Call for Focus Group Participants:
We are looking for participants from the GLBTQ community in Oshawa for a focus group discussion.
Purpose:
Individuals who are marginalized socially and culturally—for example, youth, seniors, immigrants, people with different sexual orientations, gender identities, etc.—tend to experience worse health than the general Canadian population.
The Central East Local Health Integration Network has initiated a project to investigate this trend in more detail. Data from this project will be used in the development of a health policy to ensure that every individual has access to health care services within the Central East LHIN.
Focus Group:
We would like to invite you to discuss your experiences with the health system (positive and negative), and provide us with ideas on how we might address any problems or shortcomings that exist in the system.
The focus group will take approximately 60 - 90 minutes
Date and Location:
This focus group will be held on Thursday April 30th, 2009 from 7-8.30pm. The session is being hosted by the AIDS Committee of Durham on behalf of the Central East LHIN Culture Diversity and Equity Project. The session will be held at 22 King Street West in downtown Oshawa.
Registration:
All participants must register in order to take part in the session. To register, please call 905-576-1445 x15 or email MSM[at]aidsdurham.com
Reimbursement:
Participants will be receiving $25.00, which includes all expenses related to this focus group.
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
FORUM (Toronto) - April 26/09 - Indigenous Feminist Activist Herstory - with Jessica Yee
From the Health Equity Council listserv:
It's an Indigenous Feminist Activist Herstory Forum at the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre - Featuring Jessica Yee!
Free event on Sunday April 26th!
A self-described "Indigenous feminist reproductive justice freedom fighter" Jessica Yee is up front, in your face, and unapologetic about who or what she is. As the founder and director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, a North America wide organization working on issues of healthy sexuality, cultural competency, and youth empowerment, Jessica imparts a cross-cutting perspective gained from the front lines all across Turtle Island. Never one to shy away from controversy and always ready to take up the next challenge, she's constantly trying to reclaim, restructure, and redefine what being a feminist is really all about.
Sunday April 26th, 2-4pm
17 Phoebe St.
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape
Free refreshments, good conversation and honouring of our community members for sure! (ttc, asl interpretation, language interpretation upon request)
questions? comments?416 597 1171 x230 ask for deb
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
EVENT (Ottawa) - Stand Up For Mental Health 2009 Comedy Showcase
Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa presents:
Stand Up For Mental Health 2009 Comedy Showcase
7:00 p.m., Friday May 8, Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa
Led by Vancouver counsellor and stand up comic David Granirer, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting public stigma. Come laugh your head off at this show featuring our all new Ottawa 2009 comics plus our Ottawa Alumni comics!
Stand Up For Mental Health aims to reduce public stigma around mental illness and spread a message of hope and empowerment.
Tickets: $5.00 if you admit you're crazy, $10.00 if you don't.
Call PSO at 613 567-4379 or Collected Works (613) 722-1265
People with mental illness are always being told what they can't do. In this show, they get to prove what they CAN do!
For information: http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/
Please help us by forwarding this email to everyone you know!
Title Sponsor: Canada Post 1.
Read more...
Stand Up For Mental Health 2009 Comedy Showcase
7:00 p.m., Friday May 8, Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa
Led by Vancouver counsellor and stand up comic David Granirer, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting public stigma. Come laugh your head off at this show featuring our all new Ottawa 2009 comics plus our Ottawa Alumni comics!
Stand Up For Mental Health aims to reduce public stigma around mental illness and spread a message of hope and empowerment.
Tickets: $5.00 if you admit you're crazy, $10.00 if you don't.
Call PSO at 613 567-4379 or Collected Works (613) 722-1265
People with mental illness are always being told what they can't do. In this show, they get to prove what they CAN do!
For information: http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/
Please help us by forwarding this email to everyone you know!
Title Sponsor: Canada Post 1.
Read more...
Thursday, April 9, 2009
OHIP Rule Changes - April 2009
From Settlement At Work listserv:
OHIP Rules Changed for Foreign Workers
Starting April 1, anyone in Ontario on open work permits, along with their spouses and dependants can now receive OHIP as long as they are employed full time in Ontario for a minimum of six months and have lived here for at least 153 days.
http://atwork.settlement.org/sys/atwork_offsite_frame.asp?anno_id=2008112
Read more...
