Health and Wellness Planning: CORE Essentials
The First Nations Health Managers Association (FNHMA) is proud to offer CORE Essentials: A Health and Wellness Planning Guide, a practical resource designed to support First Nations communities beginning their health and wellness planning journey.
CORE Essentials distills the key concepts from our foundational publication, Developing Health and Wellness Plans: A Guide for First Nations, into an accessible and streamlined guide focused on the core building blocks of effective planning. Developed in response to feedback from communities participating in FNHMA Health and Wellness Planning workshops, this guide answers a common request: Can FNHMA develop a resource that focuses on “just the basics”, the essential steps, activities, and considerations needed to get started?
At the heart of the guide is FNHMA’s values-based planning approach, grounded in four guiding principles that shape strong and community-driven health planning:
Culture - Honouring First Nations knowledge, traditions, and ways of knowing
Ownership - Supporting community leadership and self-determination in health planning
Respect - Valuing diverse perspectives, voices, and experiences
Engagement - Encouraging meaningful participation from community members and partners
Whether you represent a large or small community, or an organization supporting First Nations health and wellness, CORE Essentials provides a clear starting point to help identify strengths, organize ideas, and begin building a strong foundation for a comprehensive Health and Wellness Plan.
Start your planning journey with a guide that keeps the process focused, practical, and rooted in community values.

