Public Health
The Wellness Programs Support team provides professional expertise in the area of Healthy Living (healthy eating, active living and injury prevention, and chronic disease prevention), and Healthy Child and Youth Development (from prenatal care to healthy adolescence).
• Healthy relationships
• Sexual health
• Family planning
• Healthy pregnancies
• Optimal birth experiences
• Parent and guardian health
• Early childhood development
• Child safety
NHBS aims to support the health and wellness of infants and children through the strong involvement of parents and family. This includes children learning traditional cultural, language and skills. It is this family and cultural base – along with such factors as good healthcare, early learning programs and food security – that will lead to long-term school and economic success for children. It will also lead to individuals who can become outstanding community members and leaders.
Population information (census) tells us that Alberta First Nations and Aboriginal populations are on average significantly younger than non-Aboriginal populations. First Nations and Aboriginal women also have higher birth rates and are having babies at a younger age than non-Aboriginal women. This young, growing and vibrant population means that an investment in maternity care, early childhood development and parenting supports is vital.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP)
Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve (IN PROGRESS)
Brighter Futures (BF)
Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative (ADI)
Goal:
To help our community to promote public health and provide support to improve the well being of pregnant women, new moms and their babies.
Objectives:
To decrease the rate of unhealthy birth weights.
To increase the rate of breastfeeding initiation.
To increase the length of time moms continue to breastfeed.
To provide support and resources for all of our breastfeeding moms.
To provide information to support longer investment in breastfeeding.
To help pregnant women and new moms develop nutritional practices that support their own well being and the well being of their babies.
Activities:
Nutrition gift certificates for new parents.
- Referrals for additional support and resources.
- Development of support groups for parents and families.
- Inclusion of traditional practices for food preparation and food choices.
- Education and information sharing for parents and extended families.
- Food planning and menu planning information.
- “Prenatal Good food” for families.
- Resources for breast feeding and infant nutrition.
- Monthly baby circle meetings.
Your Prenatal Health Team
Public Health Nurse - Kimberley Bryce
Community Health Representative - Wendy
Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program - Darlene Voyager
Maternal Child Health - Cheyenne Brice
Health Promotion -
To contribute to improved health for pregnant women, mothers and infants in our community by focusing on prevention and early intervention.
Objectives:
- To positively impact behaviours and practices of mothers during pregnancy.
- To provide education and support to pregnant women to improve maternal health outcomes.
- To reduce infant and maternal mortality.
- To improve maternal education and pregnancy/birth preparation.
- To provide prenatal delivery and post natal support and education for moms and infants/children (0 – 6 years.)
- To provide resources for pregnant moms, dads and their extended families.
Activities:
- Prenatal and post natal classes.
- Baby circle.
- Sewing circle.
- Community kitchens.
- Menu preparation
- Healthy babies updates
- Breast feeding support and education
- Infant development
- Resource sharing
- Referrals
- Home visits
- Support group meetings
- Child restraint seat education provision and assistance
- Safety in home sessions
- Safe play sessions
- Ages and stages assessment and support
- Collaboration with our daycare, Aboriginal Head Start and school programs
- Family activities and events as well as cultural and traditional activities
- Regular contact with pregnant moms, new moms and their babies and families
Weight and measures at:
2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 18 months and 2 years- Maintenance of baby feeding charts to include:
- Length of breastfeeding
- Introduction of formula and Introduction of solid foods
Outcome Measures:
All pregnant mothers in our community participating in our pre and post natal programs.
Reduction in the number of mothers smoking during pregnancy and/or the amount of smoking during pregnancy.
Reduction in the number of mothers consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
Increase in requested resources by moms and dads during pregnancy and for 0
– 6 years.
Reduction in infant and maternal mortality.
Reduction in the number of “at risk” babies born in our community.
Increase in breast feeding initiation and length of breastfeeding.
Reduction in the number of incidents of “not thriving” infants and toddlers.
Increase in participation in our “healthy child development” programs and services.
Service Providers
-
Public Health Nurse
Maternal Child Health Worker
Medical Professionals and Specialists.
Fort McMurray Primary Care Network/Alberta Health Services
Goal
To continue our efforts and education to prevent FASD and support individuals and families affected by it.
Objectives:
- To decrease the number of babies born with symptoms or manifestations of FASD.
To improve awareness of the dangers and impacts of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
To provide awareness of the resources and referrals available to those affected by FASD.