OHIP Rules Changed for Foreign Workers
Starting April 1, anyone in Ontario on open work permits, along with their spouses and dependants can now receive OHIP as long as they are employed full time in Ontario for a minimum of six months and have lived here for at least 153 days.
http://atwork.settlement.org/sys/atwork_offsite_frame.asp?anno_id=2008112
Read more...
ARTICLE - Engaging Young Black Women and Women of Colour in Health Care Service Delivery Systems
From the OHPE Bulletin 610 April 3, 2009:
Feature Article
This week's feature is by Soma Chatterjee, a community health educator at Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre. In her introduction she writes, "Engaging young women in discussions on their own health and well-being is challenging. It becomes even more challenging with regards to young black women and women of colour due to racialization/marginalization and a general lack of culturally relevant services, often due to a parochial understanding of cultural competence on the part of the providers which result in a lack of trust and faith in the health care system." The article discusses these challenges and offers some recommendations based on WIWH's series of "conversation circles" with young women.
The Challenges of Engaging Young Black Women and Women of Colour in Health Care Service Delivery Systems, Including Community Health Centres
http://www.ohpe.ca/ebulletin/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10437&Itemid=78
Read more...
Feature Article
This week's feature is by Soma Chatterjee, a community health educator at Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre. In her introduction she writes, "Engaging young women in discussions on their own health and well-being is challenging. It becomes even more challenging with regards to young black women and women of colour due to racialization/marginalization and a general lack of culturally relevant services, often due to a parochial understanding of cultural competence on the part of the providers which result in a lack of trust and faith in the health care system." The article discusses these challenges and offers some recommendations based on WIWH's series of "conversation circles" with young women.
The Challenges of Engaging Young Black Women and Women of Colour in Health Care Service Delivery Systems, Including Community Health Centres
http://www.ohpe.ca/ebulletin/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10437&Itemid=78
Read more...
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS (Vancouver) - Action Towards Reducing Health Inequities
"Action Towards Reducing Health Inequities"
November 23 and 24, 2009
Plaza 500 Hotel, Vancouver, BC
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: May 15, 2009
The Public Health Association of British Columbia is planning a major conference to explore the role of public health practice in reducing health inequities. This two day event will challenge participants to look beyond the now abundant evidence that widespread inequities in health exist in British Columbia (and elsewhere), to new and innovative forms of action aimed at reducing these inequities.
We encourage researchers, practitioners, students, policy-makers, and community members to participate in this conference and to submit abstracts that are congruent with the conference theme and that reflect collective, collaborative efforts to address health inequities.
The Ministry of Health’s Service Plan recognizes the need for action to reduce the gap between the health of our Aboriginal populations and the average British Columbian. This is an important first step. However, recent evidence, such as that contained in the Health Officers Council of BC Discussion Paper, ’Health Inequities in British Columbia
<http://www.bchealthyliving.ca/files/HOC_Inequities_Report.pdf> ’, shows that in BC, as in other jurisdictions, "health tends to be unevenly distributed among social groups within the population on a gradient corresponding to socioeconomic status". This means that the inequities suffered by Aboriginal peoples are only the most visible and extreme aspect of health inequity in BC. More hidden is the deeply entrenched gradient in health as we move along the socio-economic ladder. Nevertheless, this entrenchment is largely due to remediable social determinants of health, and thus constitutes ‘inequity’ rather than simply an ‘inequality’ or ‘disparity’.
Unfortunately, these inequities are only theoretically remediable; to actually have positive change, we need effective public health action strategies to help address the underlying determinants of health inequity. At the conference we will investigate new approaches, collaborations and partnerships aimed at action towards reducing health inequities.
Opportunities and overcoming the challenges. Enhancing public accountability to improve health equity: The use of media advocacy. Improving health equity for Aboriginal populations: from evidence to action. Creating supportive environments to improve health equity: partnerships and engagement strategies to engage disadvantaged communities. Planning and evaluating interventions to improve health equity: What works? Building Capacity: new research, technologies, models and networks that are available to enhance our capacity to improve health equity. Building Capacity in knowledge exchange to engage civil society. Evaluation Criteria
Due to limited space and the need for the most relevant and highest quality program, the Conference Program Committee (CPC) has outlined several criteria by which the quality and relevance of abstracts submitted will be judged.
Please indicate whether you are applying to present a workshop, oral or poster presentation.
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: May 15, 2009
Read more...
