Eastern Zone community health boards launch Community Health Plan for 2025-2029

Eastern Zone’s nine Community Health Boards (CHBs) have launched their 2025-2029 Community Health Plan, aimed at improving health and well-being where we live, work, play and learn. 

Priorities within the five-year community health plan were shaped through extensive community engagement conducted between November 2023 and March 2024. Feedback was received through five in-person local engagement sessions, 673 comment cards, and 380 responses to an online survey. This feedback from more than 1,095 recorded responses, reflecting comprehensive and diverse needs, resulted in the following priorities:

●    Housing

●    Food Security

●    Income

Nova Scotia’s 35 CHBs are made up of over 300 active, engaged citizens in communities across the province. They volunteer their time, knowledge and skills to work with Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health Centre, local groups, and other partners to address community health, guided by the social determinants of health (poverty, food security, housing, active living, and social connection, etc.). 

"Giving a voice to local health issues and health inequalities was an important factor as we looked at access to services for medical and non-medical factors influencing health outcomes and healthy living,” said Theresa MacInnis, chair, Eastern Zone 2025-2029 Community Health Plan.

Eastern Zone CHBs advocate for actions to promote and improve health and wellness based on what communities say is most important. They use their collective voice to build, strengthen, and bolster relationships to bridge the gap of issues affecting people living in their communities. Guided by their community health plans, the CHBs develop partnerships with local community groups and award Wellness Fund grants to local community projects. 

“CHBs have a legislative responsibility through the Health Authorities Act, to develop community health plans every five years, with the support of Nova Scotia Health staff and program partners,” said Aron Ashton, manager, Eastern Zone Public Engagement & CHB Support Team. “Bringing together Nova Scotia’s thirty-five hardworking community health boards under one community health plan umbrella has been a provincial milestone.” 

The Eastern Zone 2025-2029 Community Health Plan is also a tool to guide advocacy to Nova Scotia Health, the IWK, the Department of Health and Wellness, Office of Addictions and Mental Health, Action for Health Solution Six, and others on shared priorities. This rollup of the Eastern Zone community health plan will also identify alignment with Action for Health Strategy to address health and well-being factors through government support for partnerships, collaboration, and strengthening community-based wellness efforts. 

Recognizing the proven impact of the social determinants of health on the health and wellness outcomes of Nova Scotians, CHBs are eager to work with all interest holders to advance these priorities over the next five years. The 2025-2029 Community Health Plan will help to shape a healthier, more connected Nova Scotia.

For more information about the 2025-2029 Community Health Plan and upcoming events, please visit https://www.communityhealthboards.ns.ca or follow your local Community Health Board on social media.

Pictured: Theresa MacInnis, chair Eastern Zone 2025-2029 Community Health Plan; Aron Ashton, manager, Eastern Zone Public Engagement & CHB Support Team and Beth MacIsaac, chair, Eastern Zone Council of Chairs.