About Us

“IMAGINE” H.E.A.L. in the North!

Investing upstream and for the long haul

• Estimated cost of inactivity to BC’s health care system is $422 million – $600 million per year.
• Obesity related illness costs BC’s health care system approximately $380 million annually. Obesity is the second most important cause of preventable death
• Lack of physical activity is a major health concern. 38% of British Columbians are not active enough to achieve health benefits from the physical activities they actually do.
• Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for: Type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, hypertension, colon cancer, breast cancer and osteoporosis.
• H.E.A.L. began in 2001, with an initial budget of $300,000. Communities leveraged that investment to upwards of $1million worth of cash and resources.
• HEAL continues today as part of Northern Health’s Population Health Team and is now supported by core funding.

Multiple, strength based, strategies

• small community-based projects provide the foundation and base for building community capacity and resources; strength comes from community “buy-in” and hands-on involvement rather than top-down imposition of strategy
• policy development and advocacy evolved out of community involvement
• lobbying and profiling projects within NHA and provincial infrastructure concurrent with promotion in communities and throughout province via media, website, and high-profile events like Caravans and conferences.

Addressing the determinants of health

• Income & Social Status, Social Support Networks, Education, Employment & Work
  Conditions, Social Environments, Physical Environments, Personal Health Practices &
  Coping Skills, Healthy Child Development, Culture, Gender, Health Services,
  Biology/Genetic Endowment
• HEAL initiatives to date have included projects which address access to healthy foods for low-income families, education, physical and social environments,
  personal health practices & coping skills, workplace wellness, culture, school food policies, lobbying for infrastructure improvements to support safe, active living
  such as trails, sidewalk and lighting improvements, early childhood development and childhood obesity strategies.

Grassroots engagement

• 9 skill development workshops were held in the first year
• 19 small projects received “seed money” (funding assistance) for projects
  ranging from community gardens and kitchens to policy development
  initiatives
• 15 communities were involved in the 19 projects, with an estimated 1167
  participants
• 300 people subscribe to the HEAL newsletter, representing 45
  communities and 189 organizations.

Intersectoral collaboration

• An Advisory Committee has been formed with 16 members from 10
  communities, representing educators, health care personnel, private
  citizens, food security advocates; the HEAL Advisory is currently
  recruiting additional members from the business community, medical
  profession, and other community members.

Nurturing healthy public policy

• HEAL has worked with schools and School Boards throughout the region to develop healthy eating and active living policy
• First Nations Bands are beginning to adopt healthy food policies as a result of their involvement with HEAL
• Cities and municipalities across the North are also engaged in food security and healthy food policy discussions

Evidence based decision making

• HEAL’s future direction and activities are based on evidence and evaluation of its. By asking what worked? And what didn’t? We are able to identify needs that need to be
  filled (information, resources, skills) and strategies that will bring sustainability and are cost-effective, resulting in long-term savings as the investment in prevention pays off.