We think these resources will be helpful tools for Community
Health projects. They lay out the whole process for you, step-by-step.
But don’t feel trapped by them! They make suggestions
and point the way, but please, adapt them to the needs of
your community.
Community
Vital Signs - Community foundations in several of Canada’s largest
cities recently published their first report cards as part
of Vital Signs, a new national project aimed at measuring
the vitality of communities on an annual basis. The report
cards track and grade each community’s quality of life
in key areas such as the economy, health, housing, learning
and the environment. Copies of all the reports can be found
here.
Handbook for Developing a Community Health
Centre (Phases
I, Phase II) - These handbooks, phase
I and phase
II from the Association of Ontario
Health Centres, are designed to help community groups start a community
health centre. The Phase
I handbook describes the process of involving and organizing
the community; the Phase
II handbook outlines how to assess community needs and
make a solid proposal for a community health centre. These
are very helpful, detailed guides to making community health
care possible in your community.
Social Determinants of Health - The
Solid Facts - This is an important and persuasive report
from the World Health Organization on the ways social factors
affect health. It examines ten areas of health concern, including
stress, unemployment, addiction, and food safety; in each
of the ten chapters, it outlines the existing problems and
suggests solutions, through policies that improve social factors.
This will be useful for communities that are working with
all levels of government.
Association
of Ontario Health Centres: Leaders in Primary Care—Community
Health Centres - This document
most clearly articulates what we were thinking of when we
began our research into health and community engagement. It
includes definitions, core principles, philosophies, and strategies
for improving the health of communities through the use of
Community Health Centres. As an introduction to the concepts
behind Community Health, this is a great article to read.
Community Health Centres are an important tool for bringing
community and health together—they’re a good bridge
between the larger health institutions such as hospitals,
and the needs of small communities.
Have we missed something? Know a great resource
we should include here? Email us at tamarack@tamarackcommunity.ca.
Back to top. |