November 23 and 24, 2009
Plaza 500 Hotel, Vancouver, BC
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: May 15, 2009
The Public Health Association of British Columbia is planning a major conference to explore the role of public health practice in reducing health inequities. This two day event will challenge participants to look beyond the now abundant evidence that widespread inequities in health exist in British Columbia (and elsewhere), to new and innovative forms of action aimed at reducing these inequities.
We encourage researchers, practitioners, students, policy-makers, and community members to participate in this conference and to submit abstracts that are congruent with the conference theme and that reflect collective, collaborative efforts to address health inequities.
The Ministry of Health’s Service Plan recognizes the need for action to reduce the gap between the health of our Aboriginal populations and the average British Columbian. This is an important first step. However, recent evidence, such as that contained in the Health Officers Council of BC Discussion Paper, ’Health Inequities in British Columbia
<http://www.bchealthyliving.ca/files/HOC_Inequities_Report.pdf> ’, shows that in BC, as in other jurisdictions, "health tends to be unevenly distributed among social groups within the population on a gradient corresponding to socioeconomic status". This means that the inequities suffered by Aboriginal peoples are only the most visible and extreme aspect of health inequity in BC. More hidden is the deeply entrenched gradient in health as we move along the socio-economic ladder. Nevertheless, this entrenchment is largely due to remediable social determinants of health, and thus constitutes ‘inequity’ rather than simply an ‘inequality’ or ‘disparity’.
Unfortunately, these inequities are only theoretically remediable; to actually have positive change, we need effective public health action strategies to help address the underlying determinants of health inequity. At the conference we will investigate new approaches, collaborations and partnerships aimed at action towards reducing health inequities.
The conference format includes:
- Plenary sessions to stimulate thinking on the conference theme.
- Toolbox sessions to develop new skills.
- Workshops to explore new concepts and new research findings.
- Oral and poster presentations to present findings related to the conference theme and sub-themes.
- Annual General Meeting of the Public Health Association of BC.
- Social events.
Due to limited space and the need for the most relevant and highest quality program, the Conference Program Committee (CPC) has outlined several criteria by which the quality and relevance of abstracts submitted will be judged.
- Action – Although this criterion is already explicit in the overall theme itself, we are aware of the tendency of the public health community to slip back into a ‘description’ of health inequities, even when intending to address the need for action. Abstracts that not only emphasize, but also outline how they have, or intend to address the concept of ‘action’ on health inequities will be judged as more relevant.
- Innovation – The challenge of addressing health inequities requires innovation and inventiveness. While the CPC will consider familiar interventions and approaches, it encourages new ideas and new modes of action be presented in order to foster debate and dialogue about the most promising ways forward.
- Partnerships, Collaboration and Intersectorality – While these three concepts are not synonymous, they share a common thread that emphasizes participation and inclusiveness. We are particularly interested in novel and successful attempts to involve consumers, community members, multiple sectors, multiple levels of government, community-university partnerships and other forms of collaboration aimed at addressing health inequity.
- Assets and Strengths – The CPC encourages submission of abstracts related to a variety of public health approaches to addressing health inequities; however, it is particularly interested in approaches that explicitly focus on reservoirs of strength and resilience, even in the most disadvantaged communities, as ‘assets’ for health. This is particularly the case for our Aboriginal communities who often feel they have been ‘pathologized’ by public health research and wish us to focus more on how deeply embedded cultural and spiritual capacities are resources for improving health and reducing health inequity.
Guidelines
Limit of 250 words. Submit your abstract on-line at: http://www.blogger.com/www.phabc.org/modules.php?name=Contentabs <http://www.phabc.org/modules.php?name=Contentabs>Please indicate whether you are applying to present a workshop, oral or poster presentation.
ABSTRACT DEADLINE: May 15, 2009
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
REPORT - Indigenous Children's Health Report
A new report on Indigenous children's health in four countries has been released today by the Centre for Research in Inner City Health at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. The Indigenous Children's Health Report, authored by Dr. Janet Smylie and Paul Adomako, offers evidence of significant disparities between the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. While the research focuses on the health of First Nations, Métis and Inuit children in Canada, the situation in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States is also explored.
Importantly, the authors write that "[g]iven the diverse genetic heritage of these widely dispersed Indigenous groups, we must conclude that similar exclusionary social policies active in all four countries are at the root of these profound and unjust differences in child health." (page 3)
The authors emphasize that the root causes of these disparities are social, not biological determinants of health (pg 9). Colonization, in particular, is named as a key determinant of health (pg 8). Solutions must not only respond to the effects of these determinants, but must also explore access to critical resources, especially differential access to health care (pg 9).
