Sara Torres, Université de Montreal Yvonne Chiu, MCHB Co-op, Edmonton Trish Hack, Women’s Health Educators, Hamilton Traicy Roberson, SMD Services, Manitoba Ruth Wolfe, University of Alberta Corinne Packer, University of Ottawa Mechthild Meyer, Gentium Consulting CPHA Conference,Toronto, May 28, 2014

To discuss...  The emergence of the first network of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Canada  CHWs’ contribution to health promotion and public health

CHWs, also known as..  Lay health promoters  Health aids  Health educators  Cultural brokers  Multicultural health brokers  Women’s health educators  Promotoras  Home visitors  Peer support workers

Acontinuum of CHW Models… Integrated within Canada’s formal healthcare system  Public health units  Community health centres Independent of Canada’s institutional healthcare system  Community-based organizations  Ethno-specific organizations (Torres, 2013)

Internationally CHW initiatives in health promotion are directed at:  Changing behaviours  Improving access to health and other essential services  Addressing health inequalities among families experiencing marginalization

In Canada, many CHWs while playing these roles...  Lack contact with colleagues across the country  Are not yet recognized as part of health human resources workforce

Creation : ◦ November 2013 Members: ◦ Community-based organizations ◦ Public health units ◦ Community health centres ◦ Allies of CHWs (academics & independent researchers)

Meet other CHWs carrying out health promotion interventions/initiatives ◦ Targeting determinants of health ◦ Seeking social justice ◦ Addressing health equity Establish collaboration strategies ◦ To improve the field ◦ To improve health promotion among immigrant and refugee communities

The network is expected to facilitate recognition of... CHWs’ contribution to health promotion and public health  CHWs as part of Canada’s health and human services workforce

 Developing a single definition for CHWs’ work  Organizing the CHW workforce  Developing core competencies for CHWs  Conducting further research on CHWs and the work that they do

Challenges  Lack of understanding of the role of CHWsin health promotion and public health  Lack of financial support for the Network Opportunities  To establish connections with CHWs and allies across the country  To increase the visibility of CHWs as part of Canada’s health and human resources workforce

 Community Health Workers Network of Canada (CHWNC)  Dr. Ivy Bourgeault, University of Ottawa &  Ms. Dot Bonnenfant CHNET-Works for use of the webinar infrastructure  Caitlin Mischki, Practicum Student, UofA  Institut de recherche en santé publique de l’Université de Montréal (IRSPUM )

Questions