|
Aboriginal ActNow and Preschool Vision Screening
Established in 2006, the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health in Prince George, B.C., is working to establish achievable, Aboriginal-specific health promotion goals in British Columbia as part of its national mandate. Our health promotion strategies  support the distinct needs and circumstances of diverse Aboriginal populations and communities within B.C. - First Nation, Métis, rural, Northern, urban and off-reserve. Based at the University of Northern British Columbia, we work in partnership to better reach and serve Aboriginal peoples.
Vision
Our vision is that every Aboriginal individual, family, and community is receiving culturally inclusive information promoting a healthy lifestyle, is committed to achieving improved health goals, and knows how to access the available support programs and services.
Mission
Our mission is to apply state of the art knowledge synthesis, translation, and exchange strategies to the development and dissemination of culturally appropriate information that: promotes health promotion activities; encourages and support efforts by Aboriginal communities, families and individuals in British Columbia to make healthy lifestyle choices and live healthier lives; increases the early detection of visual impairments; and strengthens the ability of the Aboriginal people throughout BC to participate in the full range of available preventative health services.
Guiding Principles
- Respect for the diversity and distinctiveness of the Aboriginal peoples including First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and urban Aboriginal;
- Being inclusive and supportive of the direct participation of Aboriginal peoples;
- Applying Indigenous knowledge, holistic approaches and a focus on the determinants of health and encouraging others to do so as well;
- Pursuing collaborative approaches to secure the participation and engagement of all stakeholders; and
- Contributing to the development of the capacity of stakeholders to apply quality data in their efforts to improve health outcomes.
Knowledge Translation Activities
Our mandate is knowledge translation or more simply put, “sharing what we know about living a good life” (Kaplan-Myrth and Smylie, 2006). It is making sure that the right people have the right information at the right time. Knowledge translation involves collecting, evaluating and blending current research on Aboriginal health and chronic disease prevention; identifying gaps where more research is needed; transforming research into usable formats; and ensuring the information reaches the people who need it to make balanced, well-informed decision.
To date, we have conducted our own research and have also commissioned experts to research and assess the most current and relevant information in each of the four pillars of ActNow including the following reports:
- Healthy Choices in Pregnancy for Aboriginal Peoples in BC: An Analysis and Recommendations
- Aboriginal-Specific Tobacco Cessation: An Environmental Scan and Literature Review
- Sports in Aboriginal Communities in BC
- A Cultural Competence Guide for Transformation and Innovation Projects
- Aboriginal ActNow Physical Activity and Nutrition Final Report
- Aboriginal Health Promotion: An Environmental Scan and Literature Review
As part of our overall communications strategy aimed at health practitioners, policy-makers, and Aboriginal communities, we have also developed evidence reviews and fact sheets to translate research into usable and understandable formats including summaries on Aboriginal sports, physical activity and recreation, healthy choices in pregnancy, tobacco, health promotion, physical activity and nutrition.
Our emphasis in the next two years will be on product development and dissemination including a DVD to document best practices in health promotion to support the evaluation of these projects and to share health promotion success stories province wide.
About the NCCAH
In the spring of 2006, the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH) received a six million dollar grant from the Provincial Government to implement an Aboriginal (First Nations, Métis, and Urban Aboriginal) counterpart of the ActNow BC chronic disease prevention strategy. The Aboriginal ActNow BC initiative is hosted by the NCCAH at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George.
The NCCAH is one of six national collaborating centres established throughout the country, each with a mandate to address specific areas of public health concern in Canada, including Aboriginal Health, infectious disease and environmental health. Together, the NCCs are helping to renew and strengthen Canada’s public health system by creating and fostering linkages among researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, organizations and communities to improve practices at all levels of the public health system across Canada. The NCCAH’s vision is “a public health system that is inclusive and respectful of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, that reflects their public health needs and aspirations, that includes their views in direction and design, and that is strengthened by their knowledge.”
Staff
Our team is comprised of:
- Research Manager, Tina Fraser
- Research Associate, Donna Atkinson
- Research Assistant, Corbin Greening
- Communications Officer, Holly Nathan
- Administrative Assistant, Selina Ross
Our funders and host
Aboriginal ActNow BC is funded by a grant from the BC provincial government and hosted by the National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC.
|
