Reaching out to immigrant and refugee populations: Who are the workers doing this work? How do they contribute to public health?

Sara Torres, Université de Montreal Yvonne Chiu, MCHB Co-op, Edmonton

Trish Hack, Women’s Health Educators, HamiltonTraicy Roberson, SMD Services, Manitoba

Ruth Wolfe, University of AlbertaCorinne Packer, University of OttawaMechthild Meyer, Gentium Consulting

CPHA Conference,Toronto, May 28, 2014

To discuss...

The emergence of the first network of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in Canada

CHWs’ contribution to health promotion and public health

Presentation Objective

CHWs, also known as.. Lay health promoters Health aids Health educators Cultural brokers Multicultural health brokers Women’s health educators Promotoras Home visitors Peer support workers

Who are CHWs?

Acontinuum of CHW Models…

Integrated within Canada’s formal healthcare system Public health unitsCommunity health centres

Independent of Canada’s institutional healthcare system Community-based organizationsEthno-specific organizations (Torres, 2013)

Context

Internationally CHW initiatives in health promotion are directed at:

Changing behaviours

Improving access to health and other essential services

Addressing health inequalities among families experiencing marginalization

Context

In Canada, many CHWs while playing these roles...

Lack contact with colleagues across the country

Are not yet recognized as part of health human resources workforce

Context

Creation : ◦November 2013

Members: ◦Community-based organizations◦Public health units◦Community health centres◦Allies of CHWs (academics &

independent researchers)

Community Health Workers Network of Canada

Meet other CHWs carrying out health promotion interventions/initiatives

◦ Targeting determinants of health◦ Seeking social justice◦ Addressing health equity

Establish collaboration strategies

◦ To improve the field◦ To improve health promotion among immigrant

and refugee communities

Network Activities

The network is expected to facilitate recognition of...

CHWs’ contribution to health promotion and public health

CHWs as part of Canada’s health and human services workforce

Deliverables

Developing a single definition for CHWs’ work

Organizing the CHW workforce

Developing core competencies for CHWs

Conducting further research on CHWs and the work that they do

Upcoming discussions

Challenges Lack of understanding of the role of

CHWsin health promotion and public health

Lack of financial support for the Network

Opportunities To establish connections with CHWs and

allies across the country To increase the visibility of CHWs as part of

Canada’s health and human resources workforce

Conclusion

Community Health Workers Network of Canada (CHWNC)

Dr. Ivy Bourgeault, University of Ottawa & Ms. Dot Bonnenfant CHNET-Works for use

of the webinar infrastructure 

Caitlin Mischki, Practicum Student, UofA

Institut de recherche en santé publique de l’Université de Montréal (IRSPUM)

Acknowledgements

Questions

Thank you