NEWS & INFORMATION
Call for Board Members
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) is seeking two excellent community board members to serve for a rotating three year term on our Board of Directors (terms open are for a two year term and a three year term).
It is important for Directors to support the Vision and Mission statement of SOAHAC. Candidates for the Board should be aware of potential for conflict of interest and recognize the need for confidentiality in managing Board issues.
SOAHAC Board of Directors operates using a policy governance model and is responsible for:
- Developing and approving the vision, mission, values and strategic priorities of the organization.
- Reviewing and approving operating budgets.
- Keeping up to date on Board information.
- Representing SOAHAC in the community.
- Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation (Corporations Act, Income Tax Act, etc.).
- Approving all documents that require Board approval.
- Advocate for those in need.
- Participate in an organization that is leading with innovations to improve Aboriginal health care.
Time Commitment
Directors are expected to attend all Board meetings throughout the year (usually 10) to carry out the Board’s business. Meetings are usually held during the day on a Thursday morning at either SOAHAC’s London or Chippewa site.
Interested persons are asked to please contact Brian Dokis, Executive Director, at 519-672-4079 or email executivedir@soahac.on.ca for more information about becoming a SOAHAC Board Member.
More information:
Ever wonder if you’ve been missing part of the conversation? Hearing is often an undervalued sense but can make a huge difference to the quality of life!
PHC Canada, with the support of SOAHAC, is pleased to introduce Hearing Healthcare Services right in your community.
- Hearing testing and consultation services are provided complimentary
- A wide selection of high quality, digital hearing instruments are available
- Full follow-up and maintenance services are provided with hearing instruments dispensed
- All services are provided by licensed Hearing Instrument Specialists
- Most hearing instruments and accessories are provided at no extra cost under health benefits available to First Nations members – your Hearing Specialist can provide the details of your coverage
- Services are available in the Community Health Centre on published dates – appointments can be booked at Reception
Benefit from these convenient services and enjoy all of life’s precious moments....
OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM FROM PHC CANADA
- Benefit of Proper Hearing Healthcare
Hearing is an undervalued sense. Hearing loss happens slowly and often goes unnoticed for years. But the consequences can be detrimental to quality of life, relationships, job effectiveness, as well as personal safety.
- Available Programs
The NIHB Program is a national health benefit program that pays for some or all of the costs of hearing healthcare for eligible First Nations members. This is in addition to any benefits provided by provincial or territorial programs and third party health programs.
- Service Provider
PHC Canada operates 40 Hearing Centre locations in Canada within Wal-Mart and Pharmasave. In the US, we operate 17 locations in a number of pharmacy chains, including Walgreens.
Our objectives are:
- To ensure Better Hearing for More People
- To bring hearing healthcare services to where the customers are
All our service providers are qualified and licensed Hearing Specialists.
We offer the latest in hearing instrument technology and numerous national brands.
- Description of Program
In cooperation with the Community Health Centre, a visit schedule calendar is established for each community.
Community members can book appointments at the Community Health Centre for hearing testing and consultation on scheduled dates. These services are provided by PHC free of charge.
If hearing instruments are recommended, the various options are discussed with the patient and benefits coverage is determined.
PHC provides the required support in obtaining benefits from the available programs.
Follow-up visit is scheduled to dispense and fit the appropriate instrument(s).
Further follow-up visits are scheduled to provide any adjustments and maintenance services as may be required.
Direct telephone access is provided to the Hearing Specialist for any questions or problems that may arise.
Community Greenhouse Project to Promote
Better Management of Diabetes
Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, SOAHAC and sanofi-aventis Canada
propose novel solution to chronic disease challenge
Muncey, Ont. and Laval, Que.; May 5, 2011 – The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC), the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and sanofi-aventis Canada are proud to announce today their partnership for the establishment of a four-season community greenhouse adjacent to the SOAHAC medical clinic of Muncey, Ontario. The greenhouse will become an intergenerational community centre that will facilitate diabetes education, the promotion of healthy eating and lifestyle changes to encourage First Nations to better self-manage their diabetes.
“We are excited to partner with sanofi-aventis on this very important initiative,” adds Brian Dokis, Executive Director, SOAHAC. “In a recent Food Choice Study conducted by SOAHAC and the University of Western Ontario, one of the recommendations was the establishment of a community garden to address income and place-based food challenges. We're pleased to see this recommendation become a reality in southern Ontario. Our joint partnership with the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and sanofi-aventis represents an important milestone in our fight against diabetes.”
While diabetes is three to five times more prevalent among First Nations, most cases are preventable Type 2, and medication compliance within their communities is only 25 per cent. Against this backdrop, the three partners see clear opportunities to work jointly towards improved health outcomes.
