An Update

It's summer but we're still working away on the needs assessment.  Upcoming we have a meeting with the family physicians in the area and we will be speaking with staff and the Clarenville offices and specialists at the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital.  Towards the end of July, we have meetings set up with our Advisory Committee and our Steering Committee.  Themes are pretty consistent now and the challenge of coming up with recommendations is underway.

An Advisory Committee Member's Perspective

I recently asked members of the Needs Assessment Advisory Committee about their experience sitting on the committee so far.  Here's Barbara Humby's response:

I decided to apply to sit on the Advisory Committee because I know with the employment conditions surrounding our area and being a single parent, what a impact that can have on your health.  My experience so far as a member of Advisory Committee has been very interesting and rewarding. I didn't really know what to expect but I'm glad that I did join. I can see things more clearly and now I have a better understanding on several different issues.

Barb has been a great contributor to the Advisory Committee!

Talking with Janet

To oversee the needs assessment, we have established a Steering Committee made up of Eastern Health employees.  One of the people who sits on the committee is Janet Fisher who work in Primary Health Care in Bonavista.  Janet is also a member of the Advisory Committee, made up of community residents.  We recently asked her thoughts on being a part of the Advisory Committee.

As a member of the Steering Committee, I volunteered to be part of the Advisory Committee because I work closely with community groups in my area.  I'm looking forward to learning more about the process and meeting people in the region who I may work with in the future.  I believe in community development and community capacity building and I hope that once a final report is written we can work together with community partners to enhance health and wellness in our communities.  So far I'm enjoying my experience as a member of the Advisory Committee especially hearing people's stories.  Our discussions thus far certainly highlight the diversity within our region.

Advisory Committee Meeting

Yesterday's meeting with the Advisory Committee included some excellent discussion.  The group talked about healthy child development as a determinant of health.  They were asked the question:  What helps support healthy child development?  At each Advisory Committee meeting, we will have a discussion about a determinant of health.  We thought we could discuss them all over two meetings but given the level of discussion, it will be spread over more meetings. 

Yesterday, was also an opportunity to provide a summary of some of the discussion heard from key informants and results of the telephone survey.  Committee members found the results to be "surprising" and "complex."  At our next meeting in June, most of the primary research will be done so we should have a comprehensive discussion about what people are saying in the area about the well being of their communities.

Meeting Today with Advisory Committee

The Discovery Zone Advisory Committee meets today in Port Union.  This will be our third time meeting.  On today's agenda is a continuation of a discussion about the determinants of health and their impact in this region.  We will also have the opportunity to share some results of the telephone survey.

Our meeting is at the historic The Factory in Port Union.  Shown here is the section of The Factory with the Fishermens' Protective Union Retail Store.  A fascinating place to visit!

Happy Volunteer Week!

The week of April 18 is Volunteer Week in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Volunteers are everywhere in our communities.  Our needs assessment relies on our Advisory Committee members who serve as volunteers.  The people who participate in focus group sessions, key informant interviews and telephone surveys volunteer their time and opinions.

As we talk with people about the needs assessment, the word volunteer comes up a lot.  On the positive side, people acknowledge and are very grateful for the support of volunteers who play such an important role in our communities.  On the negative side, people express concern that the same people seem to volunteer for the same things.  As they age, they wonder who will take their place.

The next time you go to a community event, take the time to acknowledge a volunteer - they deserve your thanks!

Welcome, Advisory Committee

Our Advisory Committee for the Community Health Needs Assessment of the Discovery Zone had its first meeting today. 

Members of the committee are:  (back - left to right)  Bernice Clements, Camilla O'Shea, Gerald Giles, Rev. Don Stiles, Cal Cole; (front - left to right) Barbara Ann Humby, Janet Fisher (Eastern Health), Susan Khaladkar, Lisa Browne (Eastern Health).  Missing from the photo are Daphne Smith and Wayne Miller (Eastern Health).

Our first meeting was an opportunity to introduce everyone and to have a discussion about the determinants of health from the region's perspective.  This committee will meet every six weeks during the needs assessment process.

Reviewing Advisory Committee Applications

The Steering Committee, made up of Eastern Health staff and managers, has reviewed the applications that have come in from people wanting to sit on the Advisory Committee for the needs assessment.  It was a very difficult job, reviewing the applications and putting together a committee that offers lots of different perspectives based on the determinants of health.  We have identified eight people who will be invited to sit on the committee.  Advisory Committee members will be joined by Eastern Health employees Lisa Browne, Planning Specialist, and Janet Fisher, Primary Health Care Co-ordinator.  All those who applied will be contacted within the next few days.  Judging from the applications, there are lots of talented people in our region!  Many thanks to all who applied!

Advisory Committee Deadline Passed

Thanks to the people who applied to sit on the Advisory Committee for the Discovery Zone Needs Assessment.  The deadline for applying was on Friday, February 5.  The next step is for the Steering Committee (made up of Eastern Health staff and managers) to review the applications in order to create a committee that represents the various determinants of health.  Thanks very much to all those who applied!

