An Atlantic & Manitoba Perspective Toward Building Public Health Capacity A Work in Progress Prepared for: Canadian Public Health Association Conference 2005

2 Project Funding and Partners Financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Office of the Voluntary Sector, Public Health Agency of Canada Canadian Public Health Association & Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Manitoba Public Health Association & Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba CPHA 2005

3 Newfoundland and Labrador Public Health Association & Wellness Advisory Council of Newfoundland and Labrador New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Branch CPHA & Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Prince Edward Island Public Health Association of Nova Scotia & Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia Project Partnership CPHA 2005

4 Background Public health’s success has led to the erosion of public health system infrastructure Recent public health incidents (e.g., SARS, Walkerton) Naylor & Kirby Reports Need for a snapshot of public health to effectively build capacity CPHA 2005

5 The Project Goal Develop an easily understood, high level framework to: help educate, plan, and collaborate develop healthy public policy monitor progress towards achieving public health capacity Explore ways to develop and sustain a collaborative process for influencing public health (“healthy”) policy development and public health capacity CPHA 2005

6 The Process Project management team refined the initial framework developed by PHANS A series of consultations between October & December 2004 in the Atlantic Provinces and Manitoba CPHA 2005

7 The Process 270 participants, from thirty working groups, examined the framework and provided feedback on its content, format, and potential uses Partners consolidated the results of the consultations CPHA 2005

8 The Result A compact 6 page framework that includes: Foundation requirements Results Requirements (What is needed) Indicators (How will we know) CPHA 2005

9 The Result Result Individuals & communities are protected from epidemics & diseases Requirement Clinical prevention services including a national standardized and funded immunization strategy & program Indicators: Clinical prevention services, such as: Maintenance of a national immunization strategy Immunization rates meet or exceed standards of national strategy CPHA 2005

10 The Result Result Public policies & community function & design support healthy living Requirement Integrated policy development by all government departments that have an impact on health determinants & outcomes CPHA 2005

11 The Result Indicators Integrated policy development Reduction of poverty & health inequities, for example: Measurable increase in rate of literate individuals Measurable increase in number of government policies from all sectors reflecting healthy public policy Measurable reduction in the rate of low income families Initiation of strategies to improve access to higher education CPHA 2005

12 Next Steps Continue to refine Use & refine the framework for own purposes within governments, NGOs, and public health associations Obtain research funding to further refine the framework CPHA 2005

13 What can you do? Use it! To facilitate collaboration on public health To educate about the scope of public health To plan and monitor pubic health systems To define priorities To advocate for support and resources To evaluate progress toward an effective public health system CPHA 2005

14 What can you do? Give us feedback Tell us how you used the framework and how it worked CPHA 2005