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Constituent Society Corner |
What's PHRED All About: Answering Questions that Make A Difference
As Ontario's Public Health System continues on a path of renewal, we look forward to working with Ontario's Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, MOHLTC, MHP and other partners in realizing a vision where inquiry truly becomes a reality of every day practice.
PHRED (Public Health Research, Education and Development) is a key player in ensuring that the next generation of health care workers is exposed to the theory and practice of public health, and that programs and services delivered by public health units are truly grounded in the best available evidence. More than ever, the program’s core functions of applied research, knowledge exchange, and workforce development are important pillars in the province’s revitalized public health system. PHRED staff are linking with practitioners, program managers and policy makers to ensure that the research answers questions that are of critical importance to practice, and that such research can assist in identifying further issues as well as emerging themes that need to be explored.
Each of the five PHRED sites — Hamilton, Kingston, London, Ottawa and Sudbury — partners with other researchers, works closely with academic partners, conducts applied research (visit www.phred-redsp.on.ca for our 2007 Deliverables Report which provides a summary of projects by site), and collaborates across PHRED sites on major initiatives.
We are continuing to support the Ministry of Health Promotion in their evaluation of Ontario’s Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL). Activities have included an evaluation of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program, the development of two RRFSS modules — waist circumference and HEAL awareness (check out the modules at www.rrfss.on.ca) — and PHRED has worked in partnership with the University of Waterloo in the development and implementation of a School Health Environment Survey (SHES). SHES is an important tool for measuring aspects of the school environment that have an impact on students’ healthy eating and physical activity. Many new initiatives are on the horizon including the development of an updated Program Evaluation Tool Kit. Watch for the release at the alPHa/OPHA Public Health Summit in Niagara of our next report, which will profile many of our initiatives.
As Ontario's Public Health System continues on a path of renewal, we look forward to working with Ontario’s Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, MOHLTC, MHP, and other partners in realizing a vision where inquiry truly becomes a reality of every day practice.
For further information, please contact Dr. Kate Pautler, PHRED Secretariat, (705) 746-2073.
There are currently 11 Constituent Societies of OPHA. Their representatives sit on the OPHA Board of Directors, and are elected by their respective societies.
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