Great Interest in the Advisory Committee

There seems to be lots of interest in the Advisory Committee.  Great stuff!  So far, there have been two applications submitted and others have indicated that they will be submitting theirs by the deadline of February 5.  Of course, the hardest thing about getting a lot of responses is having to decide who sits on the committee.  The needs assessment Steering Committee (comprised of staff and managers of Eastern Health) will review the applications and try to decide on which combination of people will make up the most diverse group representing the determinants of health.

Frequently Asked Questions About Advisory Committees

Yesterday's post was the ad that we are running to invite community residents to participate on the Advisory Committee associated with the Discovery Zone Community Health Needs Assessment.  We have put together some questions and answers that people have about sitting on such a committee. Take a look and see if this experience is for you!

Why are you advertising for individuals to sit on an Advisory Committee?When we conduct needs assessments, we set up Advisory Committees to assist with the process. This has worked well for our past needs assessments.

What is the purpose of the Advisory Committee?

The purpose of the committee (and the role they’ve played during previous needs assessments) is to provide advice and feedback on the process (how we are going about the assessment) that we use in the needs assessments. We also ask Advisory Committee participants to provide feedback on the findings of the needs assessment results.

You’re looking for people with experience in particular areas, such as employment, social support networks and physical environment. Why?

We know that there are a number of factors that influence the health of a person. These factors interact with each other to have an impact on our health and well-being. These are called the ‘determinants of health.’ Having people around the table who have experience/knowledge of these factors is helpful.

What are Advisory Committee members expected to do?

We are asking that people be prepared to attend at least four meetings and to be prepared to provide advice and feedback on the process and the findings of the assessment. In addition to the meetings, it is likely that additional contact will be made through e-mail or phone.

Will you be paying people to participate?

No. It is a volunteer position. However, we can pay mileage or other transportation costs for Advisory Committee members to attend meetings.

When do you expect the needs assessment process to conclude?

We expect we will have a public release of the report in the Fall of 2010.

Once the needs assessment report is complete, will there be a role for the Advisory Committee?

With past needs assessments, the Board of Trustees has publicly reported back to the community on the status of the report’s recommendations two years after the release of the report. In those situations, the Advisory Committee was invited back to hear about the status.

What happens to the report once it is completed?

The report and its findings and recommendations are used throughout the organization and the report is a public document that is a great resource to community groups. With past needs assessments, the Board of Trustees received progress reports on the implementation of the recommendations every 6 months. Two years after the release of the reports we went back to the communities to let them know about the progress.

If I apply to be on the Committee am I guaranteed to sit on it?

No. We appreciate the interest of everyone who would like to participate on the committee. We would like to have a committee that is diverse and includes people from various backgrounds with knowledge/information about various determinants of health.

If I don’t get asked to sit on the Advisory Committee can I still participate somehow?

Yes. Part of the needs assessment will include a lot of opportunities to make your views known. For example, you could be asked to sit in on a focus group or to participate in an interview. We will also be inviting written/oral submissions from people.

I’d like to apply to sit on the Advisory Committee. How do I go about doing it?

Complete an Advisory Committee Application Form (contact Lisa at 466-5863 or needsassessment@easternhealth.ca to receive a copy) by February 5.  The application form can be completed in writing or arrangements can be made for it to be completed verbally.

Looking for Advisory Committee Members

For each of the needs assessments completed by Eastern Health, we have established an Advisory Committee, consisting of people who live in the area being assessed.  Here's the ad that is currently in the media:

Eastern Health is starting a community health needs assessment of the Discovery Zone region (Bonavista Peninsula to Port Blandford to Swift Current to Chapel Arm).

As part of the process, an Advisory Committee will be set up. This committee will be asked to give advice and feedback on the process and findings of the assessment.

We are looking for people to sit on the Advisory Committee who have an interest and experience in the “determinants of health”. The determinants of health are all the things that affect the health of a person or a community overall, such as employment and working conditions, child development, support networks, income, or the physical environment.

Applications must be received by February 5. To apply and for more information, please contact::  Lisa Browne, Eastern Health, Park Place, 50A Manitoba Dr, Clarenville, NL, A5A 1K5, needsassessment@easternhealth.ca

466-5863 (p) 466-6343 (f)

The purpose of the committee (and the role they’ve played during previous needs assessments) is to provide advice and feedback on the process that we use in the needs assessments. We also ask Advisory Committee participants to provide feedback on the findings of the needs assessment results.

Pictured here is the Advisory Committee from the Burin Peninsula Community Health Needs Assessment.

Meetings Held in Bonavista and Come-By-Chance

Today, we held meetings in Bonavista and Come-By-Chance to let our community partners know about our needs assessment.  Both sessions were very well attended with about 30 people showing up in Bonavista and about 15 in Come-By-Chance. 

I think the sessions were well-received and people are looking forward to participating in the process.  There seems to be a lot of interest in the Advisory Committee that we are setting up for the needs assessment - more on that next week.

In the meantime, here's a couple of photos from the session in Bonavista (top) and the one in Come-By-Chance.