Advocacy in a Regionalized Health Care System

OverviewBC and Canadian ContextAdvocacy FocusTell our story with an emphasis on collaboration, partnerships, engagementsSuccessesChallenges

ContextWhat is the Health Officers Council of BCOur roles are:Assertive Knowledge Translation (AKT) Educator/watchdogResource brokerPartnership developerAdvocate/catalystContext of Health Authority employmentOther current alignments

Advocacy Focus SelectionExternally facilitated process to establish Council interest in and priorities for advocacy

3 priority areas selected for further work:

1) regulation of psychoactive substances2) chronic conditions3) child poverty

ProcessMembers self selected to the 3 working groupsClearly we do not own the issuesNor are we the expertsCollaborate and partner with those currently active and leading Review evidence for policy or interventions

Childhood Poverty

PopulationHealth NetworkMichaelHayesSFUPublicHealthAssn. of BCBC Healthy Living Alliance

DennisRaphaelYork

Health Authoritiesand Ministryof Health

First Call BCHuman EarlyLearning PartnershipAdapted from Ron Labonte, 2002

Process continuedRange of high level policy options and interventions aimed at reducing child poverty were debated at CouncilCollaborators were in attendance as resources and participantsVancouver Coastal Health provided logistical and staff support

Poverty is a Health Issue:Four Policy Options SelectedEstablish Poverty Reduction Targets and Strategies; all of Govt approachIncreased Surveillance and ReportingProvincial Income Assistance Strategies Accessible Child Care

Process continuedPolicy Options paper circulated to stakeholders and partners including:1) other health authorities/MHOs/PHO2) BC Government Conversations on Health (care)3) Health Canadas consultation on healthy children and youth 4) BC Healthy Living Alliance

PartnershipsFormalized Membership in:First Call BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition BC Healthy Child Development AllianceContinuing membership in:BC Healthy Living Alliance

EngagementsBC Progress BoardVan City Savings and CreditChild and Youth Representative of BCProvincial Health Officer annual report Equity and Health Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to collaborate on a living wage campaign

SuccessesEarly Development Instrument (EDI) now annualizedParticipated with partners in TV and print media release of the 2007 Child Poverty Report CardSupported Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) resolution on reducing child povertyPresentation at Health ConferencesOp/ed pieces for print and radio catalogued

ChallengesPolitical willEmployer supportPreventative dose, maintain focusEvaluating value and impactElection year opportunities

Nelson Ames Medical Health Officer nelson.ames@interiorhealth.ca

Also recruiting MHOs for Interior Health so some subliminal images may appear in this presentation.Independent society of public health MDs who we are told are credible public health professionals. Purpose is for professional development and advocacy for public policies and interventions aimed at improving the health of the population and decreasing inequity.Roles are the five on the slide.As RHA employees health professionals including MHOs are not always able to speak out in a timely and appropriate way.Constrained by communications Dept. and PABEscaping from the Phantom Zone credit Dennis.HA Boards appointed by the MoH are accountable to government direction to balance the budget and meet expectations laid out in writing each year.WHO Commission on Soc. DeterminantsChief Public Health Officer of Canada ReportSenate sub Committee on Population health2010 Olympics, BC Govt assertion about being the healthiest jurisdiction in the world.We want to take the high road.Enough breadth to attract and engage members but focused enough that some action would occur.Used Population health principles as criteria for selection.I am going to only focus on the child poverty work.So we sailed forth into the unknownAdd our voice to the choirOngoing work, not a campaign Join with others already experienced in this work and beat the drum together.

The picture I carry in my head for collaboration and partnership development is this one. Thanks to Ron Labonte.The tendency is to see the problem from our point of view; with our organization in the centre and everyone else around the outside.Advantage of looking at the issue this way as it is easier to find common ground and areas we can work on together.Many interests are at play with a need to balance them as best we can. NGO collaboration funded by Govt. Have developed a socioeconomic determinants policy paper.We also consulted a previous Minister of Health, court strange bedfellows, previous Premier, tell stories and the current Minister of Act Now Gordon Hogg, use your credibility.

We had to chew over our options.All down hill from here?Preventative dose Poverty is a health issue was a key message.#2 relates to annualizing the EDICopies of Policy options paper available upon request. Copy at the back.Briefly describe 2 and 4.Describe BC Progress Board report, a source palatable to decision makersVan City banking and corporate perspectiveChild and Youth representativeValue gap or information gap Seth Kleins example.I have a folder of examples of the media coverage.Ending child poverty has been a stated goal for over 20 years.Evidence is for why and how to address it is documentedSustained Council energy both individually and as a group.Some employers more supportive than others