SECTOR: COMMUNITY HEALTH

Our work in the health sector has focused on the community dimensions of primary health care. We are particularly good at enriching community participation processes, building the capacity of health professionals, planning and developing programs, and developing interventions related to the determinants of health. Our work in this sector is wide-ranging and includes research, community intervention, capacity building and evaluation.

RESEARCH

We have been engaged to do research to solve critical health problems in communities around the world. Some of this work has included identifying the determinants of health for particular health challenges and designing interventions, solving critical problems at the community level, and assisting health agencies to address complex health problems.

COMMUNITY HEALTH INTERVENTIONS

We help communities and agencies that work with communities design interventions to address critical health problems. Some of these interventions are related to single issues such as malaria, AIDS, alcohol and drug abuse, family violence, etc. Others are more comprehensive, addressing all the determinants of health. We have done over twenty comprehensive health plans with communities around the world. We have also helped communities obtain funding for these plans and interventions. All our work in communities builds on the local culture and is characterized by broad-based participation of community members.

CAPACITY BUILDING

We have worked with communities, health authorities and departments to build the capacity of staff, managers, board members and local governments. We have conducted seminars, workshops and conferences; facilitated mentoring relationships; and developed manuals and curriculum for health professionals and for community members. We have also developed an accredited training program for community health professionals.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS

We have conducted evaluations of everything from complex environmental and community health research programs involving dozens of scientists and many partner institutions to small community programs attempting to address very localized health challenges. These processes almost always involve some kind of assessment of conditions and the co-design of interventions leading to solutions.

SAMPLE PROJECTS

Canada
A series of regional research conferences across Canada focused on assisting Aboriginal communities and professional agencies to deal with sexual abuse linked to the residential school experience (2003)

Research funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation into the determinants of family violence in Aboriginal communities, involving a comprehensive literature review, a national best practices survey and the development of extensive recommendations. The report, Aboriginal Domestic Violence in Canada, is available from the Aboriginal Healing Foundation (2003)

A two-year project with the Nuxalk Nation in British Columbia to build community capacity for addressing a complex web of health and social issues which culminated in the development of a ten-year Community Healing and Development Plan (2001)

Research funded by Health Canada focused on developing a methology for measuring community capacity to address the determinants of health. This project lead to a production of a manual entitled Assessing Community Capacity for Change (2000)

Facilitated the community-based development of a comprehensive Alcohol and Drug Strategy for the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation (2010)

As part of comprehensive community planning, the development of a 10-year Health and Wellness Strategy for the Peguis and Chippewas of the Thames First Nations (2011-present)

The development of a best-bet strategy for shifting public mental health, social welfare and housing policies for better health outcomes for women in Canada's three northern territories (2011-present)

Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya
Research funded by the International Development Research Centre focused on strengthening the interventions and impacts of eco-health research projects in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The report, Interventions and Impacts, can be obtained from IDRC (2002).

Benin
An assessment of information and communication technology within primary health care programs in central Benin for the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Ottawa (1996)