To build partnerships and collaborative relationships with agencies, professionals and service providers who work with the challenges of FASD.
To build capacity within our own communities through training, resource collections, information sharing and best practices to support our ability to provide enhanced services and activities.
Outcome Measures:
- A decrease in babies born with symptoms or manifestations of FASD.
- All pregnant and breastfeeding moms receive information and resources on
FASD.
Proactive and preventive information is provided to all young people of child bearing age.
An increase in partnerships to support services available in our community for those impacted by FASD.
An increase in training to support our healthcare service providers as they work in our community.
Increased resources to build capacity and a strong knowledge base in our health centre to be available to our community.
Activities:
- Prenatal education sessions
- Baby circle discussions
- Maternal/child health support
- Shared activities with regional, provincial and Health Canada partners.
- Youth group involvement.
- Support groups.
- Referrals and follow ups.
- Knowledge contests.
- Head Start curriculum.
- Guest speakers and presenters.
Workshops and training sessions.
Maternal/child health information sessions.
Parenting skills sessions and support group activities.
Brighter Futures
Developing the capacity and support to assist communities in developing programs to address Mental Wellness with a focus on youth solvent abuse and mental health crisis.
Objectives:
- Reducing the solvent use and abuse by youth in our community.
- Providing updated training for our staff to ensure their readiness to provide
prevention and intervention services.
Building partnerships and linkages for resources, referrals and service options.
Providing crisis intervention training and services for crisis intervention follow up.
Outcome Measures:
- A reduction in reported incidents of solvent abuse by youth.
An overall increase in awareness regarding the problem of youth solvent abuse.
An increase in the number of trained staff in mental health, first aid, solvent abuse prevention and intervention, suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
Increased attendance at healthy community activities and events for youth and families.
Participation in activities for parents and teens.
Activities:
Workshops and Guest Presenters:
- Suicide prevention
- Solvent abuse awareness
- Healthy lifestyles for youth
- Family communication
- Solvent abuse awareness and prevention
- Training in mental health initial response and follow up.
- Parenting teens workshop and referrals
- Family & community mediation.
Aborigional Diabetes Initiative
Diabetes programming aims to reduce Type 2 diabetes through health promotion and disease prevention programs, services and activities delivered by community diabetes workers and health service providers. The initiative provides training opportunities and continuing education to community diabetes prevention workers and health professionals, and increases community access and capacity to deliver diabetes prevention programs and services.
These activities aim to increase awareness and knowledge of risk factors and approaches to diabetes prevention, and provide access to health promotion initiatives targeted at diabetes prevention, screening and management.
See Home Care: Chronic Disease Programs for more information on Diabetes Programming.
Smoking Cessation
Our goal is to establish community based “best practices” for tobacco control.
Objectives:
To reduce the number of smokers who are:
Being exposed to second hand smoke
Starting or continuing to chew tobacco
Continuing to smoke
Starting to smoke
To develop resources for increased awareness, education and support for “quitters.”
Approaches to Cancer Prevention
Quitting isn't easy but it's worth it. Within 10 years of quitting, an ex-smoker's overall risk of dying from lung cancer is cut in half.
- Smoking is responsible for an estimated 30% of all cancer deaths in Canada and is related to more than 85% of lung cancer cases.
- Approximately 86% of First Nations people living on-reserve in BC live in smoke-free homes.
- Drinking any type of alcohol increases your risk of developing many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon and rectum.
- The less alcohol you drink, the more you reduce your risk.
- 7% of youth and 10% of adults reported binge drinking once a week or more in the year prior to the 2008 - 10 Regional Health Survey
- There are resources available to help you reduce or quit drinking.
- Incorporating traditional foods into your diet when available can help you keep a healthy body weight.
- You have a higher risk of developing cancer if you are overweight. Staying at a healthy body weight reduces your risk of cancer.
- According to the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey, 34% of children, 12% of youth and 36% of adults were categorized as obese.
- Red meat and processed meat increase your risk of cancer.
- Regular physical activity helps protect against cancer.
- For First Nations people living on-reserve in BC, 80% of kids, 84% of youth and 62% of adults were categorized as being moderately physically active.
Activities:
Developing a community plan to address tobacco control.
Facilitate effective support groups.
Facilitate prevention workshops in schools and other community events.
Provide resources and referrals for follow up support.
Outcome Measures:
The reduction of smoking at community events and in community facilities.
An increase in requests for resources, referrals and support.
A reduction in the number of smokers in our community.