The TBDHU formed a unique collaboration in 2015 to help get public health promotion programming to the previously underserved Manitouwadge area.
“We were having difficulty recruiting and retaining a public health nurse in Manitouwadge,” says Carolyn Tait, Manager of the Oral Health Program and District Offices. “The Manitouwadge Family Health Team (MFHT) contacted us to see if we wanted to work collaboratively for the provision of public health activities.”
That led to a pilot project to explore how the MFHT could deliver TBDHU health promotion programming with the guidance of TBDHU staff. During the development of this partnership, TBDHU and MFHT outlined the evidence-based programming that MFHT could deliver in the community.
“We came up with some ideas, and they gave a community flavour and perspective – they knew what was important to bring to the community,” Tait adds.
Programming covered the lifespan and included: prenatal screening and education; pertinent education sessions for parents of babies birth to 1 year; sexual health education for Grade 7, 8 and 9 students; healthy cooking sessions targeting different age groups such as children and seniors; and, youth tobacco prevention and injury prevention activities.
One year in, the project has been progressing well and has been extended for another year.