or Wing Relationship with Service Provider

6.4 The relationship between B/Ws and the HP service provider is formally laid out in a service provider / B/W arrangement.

CAF Health Promotion Committee

6.5 The CAF HP Committee provides guidance and support to DGHS regarding CAF activities related to HP. The Committee, chaired by CMP or designate, has the mandate to:

1. identify specific HP concerns of the CAF leadership;
2. provide executive support to Strengthening the Forces Program services and activities;
3. provide feedback to DGHS on Strengthening the Forces Program services and activities;
4. review policies to support HP in the CAF; and
5. communicate HP activities within the CAF.

6.6 Membership consists of CMP and the following members or their designates, with administrative and secretarial services provided by DFHP:

1. ECSs;
2. DGHS;
3. Surgeon General;
4. DQOL;
5. DGRC;
6. CAF CWO;
7. VAC representative; and
8. Other representatives CMP considers appropriate.

Base or Wing Health Promotion Committee

6.7 A B/W HP Committee, chaired by the B/W Commander or designate, and with secretarial support provided by the local HP delivery staff, will meet regularly to:

1. ensure that stakeholders are involved in the identification and prioritization of local CAF HP initiatives;
2. identify and address specific HP concerns of the local CAF community;
3. ensure that HP efforts are aligned with and complementary to other local preventive health efforts;
4. identify timings for activities to avoid conflict with military deployments and other events, e.g., training exercises;
5. provide executive support to Strengthening the Forces Program services and activities; and
6. provide feedback to DGHS on Strengthening the Forces Program services and activity needs.

6.8 Membership will vary as to number and composition depending on the size of the B/W and will include representatives such as:

1. B/W Surgeon or MO;
2. Dental Detachment Commander;
3. Chaplain;
4. MFRC Director;
5. PSP Manager;
6. Health Services: community health nurse, social worker, BAC, physiotherapist, dietitian, etc.;
7. CPO representative;
8. B Foods O;
9. QOL representative;
10. Base CWO; and
11. Other representatives the B/W Commander considers appropriate.

Base or Wing Strengthening the Forces Team

6.9 The entire Defence Team (military personnel, their immediate family members, and civilian personnel) plays a role in strengthening CAF community action and creating supportive environments for health. A B/W Strengthening the Forces Team, led by the local HP delivery staff, will be established at all B/Ws to:

1. promote various activities and services provided under Strengthening the Forces Program;
2. act as a conduit for information regarding CAF HP announcements, activities, services and training, and dissemination of educational material directly to the unit/community;
3. assist the local HP delivery staff to arrange activities and logistical support at the unit/community level as required; and
4. provide feedback on CAF HP programs, services and activities to the local HP delivery staff.

6.10 A member is appointed by each larger section/unit on the B/W, including lodger units and by the local HP delivery staff with respect to other members as appropriate. Team members act as Unit HP and/or community HP Representatives.

7. Responsibilities

Responsibilities Table

7.1 The table below describes the responsibilities associated with this instruction. 

8. References

Acts, Regulations, Central Agency Policies and Associated DAOD

• N/A

Other References

• ADM (HR-Mil) Instruction (Draft), Health Promotion. (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Health Promotion Declaration for the Defence Team in DND, 12 May 1994. (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)
• Concept for the CAF Health Protection Capability (March 2001) Service Level Arrangement between Rx2000 Project Management Office, Director General Health Services (DGHS) and Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CAFPSA) concerning implementation and steady state services and costs for the Canadian Forces Health Promotion Program, 31 March 2004. (this document can only be accessed on the DWAN)