Healthy Communities Orientation

1. Orientation to Healthy Communities

2. History of Healthy Communities (Canadian Context)
•1844: Health of Towns Association
•1974: Lalonde Report
•1984: Beyond Health Care Workshop
•1986: WHO Healthy Cities Project
•1986: Ottawa Charter
•1988: Canadian Healthy Communities Project and subsequent formation of provincial Healthy Community Networks

3. Definition of Health
WHO 1948: Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
WHO 1984 ...“the extent to which an individual or group is able to realize aspirations and satisfy needs and to change or cope with the environment.”

4. Illness care system
25%
Biological
endowment, genetics
15%
Physical environment
10%
Social and economic
environment 50%
Impact on Health Status
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research

5. Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
Strengthen
Community Action
Enable
Mediate
Advocate
Create
Supportive
Environments
Health Services
Reorient
Develop
Personal
Skills

6. Determinants of Health
Income and Social Status
Biology and Genetic Endowment
Healthy Child Development
Health Services
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
Gender
Physical Environment
Social Environment
Social Support Networks
Education
Employment and Working Conditions

7. Imagine a healthy community…

8. A Healthy Community has…
•A clean and safe physical environment
•peace, equity and social justice
•adequate access to food, water, shelter, income, safety, work and recreation for all
•adequate access to health care services
•opportunities for learning and skill development
•strong, mutually supportive relationships and networks

9. It also has….
•workplaces that are supportive of individual and family well-being
•wide participation of residents in decision-making
•strong local cultural and spiritual heritage
•diverse and vital economy
•protection of the natural environment
•responsible use of resources to ensure long term sustainability

10. Healthy Community Characteristics
1.A common sense of community, including its history and values that are strengthened by a network of leaders,
2.People and community groups who feel empowered and have a sense of control,
3.An absence of divided turf, conflict and polarization,
4.Structures where people from diverse groups can come together to work out decisions about the community,

11. Healthy Community Characteristics (cont’d)
5.Leadership that functions both from the top down and the bottom up,
6.Effective channels for networking, communication and cooperation among those who live and lead there.
Duhl, L, quoted by John Schweitzer in
Community News and Views section,
“Defining a Healthy Community,” Michigan State University,
Community and Economic Development Program,
Vol. 6, No. 3, Fall 1993.

12. Healthy Communities
Key Principles

13. Everything in our community is connected to everything else

15. Healthy Communities Strategies
•Asset-Based Community Development
•Equitable Community Engagement
•Intersectoral Involvment
•Political Commitment
•Healthy Public Policy

16. Needs vs Assets
Individuals and communities have deficiencies & needs
Individuals and communities have skills and talents

17. Community Needs Map

18. Community Assets Map

19. What is Community Development?
“Community Development is a process designed to create conditions of economic and social progress for the whole community with its active participation and fullest possible reliance upon the community’s initiative.”
United Nations, 1948

20. CD Values and Principles
•democratic
•inclusive
•non-authoritarian
•community self-determination
•voluntary
•self-help
•community ownership
•enhance natural capacities and networks
•social justice and equity

22. Outcomes of Community Capacity Building
1.Expanding, diverse, inclusive citizen participation
2.Expanding leadership base
3.Strengthened individual skills
4.Widely shared understanding and vision
5.Strategic community agenda
6.Consistent, tangible progress towards goals
7.More effective community organizations and institutions
8.Better use of resources by the community

23. What is Community Engagement?
Community engagement is the process of meaningful dialogue and participation in forming decisions that affect the community and enhance quality of life. The community engagement process is transparent, responsive, inclusive, and empowering, and is based in realistic expectations, mutual respect, and trust.
City of London
Community Engagement Task Force, 2011

24. Who do We Engage?
Community Engagement includes:
•Partners
•Clients/users
•Community members
•Different perspectives (age, ability, culture)
Tools and Strategies
•Network mapping
•Locate “bridgers”

25. Community Engagement Continuum
Inform
Provide detailed information and promote awareness
Consult
Obtain input and feedback on alternatives to inform decision-making
Empower
Community members initiate activities and make final decisions
Collaborate People working together toward a mutual goal

27. Benefits of the Healthy Communities Approach
•provides opportunities for community members to voice their concerns, learn about complex issues and help develop solutions
•enables local governments to draw on the insights and energies of citizens
•empowers community members to influence planning and decision-making
•fosters creativity and increases the range of options in developing public policy
•increases social capital