What’s New
Director's Update: Dec. 2005
Community Advisory Group members and friends,
I’m sure that like us you’re wondering where the year has gone! 2005 has proved to be an extremely busy and fruitful year for the Centre and I want to take the time to update you on some of the things we have been involved in. Actually, when I look at the list, I’m amazed at what has got done! None of which however was achieved on our own. We have and continue to work with a number of wonderful people and through some very creative and life-giving partnerships.
Current Research Projects
Our research projects continue to grow and we are in the process of incorporating these into the development of a comprehensive research program. To date these draw on two broad fields of content: mental health promotion, and literacy & health. Cross cutting thematic areas are: health promotion theory, evidence-based health promotion, knowledge translation, ethno-cultural specific health promotion frameworks, relationship between Western models of health promotion and Indigenous health promotion, Primary health and globalization and health.
LITERACY: CURRENT PROJECTS
Building Health Equity through literacy, language and culture: the Village of La Loche
Funded by: Indigenous People’s Health Research Centre, Development Grant
- Designed to increase self-determination and control over health for La Loche community members through community development activities and public policy advocacy aimed at increasing literacy levels
- The research will form a partnership of community and university researchers for the purpose of conceptualizing and developing a framework to support applied research that effectively mobilizes three interrelated health determinants (literacy, language and culture) as community resources for well-being.
- Various grants are currently being explored as potential funding sources for this project. Our goal is to have it submitted to a grant competition by the end of 2006.
Developing and supporting capacity for practice-related research on literacy and health in Canada.
Funded by: Canadian Literacy Secretariat. Anticipated start date: Feb 2006.
- Builds on work carried out by the researchers over the past three years to develop a national program of research on literacy and health.
- The project will be carried out by a team of researchers and practitioners across Canada in collaboration with national and regional organizations.
- A research coordinator will be hired by PRHPRC to develop research projects across Saskatchewan, Manitoba and North western Territories (2006-2009).
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION: CURRENT PROJECTS
Healthcare policies, knowledge systems and approaches to mental well-being
in Saskatchewan: A Cree perspective
Funded by: Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, Emerging Researchers
Award. Commencing Jan 2006.
- Exploration of Saskatchewan Cree concepts of mental health and how they may be incorporated and used to provide more effective mental health care.
- The study will take place on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation reserve (SLFN) involving both the reserve community and their respective service providers.
“The Mental Health Promotion Practitioner as an agent of self-determination:
Reflections on mental health promotion as a transformative practice”.
Funding:Research Development Fund, University of Saskatchewan
- Contributing towards knowledge and skills development for mental health promotion practitioners in empowerment practice.
Reducing mental health
disparities through population health promotion: translating practice into
knowledge – knowledge into practice.
Funds pending (CIHR): announcement April 2006.
- Applied study and development of mental health promotion (MHP) models and the translation of these into practice, policy and purchasing decisions in order to reduce mental health disparities and promote equity for vulnerable populations throughout Saskatchewan and Canada.
- If funded this project will have a number of thesis supervision opportunities at PhD and Masters level.
Traditional healing in a contemporary context: Sturgeon Lake.
Funding: IPHRC Development Grant
- The principle investigator for this proposal is Willie Ermine, First Nations University of Canada, and the co-investigators are Dr. Janet Smylie, Director, IPHRC, University of Saskatchewan and Dr. Lewis Williams.
- This project aims to uncover and align traditional systems of healing with current Western medical services already available at Sturgeon Lake First Nation.
And finally, for the research update part of things, a big congratulations to our partner organization The Training for Health Renewal Program for securing a further 3 year grant from CIDA of $1.5 million. This will enable Geri Dickson, the Canadian Coordinator and others to continue this valuable work – specifically too secure the full integration of the Massinga Centre into national and provincial health authorities and to strengthen its management capacity. Well done!
Training
Probably our biggest highlight was hosting the 2005 Summer School “Taking a population health promotion approach to mental well-being: identity, culture and power”. We did this in partnership with a wonderful summer school organizing committee from a range of organizations. Over 180 people from Saskatchewan, and Canada attended the Summer School – we even had participants from the U.K. It was felt to be a huge success. A major thing that participants appreciated was the opportunity to hear the stories and perspectives of people from a very diverse range of groups. I think that many would agree that it was very much an experience of mind and spirit and several participants have since commented that they went away with softer hearts! We’ve included some picture below to give you a flavour of the week! We are very much looking forward to the Summer School organizing committee meeting in early January to discuss future training in the 2006 year.
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Centre growth and strategic Development
A major area of focus for 2006 will be continuing to build PRHPRC infrastructure to support and ensure a vibrant and growing centre. This will include continuing to strengthen our partnerships with other research centres and building our research base via research associates membership from the community, policy and academic sectors.
In the first quarter of 2006, the Centre will also be reviewing its Strategic Plan (2004-2007) in consultation with the Community Advisory Group. The 18 month will be an ideal time to look at what’s been achieved and whether and how we need to alter our course.
It seems that Centre is well and truly growing and we are looking forward to hiring 3-4 new staff in the early new year. We at the Centre feel lucky indeed to have had the opportunities to be part of working with the communities of Saskatchewan and beyond over the past year – it has and is a real privilege.
Warm Regards from Lewis Williams, Director PRHPRC