Outaouais Health & Social Services Network February 23rd, 2006

1. Outaouais Health & Social Services Network February 23rd, 2006

2. Mission Statement • Outaouais Health & Social Services Network involves citizens, public institutions, service organizations, and community resources in the planning and delivery of quality and accessible health and social services to the English-speaking population

3. Mandate • Provide information on regional health and social services to the English-speaking population • Build the knowledge base • Help maintain and improve access • Identify and address potential service gaps and access issues • Understand and participate in the new health structure • Build networking and partnership capacities

4. Health & Social Service Networking and Partnership Initiative (Health Canada) HSSNPI Program Administrator (QCGN) Community Health & Social Service Network(CHSSN) HSSNPI funding recipient (Regional Association of West Quebecers) Outaouais English-speakingpopulation Outaouais Health & Social Services Network (OHSSN) Public, Private, and Community Sectorstakeholders

5. Population Health Approach Determinants: • Income & Social Status • Social Support Networks • Employment & Working Conditions • Social Environment • Health Services • Gender • Culture

6. Population health includes: Public Private Population Community

7. True or False? • The English-speaking population’s needs are identical to the needs of the French-speaking population • The English-speaking population has equal access to all services • The English-speaking population is aware and understands the nature of all the health and social services available to it

8. Community research • OHSSN - Health & Social Services Needs Assessment for the English-speaking population of the Outaouais, 2005 • CHSSN - Regional Profiles of English-speaking Communities, 2003-04 / 2004-05 • Health Canada - Consultative Committee with the English-speaking Minority Communities, 2002

9. Some regional characteristics • High school dropout rate is 36% • Higher proportion of lone parents aged 15-24 • Aboriginal population 3½ times more likely to identify English as First Official Language Spoken • Regional Anglophone community more involved in unpaid care than Francophones or provincial Anglophones • Higher proportion of Anglophones with low-income • In Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and Petite-Nation • The unemployment rate is 32% higher (Baseline Data Report, 2003-04) • Bilingualism amongst Outaouais Anglophones is only 50.3%

10. Some health service differences • Lower use of Info-santé services (42%) • Lower use of community organizations (45%) • More likely to seek services in Ontario due to language barriers, perceptions, or inability to access services in the Outaouais

11. Health & Social Services Report 2005 • Combined analysis of the quantitative regional data with qualitative information gathered from focus group sessions held throughout the Outaouais in 2005 • 14 focus groups, 130 individuals • 64 rural and 66 urban participants • Average age 53.7 years

12. Participants’ view of health • Includes physical, mental, and social aspects • Independence and physical mobility • Overall well-being and a sense of belonging • Holistic view of health and social services is consistent with the World Health Organization’s definition • Self-determination and self-management contribute to a healthy lifestyle • Access to medical services and information in English is important to population health

13. Participants’ view of health & social services problems • Concepts of health and social services were used interchangeably • List of 83 problems was grouped into four categories: social problems, biomedical issues, inaccessible or inadequate services, and language barriers

14. Social issues identified in focus groups • Poverty • Care of Seniors and Youth • Alcohol / Drug Abuse • Unemployment • Nutrition / Obesity

15. Services problems identified in focus groups • Long wait times • Lack of services, especially in rural areas • Lack of doctors and specialists • Emergency services • Problems with CLSCs • Lack of seniors’ home care & long-term care facilities • Lack of school services & youth facilities • Lack of support groups

16. Language problems identified in focus groups • Lack of services in English • Lack of information in English • Lack of mental-health services in English

17. Biomedical problems identified in focus groups • Chronic Diseases • Cancer • Diabetes • Cardiovascular • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Other Problems • Speech • Learning Disabilities • Auditory

18. Explanatory statements made by focus groups • Francophone majority is not sensitized to the health needs of Anglophones • Under-funding and lack of service coordination • Language laws and hiring practices are discriminatory • Increased accessibility problems for rural residents • English-speaking population is isolated, lacks a unified voice • Out-migration of doctors • Poverty, unemployment contribute to access barriers • Lack of activities for youth contributes to substance abuse / violence • Lack of educational and employment opportunities causes youth to leave

19. Prioritization of health issues by focus groups • Quality of services • Language issues • Social problems • Lifestyle issues • Chronic diseases

20. Prioritization of services issues by focus groups • Information in English • Youth services • Seniors’ services • More doctors and specialists • More rural services • Reduced waiting times • Language of service • Mental-health services

21. Solutions identified by focus groups • Improve access to and quality of hospitals, CSLCs, and doctors • Services and language issues addressed • More youth services • Preventative practices & healthy lifestyles • Seniors’ services • Chronic disease and illness treatments • Mental-health services

22. Community strengths • Volunteering / strong community-based networks through social and church organizations • Bilingual health institutions in Shawville and Wakefield • The CLSCs • Abundant green spaces & natural environments • Proximity to major urban centre

23. Key focus group concerns • Access to health and social services information in English • Availability and accessibility of services, doctors, and specialists • Access to hospital, CLSC and regional services in English • Services for youth and seniors

24. Specific needs • A recognition that specific needs exist for the English-speaking community • More information in English through the health outlets and public media on services and programs • Assurance of quality service in English for vulnerable and at-risk clientele, especially for key services in mental health, social services, and therapy treatments • Services that address social conditions in isolated rural areas

25. Recommendations • Address the issues raised by the focus groups • Create a forum that formally brings together the English-speaking communities and their resources, public partners and other sector stakeholders • Ensure a representative structure for the OHSSN Steering Committee • Develop an action plan reflecting the priorities identified at this forum

26. OHSSN’s commitment: • To provide a network that fully engages the English-speaking population in regional health & social services • To provide health & social services information through its website • To conduct regional research • To facilitate volunteer recruitment and training • To develop project partnerships

28. Merci / Thank you! www.OHSSN.org