What is CHNET-Works!?

CHNET-Works! is a project of the Population Health Improvement Research Network at the University of Ottawa.

It is  network of networks linking researchers, decision-makers and practitioners in population health and stakeholder sectors from across Canada. CHNET-Works! hosts weekly fireside chats (webinars) sharing leading edge research and application, supporting discussions and actions on pressing population health issues. Participants join in these free pan-Canadian discussions via telephone and internet - no registration fees, no transportation costs, no greenhouse gasses.
A Backup PowerPoint presentation is available for participants to
download as of the day of the Fireside Chat - and available thereafter.

September 2012: We're celebrating milestones!
CHNET-Works! has hosted over 300 Fireside Chats since January 2006 on a variety of population health issues. All are a result of partnering with organizations - large and small.
There are now over 12,500 individuals on our contact list.
Many Fireside Chats now have well over 100 participants.
Over 50% of CHNET-works! participants have attended 2 or more Fireside Chats. Many have attended 30+!

Here is a recent quote from a participant:
"I felt at ease in truly listening, and not having to be concerned about the technological 'what if's". Being technologically challeneged, I am usually pre-­‐ occupied during webinars with the 'what if's". But this webinar was the most organized event I'm pretty certain that I've participated in for years+++"

Read more...

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