“Sanofi-aventis’ goal is to find solutions to the gaps in patient care that exist in our health system. This project does exactly that. Our company has donated $123,000 to finance construction and supplies for this project along with the sharing of our knowledge,” says Hugh O’Neill, President and CEO, sanofi-aventis Canada. “We’re hopeful our investment can contribute to the reduction of health disparities amongst First Nations by supporting better disease management and realizing better health outcomes.”
“The greenhouse will serve three First Nations communities (Chippewas, Oneida and Munsee), providing healthy food and medicinal herbs,” says Joe Miskokomon, Chief of the Chippewas of the Thames. “It will unite both young and old in the community to learn about nutrition and healthy living. Given the epidemic of diabetes among our First Nations today, a project like this is critical to better diabetes management and the future of our community.”
About SOAHAC
The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) strives to provide quality, holistic health services by sharing and promoting traditional and western health practices to enable people to live in a more balanced state of well-being. The Centre services on and off reserve, status, non-status, and Métis Aboriginal populations of the Southwest Ontario region and associate First Nations with the mandate of ensuring that health services are accessible, of high quality and culturally appropriate.
About sanofi-aventis Canada
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone.
Sanofi-aventis is represented in Canada by the pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis Canada Inc., based in Laval, Quebec, and by the vaccines company Sanofi Pasteur Limited, based in Toronto, Ontario. Together they employ more than 2,000 people across the country. With combined R&D investments of $159.2 million in 2010, they are leaders in Canada’s biopharmaceutical sector, a critical knowledge-based industry that generates jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.
Contacts:
Brian Dokis
Executive Director
SOAHAC
519 672-4079
executivedir@soahac.on.ca
Joanne Kennedy
Corporate Communications
Sanofi-aventis Canada
514 956-4188
joanne.kennedy@sanofi-aventis.com
' SUPPORTING ABORIGINAL SENIORS AT HOME '
PROGRAM FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT:
SOAHAC is pleased to announce that we have secured funding through the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) for new programming serving Aboriginal Seniors. The Supporting Aboriginal Seniors at Home (SASH) program will provide improved access to primary care and chronic disease management to Aboriginal seniors aged 55 and over who are living in the London area both on and off Reserve. Our goal is to provide culturally safe care for Aboriginal seniors and to link clients with the health and community supports required for to live safely in their homes.
Services provided will include:
- Nurse Practitioners who will provide primary care and chronic disease management services in both the clinic and the home setting
- A Seniors Advocate who will assist those who need help accessing community and social services
- A Patient Navigator who will help clients find their way through the complex health care system
- A Cultural Safety Trainer who will educate community health care providers about Aboriginal culture and traditional healing practices so that our clients have improved access to culturally safe care
Program planning is well underway and we hope to begin offerings our services soon. Stay tuned to our website for further updates- we are hoping to make another announcement soon regarding when we will begin accepting referrals.
| Brian Dokis Executive Director |
Pamela Bridgen, RN(EC), NP-PHC, MN Nurse Practitioner and SASH Team Lead |
Supported by: |
 |
SOUTHWEST ONTARIO ABORIGINAL HEALTH ACCESS CENTRE HAS MOVED.
We are pleased to announce that our clinic has moved
FROM:
322 Chippewa Road, Chippewa Health Centre
TO: The Corner of Anishinaabeg Drive and Melbourne Road.
Any questions or concerns please call our office at 519-289-0352
CLICK ON MAP FOR LARGER VIEW
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE SURVEY
Caregivers, Front line workers, Social Agencies, Health Care, Education, and Justice Workers
Invitation to Participate in an Online Survey
Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre has partnered with the Thames Valley District School Board to conduct a Needs Assessment/Gap Analysis of Southwestern Ontario. The hope is to get as much information as possible from any agency that may be servicing those who have been affected by an FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). We hope that you can use this link to complete a very important survey which will help our consultant with the final report. Southwest Ontario has very little diagnostic services and we hope to strike a Multi-Disciplinary team in the future and findings from this survey will help provide important information to substantiate this much needed service.
Miigwetch!
1) Service Provider Questionnaire - Click here to take survey
2) Organizational Questionnaire - Click here to take survey
3) Caregiver Questionnaire - Click here to take survey
.....Thank you. We appreciate your feedback
NEW 1-800 LINE ESTABLISHED FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Information and referral services will be provided to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people, both on and off reserve, who are living with a disability in Canada about any benefits or government services that may be available to them. The BC Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) has been awarded a contract for a pilot project that will enable Aboriginal people from across Canada to phone a 1-800 line for Advocacy and Referral Services. Mike Touchie, president of BCANDS welcomes the challenge. He states, "This new initiative will allow all disabled Aboriginal people with disabilities from across Canada an avenue to meet their needs. We have many of our People who have nowhere to turn in times of crisis." Jim Franklin, BCANDS Information and Referral 1-800 Operator, provides information and makes referrals with respect to accessing health services, medical equipment, employment, and general information on disabilities and other health related issues. The new Advocacy and Referral Service toll free number is: 1-888-381-7303, TTY Accessible.