Despite the striking inequities recorded in the report, the authors note that a strong theme of resilience and resistance emerges (pg 9). These stories are also presented in the document.
The full report can be viewed in .pdf format here:
http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/crich/ichr_report.pdf
More information about the project team is here:
http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/crich/indigenous_childrens_health_report.php
Edmonton Sun article, "Native kids in uphill fight from birth, study finds":
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2009/03/31/8945386-sun.html
Read more...
Importantly, the authors write that "[g]iven the diverse genetic heritage of these widely dispersed Indigenous groups, we must conclude that similar exclusionary social policies active in all four countries are at the root of these profound and unjust differences in child health." (page 3)
The authors emphasize that the root causes of these disparities are social, not biological determinants of health (pg 9). Colonization, in particular, is named as a key determinant of health (pg 8). Solutions must not only respond to the effects of these determinants, but must also explore access to critical resources, especially differential access to health care (pg 9).
Despite the striking inequities recorded in the report, the authors note that a strong theme of resilience and resistance emerges (pg 9). These stories are also presented in the document.
The full report can be viewed in .pdf format here:
http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/pdf/crich/ichr_report.pdf
More information about the project team is here:
http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/crich/indigenous_childrens_health_report.php
Edmonton Sun article, "Native kids in uphill fight from birth, study finds":
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2009/03/31/8945386-sun.html
Read more...
Monday, March 30, 2009
Call for Abstracts - Ontario Public Health Association 2009 Conference
Call for Abstracts--OPHA 2009 Annual Conference
Deadline May 11, 2009
OPHA invites you to submit an abstract for our 60th Anniversary Conference, Building for the Future. The conference will be held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre November 1-4 2009.
In celebration of all the many disciplines contributing to the development and delivery of public health services, the themes for this year's conference are:
-Collaboration
-Health Equity
-Innovation in Public Health Practice
-Knowledge Exchange
Conference participants will be engaged through a variety of presentation formats: panel discussions, workshops, lectures, roundtable sharing sessions, and posters. Abstracts for all these formats must be submitted electronically through the OPHA conference web site http://www.ophaconference.ca by end of day May 11, 2009.
Submissions that reflect the themes of the conference will be reviewed by a Committee of Peers using standard criteria. Applicants are encouraged to visit the conference website regularly for general information about the conference as it unfolds, as well as detailed information on the scope of each of the themes of the conference and guidelines on how to write a successful OPHA conference abstract http://www.ophaconference.ca/files/abstract_writing.html.
Read more...
Deadline May 11, 2009
OPHA invites you to submit an abstract for our 60th Anniversary Conference, Building for the Future. The conference will be held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre November 1-4 2009.
In celebration of all the many disciplines contributing to the development and delivery of public health services, the themes for this year's conference are:
-Collaboration
-Health Equity
-Innovation in Public Health Practice
-Knowledge Exchange
Conference participants will be engaged through a variety of presentation formats: panel discussions, workshops, lectures, roundtable sharing sessions, and posters. Abstracts for all these formats must be submitted electronically through the OPHA conference web site http://www.ophaconference.ca by end of day May 11, 2009.
Submissions that reflect the themes of the conference will be reviewed by a Committee of Peers using standard criteria. Applicants are encouraged to visit the conference website regularly for general information about the conference as it unfolds, as well as detailed information on the scope of each of the themes of the conference and guidelines on how to write a successful OPHA conference abstract http://www.ophaconference.ca/files/abstract_writing.html.
Read more...
PUBLIC CONSULTATION - Mental Health Commission of Canada recommendations re: mental health system & racialized and immigrant groups
From: March 5, 2009 Mental Health Notes: Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario Newsletter
Mental Health Commission of Canada seeks feedback on strategies to improve mental health system for ethnoracial and immigrant groups
The MHCC Service System Advisory Committee is seeking feedback on their draft recommendations to improve the mental health system for ethnoracial and immigrant groups in Canada.
The committee has developed 19 recommendations seeking to improve mental health service delivery at the provider and system levels. Recommendations are grouped under four key themes: better coordination with health-related services provided by other sectors; more available information about the needs and use of mental health services by ethnoracial groups in Canada; community engagement to strengthen the voice of ethnoracial service users and providers; and development of more appropriate and culturally safe services.
