June 2010 - Our Voice in Action

OPHA’s Violence Prevention Workgroup in Action

OPHA’s Violence Prevention Workgroup provides members with opportunities to network, share knowledge, take collaborative action on issues of interest, coordinate efforts across the province, and advocate for policy direction and change for the prevention of violence.

In addition to providing support amongst their members, the OPHA Violence Prevention Workgroup continues to work in partnerships with many organizations locally, provincially and nationally in the pursuit of preventing violence. Nationally, workgroup members continue to support Prevention of Violence Canada/Prévention de la violence Canada (PVC). Currently the group is assisting in the planning as well as providing financial and administrative support for the 6th Town Hall meeting at the CPHA Conference in Toronto, Ontario in June 2010.

Provincially the workgroup provided input and insight by reviewing the Alcohol Policy Network’s recent research paper entitled Alcohol and Community-based Violence: A Systematic Review [PDF] . The workgroup also continues to maintain and promote the online Catalogue of Ontario Violence Prevention Programs.

The OPHA Violence Prevention Workgroup has undertaken surveying public health units on the implementation of the Routine Universal Comprehensive Screening (RUCS) protocol as a screening tool for domestic violence and abuse through student practicum placement. In the next year, the Workgroup plans to disseminate the RUCS survey results and related recommendations and action steps. In addition, the workgroup will continue to advocate for violence prevention and related issues, as well as continue supporting Prevention of Violence Canada/Prévention de la violence Canada.

In an effort to have as many voices heard and as many helping hands involved as possible, the OPHA Violence Prevention Workgroup is actively seeking to increase their membership. If violence prevention is a passion and priority of yours please contact the workgroup chair, Angela Loconte for more information about joining the workgroup. You can also visit our webpage on the OPHA website.

We encourage you to visit the online Violence Prevention Database where you can search for programs by areas of interest or add a program you feel your colleagues would benefit knowing about.

 

Five Principles for a New Nutritional Supplement Program campaign

The Five Principles for a New Nutrition Supplement Program has recently been endorsed by OPHA as recommended by the OPHA Food Security Workgroup. The Principles are:

  1. Clear policy objective;
  2. Accessibility, adequacy and equity;
  3. Meeting the need by providing monetary support at least equal to previous dietary supplement;
  4. Responsibility for current recipients to ensure that no one is left without;
  5. Take the time to get it right with adequate consultation and transparency.

Please review the principles and make your support for these principles known at the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction website: http://www.25in5.ca/take-action/