Exciting Initiatives In British Columbia

Wayne Christian, Executive Director of the British Columbia Community Health Workers Association, spoke to In Touch about some of the larger initiatives they are working on in British Columbia:

There is a move to look at integration of services. An example of this would be addictions workers and mental health workers combining initiatives with the goal of getting at the core issues instead of just treating symptoms. Integration is critical. The barriers and divisions between organizations need to be broken down.

Health Transfer Agreements have meant that 75 per cent of Aboriginal communities in British Columbia are controlling their own health agendas. Although the community now has some control over the delivery of health services to its people, this does not allow the community to deal with emerging issues, only the ones already identified in the health transfer agreement.

The Aboriginal Healing Foundation was established by the Churches to put some financial resources back into communities who were dealing with the many significant multi-generational issues coming out of the residential school experience. Community projects have been funded to help with these impacts.

NNADAP and CHRs are joining forces. Dealing with addictions is an important part of health work. They are helping each other in providing effective front-line service. The leadership must understand the significance of the CHR role.

Mr. Christian also talked about emerging issues they are starting to look at in British Columbia

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Developing better data on the various illnesses and developing community-based research to better understand this information.

Recognizing that the core health issues are emotionally based, i.e. unresolved childhood trauma such as foster care, residential schools, abuse and violence. These manifest later in life through physical problems. Prescription drugs are attempting to deal in a medical way with emotional issues.

Pharmaceuticals are over-used in our communities. Traditional and holistic models are starting to be more closely examined.

The issue of children is one that causes a lot of distress. Demographics show the Aboriginal population is young. We need to look at the range of issues such as prenatal care, young moms, teen pregnancy, and involving young men in family and child development if we want to interrupt these cycles. We need to invest in these young ones.