1 Atlantic Region Reducing health inequities by enhancing the development of healthy Acadian and francophone communities in Atlantic Canada June 1, 2008

2 Objectives To increase awareness and knowledge of the Acadian and francophone population in Atlantic Canada To share learnings on PHAC Atlantic’s work to enhance the development of healthy Acadian and francophone communities in Atlantic Canada

3 Overview About PHAC Atlantic PHAC Atlantic’s involvement with the Acadian and francophone population Atlantic Canada’s Acadian and francophone communities (ACAFC) PHAC Atlantic’s Five-Year Action Plan Learnings, progress and next steps

4 About PHAC Mission: To promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health Vision: Healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world

5 PHAC Atlantic Region Our main areas of work: Health promotion, injury / disease prevention Health emergency preparedness and response Our regional structure and programs

6 Key Activities: we contribute to… Community-based capacity building Intersectoral collaboration Public and professional education Evaluation, Knowledge development and exchange Policy and program development

7 PHAC Atlantic’s approach and involvement with Acadian and francophone communities: Population health, health determinants Reduction of health disparities Social inclusion, social justice Marginalized populations Acadian and francophone communities Culture, linguistic minority status Official Languages Act Five-Year Action Plan

8 Culture, language and minority status as health determinants “Some persons or groups may face additional health risks due to a socio-economic environment, which is largely determined by dominant cultural values that contribute to the perpetuation of conditions such as marginalization, stigmatization, loss or devaluation of language and culture and lack of access to culturally appropriate health care and services.” (PHAC Web site)

9 Culture, language and minority status as health determinants Francophones living in a linguistic minority situation are more apt to indicate a lower health status than Anglophones living as a majority. Linguistic minority status also impacts on other health determinants, leading to health inequities. (L. Bouchard, U. of Ottawa, Nov. 2007) Bouchard recommends that linguistic minority status be included as a health determinant, to be sampled systematically by governments.

10 About Atlantic Canada’s Acadian and Francophone Communities (ACAFC) History: : Settlement, growth, politics : Deportation and impacts 1763 onward: Return from exile, challenges Mid-1800’s to present: Collective action and renaissance 1960’s to present: Maritime and Canadian legal context for OLMC Info:

11 Current ACAFC demographics About 275,000 Acadians or 12.2 % of Atlantic Canada population 28 % of Canada’s francophone Official Language minority community outside Quebec PEI: 5,135 (3.8 %) NS: 32,225 (3.6%) NL: 1,935 (.4 %) NB: 235,130 (33 %) Predominantly rural communities in rural provinces

12 Acadian Regions in the Atlantic

13 Five-Year Action Plan to increase vitality of ACAFC Methodology: Contracted with Institut canadien de recherches en politiques et en administration publique (ICRPAP) Consulted with 65 A/F organizations and stakeholders in 4 provinces Final report, plan, draft evaluation framework AMT approval, presentations, on Web site

14 Learnings : Provincial Profiles Population Profile NL FR EN PEI FR EN NS FR EN NB FR EN Population Age: 19 years & under14%25%16%28%13%26%22%26% 65 years & older16%12%22%12%19%13% Median Age (yrs) Level of Education: Less than 9 yrs14%15%23%10%17%9%22%9% University degree17%9%10%11%13%14%10%12% Unemployment rate16%22%13% 10%11%14%12% Language transfer rate 63%n/a53%n/a46%n/a10%n/a

15 Reflexions on profiles ACAFC contain fewer young people, more seniors and an older population than anglophone communities (except NB) ACAFC have a higher rate of functional illiteracy (less than 9 years’ education) (except NL) Language transfer rate / loss of mother tongue a serious concern for ACAFC ACAFC have specific profiles, by province Implications for health determinants, health status, public health work

16 Learnings: Primary needs of ACAFCs related to public health NF-LabPEINSNB 1. Access to services in French 1. Prevention, awareness activities 2. Access to francophone HR 2. Access to resources, materials in clear French 2. Initiatives targeting specific groups (infants, youth seniors) 3. Access to resources, materials in clear French 3. Access to project funding 3. Prevention, aware- ness activities 3. Access to resources, materials in clear French 4. Strategies for remote communities 4. Prevention, awareness activities 4. Access to francophone HR 4. Data on francophone health 5. Initiatives targeting specific groups (infants, youth) 5. Data on francophone health 5. Strategies targeting vulnerable groups: (seniors, infants, youth 5. Access to services in French

17 Reflexions on needs identified in public health Access to services and resources in French Access to plain-language spoken and written information, adapted to A/F literacy levels Access to information /initiatives on health promotion, disease prevention Access to research, databases on ACAFC health status and determinants Access to more and sustained project funding Strategies to overcome geographic isolation and dispersion

18 Suggested methods for consulting ACAFC: Meeting with heads of A/F community organizations, individually and in person, and with current and potential partnering stakeholders Working with existing A/F networks to circulate information & mobilize communities Organizing regular provincial A/F health forums

19 Suggested methods for contributing to A/F development More funding to ACAFCs to carry out projects, initiatives or events affecting public health Producing, facilitating and distributing research on A/F health Proactive approach, developing programs adapted to needs, realities of ACAFC

20 Recommended PHAC Atlantic roles Partner and facilitator of A/F community development in public health awareness, knowledge, capacities Support for ACAFC-focused research and KD on health status, determinants Facilitate access to other funding sources, resources, support Adapt and promote programs to meet ACAFC needs

21 PHAC Atlantic’s Five-Year Action Plan ( ) 6 Strategic Directions: Awareness (in-house) Consultations (external) Communications Coordination and liaison Program and Service funding, delivery Accountability

22 Strategic Directions and Objectives 1.Awareness: Improve knowledge of PHAC Atlantic employees and management about ACAFC issues, needs and challenges related to public health 2.Consultations: Provide ongoing cooperation with ACAFC organizations in public health 3.Communications: Enhance communication between PHAC Atlantic and ACAFC

23 Strategic Directions and Objectives 4.Coordination and liaison: Strengthen collaboration with other governmental and non-governmental bodies working in public health and ACAFC development 5.Program and Service funding & delivery: Enhance the abilities of ACAFC to promote public health 6.Accountability: Implement a process and tools to measure performance

24 What works well to date AMT champions Official Languages Regional OL committee, coordination Contract with Research Institute Yearly work plans & evaluation plan, based on Five-Year Action Plan Respect, work with AF recommendations Build direct relationships, knowledge Emerging collaborations Build, use distribution list Bilingual PHAC Atlantic Web site

25 Five-Year Action Plan: Next steps 2 nd annual work plan and evaluation activities Staff resource kits Regional A/F reference group A/F Communications strategy Plans & partnerships for provincial A/F health forums Plans & partnerships for ACAFC-focused research on health status, determinants

26 PHAC Atlantic’s Five-Year Action Plan to increase the vitality of Atlantic Canada’s Acadian and Francophone Communities ( ) Please see the Plan on our Web atlantic.phac.gc.ca / Atlantique.aspc.gc.ca Thank you for your interest! Questions ?