Background

CHNET-Works! is becoming....

... a network of networks linking population health improvement professionals - practitioners, researchers and decision-makers - from jurisdictions across Canada for the purposes of developing evidence-informed service delivery, planning and policy models in population health improvement. It will involve the creation and transfer of knowledge by facilitating interactions among research, policy and practice experiences.

In Phase 1 of the project (supported by CHSRF - the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation) a needs assessment confirming support for the network was completed. A Steering Committee identified priority needs and suggested the kinds of networking tools that could best support these needs.

Phase 2 of the CHNET-Works! Project (initially supported by the CHSRF and currently supported by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care of Ontario) is now piloting selected networking tools for the purposes of discussing current and pressing topics in population health improvement.

On the recommendation of the Steering Committee, discussion topics for Phase 2  included:

• Standards and Competencies and their implications for community health education, practice, policy and research.
• Physical Activity in a community health setting: promotion, the environment and health, physical activity and obesity, stair safety, physical activity and an aging population.
• Evaluation Methods for Multiple Interventions

Phase 3 for CHNET-Works! sees our funding coming from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Since January 2006, we have hosted over 140 'Fireside Chats' - to rave reviews from participants and Advisors on Tap. The purpose is to help commnity health professionals access the expertise of leaders in the field as well as their colleagues from across Canada - with no registration or travel costs or green house gas emissions. Fireside Chats have provided opportunity to partner with various organizations to share current research,  implementation perspectives as well as support discussions and mobilization.

Priority Discussion Topics for 2010 - 2011 include:

• Social Determinants of Health
• Health Equity

• Climate Change and Health
• Healthy Aging
• Multiple Interventions

Discussion topics are identified per emerging community health issues, suggestions from participants and requests from partnering organizations.  For example:

• Active Transportation and Designing Communities
• Preventing Falls in the Community
• Communities of practice
• Food Security
• Using Evidence in Decision Making
• Emergency Preparation
• Implementing the new competencies
• How to reach Francophones - Comment rejoindre les francophones
• Mothers in Motion, Mers en motion
• FASD
• ....and many other topics

Partnerships with national, provincial/territorial and local level organizations have been key to the success of the discussion series per the above priority topics. Francophone partners have helped to launch a series of 'causeries' en français. Organizations wishing to discuss partnership opportunities should contact CHNET-Works! Animateur: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it