MOOSE JAW - SOUTH CENTRAL
REGIONAL INTERSECTORAL COMMITTEE

POPULATION HEALTH PROMOTION

WHAT IS POPULATION HEALTH PROMOTION?

Population Health Promotion is an approach that aims to improve the health of the entire population and reduce health inequities among population groups. It looks at and acts upon the broad range of factors and conditions that have a strong influence on our health and confronts the root causes of illness.

Guiding Principles of Population Health Promotion

× Remove barriers
× Ensure meaningful participation
× Develop partnerships
× Use multiple strategies
× Focus upstream to address root causes
× Base decisions on evidence

FHHR VISION: Healthy Choices-----Healthy People

Population health promotion work aims to create healthier places to live, work, and play. If you were to imagine, it would build communities where safe and nutritious foods are easily accessible for all, community members choose to bike, walk, or rollerblade to work, school, and extracurricular activities because it is easier and safer to take the trails that run through the community than it is to drive. There is a significant decrease in substance use and abuse in the community because there are fun, easily available alternative activities for young people to do and social supports exist for all community members across the age spectrum to assist them in their everyday struggles. Workplaces would provide their staff with flexible options so that they are better able to balance their work and family times, and the community would be made up of engaged, resilient citizens.

Background Information

POPULATION HEALTH PROMOTION IN SASKATCHEWAN

In 2003 a provincial framework for population health promotion work was developed: Healthier Places to Live, Work and Play – A Population Health Promotion Strategy for Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan Health, 2004). The strategy was developed based on numerous regional intersectoral consultations across the province. Four priority areas were identified which provided the foundation for population health promotion work throughout the health regions.
The four pillar areas of focus are:

o Mental Well-being
o Accessible Nutritious Food
o Decreased Substance Use/Abuse
o Active Communities

POPULATION HEALTH PROMOTION IN FIVE HILLS HEALTH REGION

The health region’s role in Population Health Promotion is as follows:

× Partner—linking with others who are interested in the issue and sharing the workload
× Advocate—being a champion or an articulate spokesperson on an issue and working to change policy and attitudes
× Cheerleader—encouraging, supporting and not getting in the way of others who are willing to take on lead roles or are already actively working on an issue
× Enabler—providing links and supports to work being done and providing ways for others to make a more meaningful contribution to the issue

It is important to note the interconnectedness of the four priority areas and the importance of working across sectors through partnerships for sustainable change. Each sector plays an important role in creating healthier places to live, work, and play.

Below are activities currently being done in collaboration with numerous partners in Five Hills Health Region.

× Establishment of a regional food charter
× Work on school food policies
× Work on creating a FHHR food policy
× Further developing the Screen off: Family on program
× Involved in the creation of an indoor play space
× Work with community in motion groups
× Work towards 100% in motion schools
× Development and evaluation of the Sunningdale bicycle lane
× Work with community active living groups
× Involvement in a project involving the sustainable creation and maintenance of rural and urban youth groups
× Organization of the Strengthening Families for the Future pilot program
× Work with community-driven development in specific neighbourhoods and communities
× Work in incorporating the Developmental Assets approach into the region
× The creation, distribution, and evaluation of a Community Development Tool-kit
× Partnering with the SIAST Student’s Association for initiatives on campus
× Supporting presentations on the risks and harms associated with alcohol use and discussions around how to change the norm that exists around its use
× Formative steps in the creation of an alcohol charter

For more information on regional activities, or if you wish to be involved with community initiatives, please contact:

Nicole Nieminen
Population Health Promotion Coordinator
Five Hills Health Region
Nnieminen@fhhr.ca
(306) 691-1578

Trinidad Oviedo
Health Promotion Coordinator
Five Hills Health Region
toviedo@fhhr.ca
(306) 691-1529

Shari Tremaine
Public Health Nutritionist
Five Hills Health Region
stremaine@fhhr.ca
(306) 691-1536