The purpose of the consultation is to ensure that the proposed recommendations are appropriate to improve the mental health of and mental health services for people from ethnoracial, ethnocultural, immigrant and refugee groups in Canada. Culturally safe services that respond to the diverse needs of Canadians are recognized as fundamental building blocks in an equitable and socially just mental health system.
The consultation paper describes the challenges of improving mental health services for ethnoracial groups and highlights research findings from over 50 national and regional studies addressing the mental health of diversity groups in Canada. Ethnoracial and immigrant and refugee groups face increased rates of mental health problems; barriers to mental health care due to language, discrimination or lack of cultural awareness; and reduced access to the social determinants of mental health.
Feedback on the draft recommendations can be submitted online until April 1, 2009. The Service System Advisory Committee is also holding regional consultations across Canada. The committee is also interested in learning about current promising/best practices in providing services for immigrants, refugees and racialized communities. Consultation findings will be considered in the development of a final report to the MHCC.
The draft report, "Understanding the Issues, Best Practice and Options for Service Development to Meet the Needs of Ethno-Cultural Groups, Immigrants, Refugees, and Racialized Groups," is available in English and in French at www.camh.net , along with the link to the e-consultation form.
For more information on the Mental Health Commission of Canada's consultation on the goals for the National Mental Health Strategy, see "Mental Health Commission Seeks Feedback on Draft Mental Health Strategy" (Mental Health Notes, February 19, 2009), available at: www.ontario.cmha.ca/mhn .
Read more...
Mental Health Commission of Canada seeks feedback on strategies to improve mental health system for ethnoracial and immigrant groups
The MHCC Service System Advisory Committee is seeking feedback on their draft recommendations to improve the mental health system for ethnoracial and immigrant groups in Canada.
The committee has developed 19 recommendations seeking to improve mental health service delivery at the provider and system levels. Recommendations are grouped under four key themes: better coordination with health-related services provided by other sectors; more available information about the needs and use of mental health services by ethnoracial groups in Canada; community engagement to strengthen the voice of ethnoracial service users and providers; and development of more appropriate and culturally safe services.
The purpose of the consultation is to ensure that the proposed recommendations are appropriate to improve the mental health of and mental health services for people from ethnoracial, ethnocultural, immigrant and refugee groups in Canada. Culturally safe services that respond to the diverse needs of Canadians are recognized as fundamental building blocks in an equitable and socially just mental health system.
The consultation paper describes the challenges of improving mental health services for ethnoracial groups and highlights research findings from over 50 national and regional studies addressing the mental health of diversity groups in Canada. Ethnoracial and immigrant and refugee groups face increased rates of mental health problems; barriers to mental health care due to language, discrimination or lack of cultural awareness; and reduced access to the social determinants of mental health.
Feedback on the draft recommendations can be submitted online until April 1, 2009. The Service System Advisory Committee is also holding regional consultations across Canada. The committee is also interested in learning about current promising/best practices in providing services for immigrants, refugees and racialized communities. Consultation findings will be considered in the development of a final report to the MHCC.
The draft report, "Understanding the Issues, Best Practice and Options for Service Development to Meet the Needs of Ethno-Cultural Groups, Immigrants, Refugees, and Racialized Groups," is available in English and in French at www.camh.net
For more information on the Mental Health Commission of Canada's consultation on the goals for the National Mental Health Strategy, see "Mental Health Commission Seeks Feedback on Draft Mental Health Strategy" (Mental Health Notes, February 19, 2009), available at: www.ontario.cmha.ca/mhn
Read more...
RESOURCE - Planning for Health Places with Health Impact Assessments (U.S.)
From the Bringing Health Information to the Community listserv:
Planning for Healthy Places with Health Impact Assessments
is a ‘how to’ guide for conducting health impact assessments (HIAs), developed by the American Planning Association and the National Association of County & City Health Officials, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This online course will explain the value of conducting an HIA and the steps involved in conducting an HIA. Throughout the course, examples of health impact assessments have been highlighted and discussed. This course is available for free, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information please visit the following URL:
http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia/default.aspx
Read more...
Planning for Healthy Places with Health Impact Assessments
is a ‘how to’ guide for conducting health impact assessments (HIAs), developed by the American Planning Association and the National Association of County & City Health Officials, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This online course will explain the value of conducting an HIA and the steps involved in conducting an HIA. Throughout the course, examples of health impact assessments have been highlighted and discussed. This course is available for free, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more information please visit the following URL:
http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia/default.aspx
Read more...
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