Transcript Community Engagement HUB

COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT HUB
Lake Babine Nation
Crystal Harwood
A Brief History of Community Engagement
Hubs
Community Engagement Hubs (CEH) provides a vehicle
through which First Nations communities can partner with
the FNHC, Health Authorities and the Federal
Government to participate in the TFNHP. CEH’s are
collaborations between First Nations communities
working through one agreed upon organization that the
members choose. The purpose of CEH’s is to develop
planning, collaboration, and communication
opportunities for member communities. The focus
should be on the relationships and communication
processes – NOT the ‘structure’.
Working Together
The formation of CEH’s encourages natural
collaborations based on tribal and geographical
factors, and provides resources to engage extra
capacity to facilitate the coordination work
between communities.
The Benefits of Community Engagement
Hubs
Providing a mechanism for communities to work
together – Once members share their respective
health plan aspirations with other communities,
they may find needs that each has which could
be solved through a joint solution.
Improving the linkage with the
Health Authorities
Health Authorities have a
responsibility to provide
their services to First Nations
on and off reserve but often
they find it difficult to
engage with First Nations
and to develop solutions for
service delivery that will
work for communities. The
hubs provide a forum for
health authority personnel to
meet with a group of linked
communities, to look at
ways of better serving those
communities.
Sharing Knowledge and Expertise
Within the hub membership,
there will be a wide range of
skills and experience among
the member’s workforces,
from management through to
health service expertise. Some
member communities may be
advanced in their Community
Health and Wellness Planning
while others may be finding it
difficult – so there is
opportunity to learn from one
another and to help each
other.
Sharing Innovations
Many hub members have
developed new ways of doing things
that they have trialed and tested in
their various communities. Some
communities have implemented best
practices and formed relationships
with other stakeholders to
successfully implement their service
innovations - such as the BC Cancer
Agency or the BC Diabetes
Association. Some communities have
developed new resources and
informational material for the
families, schools and Band Councils in
their communities. Hubs provide a
mechanism for communities to share
these innovations.
Providing Peer Support
Many communities are
isolated and as a result
the health center
workforce is often
isolated. Health
professionals, Managers
and health workers often
do not have opportunity to
speak with their peers
from other health centers
to share issues, challenges
and innovations – and to
give and receive support
to each other.
Improving access to services
Collaboration and joint
planning create efficiencies,
and will provide better health
services for BC First Nations
people. For example, where it
may not be feasible to have a
mental health expert in every
community, the hub concept
would allow for planning to
have one expert available to
serve the member communities
of the hub.
Improving communications
Hubs also act as a
communications vehicle,
allowing the First
Nations Health Council
to effectively
communicate in an
accurate and timely
manner with all 203
BC First Nations.
The Medium – Long Term Intention
for Community Engagement Hubs
In the last few of years the new hubs have been
developing their relationships and discussing the
benefits of working together, including looking for
ways that they can use their collective strengths to
coordinate services; share resources and knowledge
and collaborate together.
Aligning Health Authority Plans with FN Community Wellness Plans Focusing on the
Social Determinants of Health- As work continues to strengthen individual Community
Wellness Plans which focus more holistically on the needs and aspirations of each
community, there will be an opportunity for communities within hubs to share these plans
and to look at further ways to collaborate, share resources and advocate for much
needed services into their respective communities.
Focusing on the Social Determinants of Health- One key intention of hubs is to
strengthen community wellness planning and for communities to support each other to
develop plans which not only look at current FNIH and FN-provided services, but also
look at the social determinants of health.
Supporting Communities to develop their Health and Wellness Plans- The First Nations
Health Society, through methods such as supporting the Health Directors Association;
engaging Community Engagement Coordinators; supporting hubs and assisting with health
planning
Playing a role in local and regional FN governance in health- The Community
Engagement Hubs, working alongside their Regional Caucuses at political levels. Hubs will
be gathering information about a range of issues, and when brought together with issues
raised by other hubs in the region, a Regional Caucus and/or Tables may find there are
many common issues across the region that need to be escalated to higher levels to
resolve.