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Constituent Society Corner |
Public Health Research, Education and Development Program (PHRED)
PHRED Gearing Up for 2008
Ontario's Public Health Research, Education and Development Program (PHRED) is getting ready to publish three documents that promise to be useful resources for public health practitioners.
For the first time ever, PHRED will be publishing in the coming weeks an Annual Report that profiles the program’s products and explains how they can be used to enhance public health practice. Then PHRED will be completing its 2007 Deliverables Report and preparing its 2008 Work Plan in preparation for publication on its web site.
The 2007 Deliverables Report will feature a snapshot of local and provincial research and evaluation projects from across PHRED's five sites as well as presentations, publications and student activities. Here is list of some projects.
Assessing Local Data Management Capacity an Access to Public Health Services in French for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC).
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A number of evaluation projects related to the Ministry of Health Promotion's Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living, including:
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Process evaluation of the implementation of the Action Plan;
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Development of two Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) modules (awareness of the plan's key messages, waist circumference);
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Validation of the waist circumference module;
Literature search and interviews with key informants regarding a valid and reliable tool to measure fruit and vegetable consumption of younger children (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 4) at the population level;
Collaboration with the University of Toronto's Dr. Valerie Tarasuk on the analysis of CCHS Cycle 2.2 (Ontario) data to understand body weight status, dietary intake patterns, and nutritional vulnerability as a basis for policy and program decisions. An Advisory committee consisting of Ministry of Health Promotion staff and other public health staff, led by PHRED staff, is contributing to writing implications for public health practice. The final report is expected in January 2008.
Working with the Centre for Behavioral Research and Program Evaluation at the University of Waterloo on the School Health Environment Survey (SHES). The survey for both elementary and secondary schools has been finalized in English. Final French translation is pending. Full implementation is expected to occur between October 2007 and March 2008 with a random stratified sample of 500 schools in Ontario.
A comprehensive evaluation of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program on behalf of the Ministry of Health Promotion is nearing completion. Porcupine Health Unit's support and assistance with the evaluation is greatly appreciated.
The PHRED Connection: Come and Join Us
The PHRED Connection is a group of PHRED and non-PHRED staff who are committed to promoting innovative and exemplary student educational experiences. Currently, 12 health units are participating. The group is currently completing the following four "workshop reach and teach kits" which have been designed to provide additional resources for experienced preceptors. The kits are:
- Promoting Critical Thinking
- Overcoming Conflicts and Challenges with Students
- Providing Effective Feedback
- Diversity and Learning
Each kit includes:
- Learning outcomes
- An overview, which includes content and time required
- Lesson plan/curriculum, including references, teaching strategies, supportive teaching materials (e.g., videos)
- PowerPoint presentation
- Quick tip sheet
- Resources/Reference List — activities, handouts, slides, videos, supporting articles
- Evaluation
The fall release of these kits has been announced to all health units. If you or your staff are interested in joining the PHRED Connection or if you would like further information regarding the kits please contact Karen Jenkins, Chair, karen.jenkins [at] lhu.on.ca or (519) 663-5317 ext. 2597.
Working with Others
Partnerships are important aspects of the PHRED Program. For example, PHRED's partnership with ANDSOOHA-Public Health Nursing Management, also an OPHA Constituent Society, was instrumental in securing funding from The Nursing Secretariat for the development of the Nursing Mentorship Resource Guide (downloadable from either the ANDSOOHA website or PHRED's website)
Phase 2 of the partnership which has just been completed, focused on an evaluation of the utility of guide in launching mentorship activities in four pilot sites. Although the project focused on nurses, the resources included in the guide are useful to other disciplines interested in implementing mentorship — a strategy known to be an important factor in recruitment and retention.
Similarly PHRED is working with RRFSS (Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System) members in a project funded by the PHAC to evaluate the RRFSS website and modify it so that it better meets the needs of the RRFSS partnership.
The PHRED Student Award
PHRED is also pleased to be offering the PHRED Student Award which will be presented at the OPHA Conference. These are just a few of PHRED's projects so please stop by the PHRED display at the conference to see what's new and say "Hi".
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Backgrounder |
Mission Statement:
To provide leadership in research, education and development of best practices, to inform and improve local, provincial and national public health policy and practice. The PHRED model integrates research, education, policy and practice.
Originally known as the Teaching Health Unit, the program was renamed Public Health Research Education and Development Program in 1997 to more accurately reflect its mandate and in 2003 became the newest constituent society of the OPHA Board. Unique to Ontario the program is located in five of the province’s 36 health units—Public Health Services, City of Hamilton; Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health; Middlesex-London Health Unit, Ottawa Public Health and Sudbury & District Health Unit.
The five PHRED sites work collaboratively on provincial initiatives and develop local work plans. Benchmarking and the Effective Public Health Practice Project which produces systematic reviews and summary statements are on-going priorities for PHRED. Check out the respective websites to download the reviews and summary statements and see what's new in benchmarking.
The primary contact for each site [PDF, 60kb] is available to download.
There are currently ten Constituent Societies of OPHA. Their representatives sit on the OPHA Board of Directors, and are elected by their respective societies.
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