Advocacy in a Regionalized Health Care System

Overview BC and Canadian Context Advocacy Focus Tell our story with an emphasis on collaboration, partnerships, engagements Successes Challenges

Context What is the Health Officers’ Council of BC Our roles are:  Assertive Knowledge Translation (AKT)  Educator/watchdog  Resource broker  Partnership developer  Advocate/catalyst Context of Health Authority employment Other current alignments

Advocacy Focus Selection Externally facilitated process to establish Council interest in and priorities for advocacy 3 priority areas selected for further work: 1) regulation of psychoactive substances 2) chronic conditions 3) child poverty

Process Members self selected to the 3 working groups Clearly we do not “own” the issues Nor are we the experts Collaborate and partner with those currently active and leading Review evidence for policy or interventions

Childhood Poverty Population Health Network Michael Hayes SFU Public Health Assn. of BC BC Healthy Living Alliance Dennis Raphael York Health Authorities and Ministry of Health First Call BC Human Early Learning Partnership Adapted from Ron Labonte, 2002

Process continued Range of high level policy options and interventions aimed at reducing child poverty were debated at Council Collaborators were in attendance as resources and participants Vancouver Coastal Health provided logistical and staff support

Poverty is a Health Issue: Four Policy Options Selected 1.Establish Poverty Reduction Targets and Strategies; all of Gov’t approach 2.Increased Surveillance and Reporting 3.Provincial Income Assistance Strategies 4.Accessible Child Care

Process continued Policy Options paper circulated to stakeholders and partners including: 1) other health authorities/MHOs/PHO 2) BC Government Conversations on Health (care) 3) Health Canada’s consultation on healthy children and youth 4) BC Healthy Living Alliance

Partnerships Formalized Membership in: First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition BC Healthy Child Development Alliance Continuing membership in: BC Healthy Living Alliance

Engagements BC Progress Board Van City Savings and Credit Child and Youth Representative of BC Provincial Health Officer annual report “Equity and Health” Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to collaborate on a living wage campaign

Successes Early Development Instrument (EDI) now annualized Participated with partners in TV and print media release of the 2007 Child Poverty Report Card Supported Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) resolution on reducing child poverty Presentation at Health Conferences Op/ed pieces for print and radio catalogued

Challenges Political will Employer support Preventative dose, maintain focus Evaluating value and impact Election year opportunities

Nelson Ames Medical Health Officer