Presentation of the Community Health Needs Assessment: Kent municipalities get involved
Vitalité Health Network, October 3, 2023 – In collaboration with the Kent Regional Service Commission, Vitalité Health Network presents the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the Bouctouche, Richibucto and Saint-Antoine Area.
The Bouctouche, Richibucto and Saint-Antoine Area is one of 13 NBHC communities to which the Network provides services. It includes a total of 73 municipalities from Pointe-Sapin in the north to Grande Digue in the south.
From October 2022 to February 2023, a data analysis along with a series of Community Advisory Committee meetings and focus groups were used to identify the strengths and needs of the region. This exercise fits into the learning communities initiative in which the municipalities of Kent County are involved. The learning communities model invites community organizations and citizens to get involved to improve the health status and well-being of the population.
The needs assessment identified six major priorities: access to health care services, support for families, support for seniors, promotion of healthy living habits, socio-economic precariousness and territorial planning (transportation and housing). This list of priorities will be an essential tool for guiding the region in its decisions regarding resource planning within the community.
“Conducted in collaboration with the community, the CHNA will guide us collectively in our decisions on where to invest our energy to improve the health of the population. Together, we will be able to implement projects that will be aligned with the needs of the community,” notes Brigitte Sonier Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Performance, University Mission and Strategy at Vitalité Health Network.
Among the recommendations that stem from the CHNA are the construction of not-for-profit housing, improvement of community transportation, raising parental awareness about healthy living habits, building community partnerships for recruitment and retention of health care workers, and the development of infrastructures that promote an active lifestyle.
The next steps involve developing and implementing an action plan for the Kent learning community.
“The Kent Regional Service Commission is pleased to receive the CHNA document for the region. The recommendations and data from the CHNA come at just the right time in the process of implementing our regional strategy and creating the committee for the Kent region learning community. We will work closely with Vitalité Health Network and our community partners to implement the recommendations of the CHNA so that residents can enjoy better health and have access to high quality services,” says Aldéo Saulnier, Chair of the Kent Regional Service Commission.
From left to right: Marie Paul Robichaud, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the Kent Regional Service Commission (KRSC), Jean Pierre Richard, Mayor of Champdoré, Stéphanie Caissie, Coordinator of Social Inclusion and Community Development for the KRSC, Aldéo Saulnier, Mayor of Grand Bouctouche, Micheline Léger, Coordinator of Regional Development for the KRSC, Claudie Ringuette, Community Services Director, Émilie Warren, Acting Manager of Community Health Needs Assessment and Improvement at Vitalité Health Network, Arnold Vautour, Mayor of Beaurivage, Caroline Fontaine, Coordinator of the Kent Rural Settlement Network, Roger Doiron, President of the Kent Learning Community, Miguel Allain, Public Safety Coordinator for the KRSC, and Tina Beers, Mayor of Five Rivers. Linda Savoie, representative of Beausoleil, was absent when the photo was taken.
Those who wish to learn more about the CHNA can contact Emilie.Warren [at] vitalitenb.com (Émilie Warren), Acting Manager, Community Health Needs Assessment and Improvement.
Anyone who wants to get involved in learning communities can contact engagement [at] vitalitenb.ca (Charline Morrison) for more information.
