Community health boards looking for input to develop community health plans

Community health boards (CHBs) across Nova Scotia want to hear from you!

As part of their community health planning process, the 37 CHBs are asking people to identify what affects the health and well-being of their communities. CHBs are volunteer groups that support a health promotion or population health-based approach to wellness.

“Our work as CHBs revolves around addressing social determinants of health and health equity,” said Rhonda Frank, member of the CHB Provincial Council of Chairs. “The social determinants of health are factors outside the traditional healthcare system that affect a person’s health and wellness like income, housing, education, social supports, and more. The determinants and having equal access to them guides us as we begin our community health planning process.” 

CHBs have a legislated mandate to develop community health plans every five years. These plans identify priorities and health promotion initiatives that improve the health and wellness of their communities. Community health plans also guide the work of the CHBs and are shared with Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre to be considered during their business planning.

To develop their plans, CHBs use data and evidence as well as community input. CHBs share data and evidence that highlight current, key priority themes across Nova Scotia, and then ask people to identify what else affects the health of their communities. This does not include things that are part of the traditional healthcare system like providing services, accessing care providers, recruiting healthcare professionals, etc.

People can find more information at www.engageCHBs.ca. The website is available in both English and French and includes details on how people can participate. 

Over the past few weeks, people have been providing their input through in-person engagement sessions and comment cards in various communities across the province. In addition to the sessions and comment cards, the CHBs are also encouraging people to provide their feedback through a quick survey. 

People can find the survey by visiting www.engageCHBs.ca and going to their health zone’s specific page. The survey is open until Jan. 31. People can also call 1-844-983-1240 to provide their input. 

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