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New Coordinators Corner

Welcome!

This section will introduce you to heart health in Ontario and answer some key questions you may have, such as:

  1. Where did heart health begin and what did we learn?
  2. Who makes up the Heart Health Community in Ontario?
  3. How are we moving towards chronic disease prevention?
  4. Why integrate?
  5. What is happening in Canada and Ontario?
  6. What is the role of the Heart Health Coordinator?

Where did heart health begin and what did we learn?

Heart health promotion had its beginnings in the 1980’s with international and national pioneering projects in Europe, the United States and Canada. These included programs from Stanford, Minnesota, Pawtucket, and North Karelia, Finland, and subsequently the Canadian Heart Health Initiative). The Heart Health Action Program (HHAP) 1990-1996 was the demonstration phase in Ontario. It provided information about the “how-to’s” for heart health in Ontario, especially with respect to community partnerships, local programming, and provincial supports for community projects.

The HHAP built on the learnings from those pioneering projects in the United States and Europe. The first to take a community-based approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, these pioneering projects demonstrated that:

  1. population-wide changes in CVD risk factors are possible; and
  2. programs will come and go – but the essence of sustainable change is community organization.

Visit Section 4, page 20, of the Orientation Manual or check out the Heart Health Journey in Ontario PowerPoint presentation.

Ontario Heart Health Program (OHHP) phase I

The OHHP was the first, and remains the only, provincial heart health program in Canada. Its design incorporates lessons from the HHAP, the Canadian Heart Health Initiative Ontario Project 1994-1998 (CHHIOP), and from additional analyses of the pioneering programs from the 1980’s. The main intent of the OHHP was to provide a stimulus to develop a sustainable, province-wide infrastructure for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. 

Visit Section 4, page 21, of the Orientation Manual for more detailed information.

Some Key Lessons Learned from OHHP phase I

This phase developed a viable local infrastructure for primary, population-based prevention of heart disease (and chronic disease prevention). It strengthened public health leadership for heart health and Chronic Disease Prevention/National Healthy Living Strategy, and contributed to multi-risk factor programming for CDP/healthy living.

Visit Heart Health Action Program Preliminary Report: Lessons Learned from the Early Development of the Five Demonstration Projects, 1995 [currently unavailable online] for more detailed information.

Ontario Heart Health Program -Taking Action for Healthy Living (OHHP-TAFHL) phase II

OHHP-TAFHL (phase II) builds on OHHP Phase I. The goal of the OHHP - Taking Action for Healthy Living is to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic diseases such as Type-2 diabetes, stroke and some forms of cancer.

The OHHP - Taking Action for Healthy Living strategy achieves this goal through collaborative partnerships between ministry representatives, provincial organizations, boards of health/host agencies, other local community organizations, and volunteers, by implementing programs with a primary emphasis on physical activity, healthy eating, and smoke-free living, at the community level.
 
Visit Section 4, page 20, of the Orientation Manual for more detailed information.

Who makes up the Heart Health Community in Ontario?

  1. Heart Health Resource Centre
  2. Ontario Heart Health Network
  3. Ontario Health Promotion Resource Centre

How are we moving towards chronic disease prevention?

There is a provincial movement to the chronic disease prevention approach and the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA) is leading the development. OCDPA is a collaborative group of organizations whose mission is to improve the health of Ontarians through leadership that supports collaborative action to promote healthy living and to address the determinants of health necessary for chronic disease prevention

Some public health units and their community coalitions/partnership across Ontario have been making the shift gradually. Program names and staff titles have changes to reflect the transition from a single focus Heart Health approach to a multifactor risk approach to chronic disease prevention.

Why integrate?

Integration of chronic disease prevention activities makes good sense from both a health and a business perspective and the approach shows promise of cost-effectiveness and efficiency. The Advisory Committee on Population Health 2002 highlights the following four elements of integration activities:

  1. Address common risk factors at the same time
  2. Recognize and address relationship between lifestyle choices and social determinants of health.
  3. Consolidate prevention efforts within life contexts (e.g., work, school, community settings)
  4. Engage partners within and across systems to take collaborative action.

What is happening in Canada and Ontario?

At the national level, there are two primary players in the world of chronic disease prevention: the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. A brief description of these two initiatives follows.

The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) is a networked community of organizations and individuals who share a common vision for an integrated system of chronic disease prevention in Canada. Their mission is to foster and help sustain a coordinated, countrywide movement towards an integrated population health approach for prevention of chronic diseases in Canada through collaborative leadership, advocacy, and capacity building.

The Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control works with stakeholders at all levels to provide pan-Canadian and international leadership in chronic disease prevention and control through integrated policy and program development, surveillance, and knowledge development and dissemination.

Many provinces are also working on efforts to integrate chronic disease prevention activities. The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance has a list of provincial efforts.

In Ontario the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance has been formed.

The Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance mission is to improve the health of Ontarians through leadership that supports collaborative action to promote healthy living and to address the determinants of health necessary for chronic disease prevention.

The Alliance first met in February 2003 in recognition of the fact that there was a momentum developing nationally for chronic disease prevention as well as in individual provinces. Currently membership consists of nine Core members, and a range of affiliate members. The nine core members include:

  1. Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division
  2. Canadian Diabetes Association
  3. Cancer Care Ontario
  4. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  5. Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
  6. The Lung Association
  7. Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse
  8. Ontario Public Health Association
  9. Osteoporosis Society of Canada.

What is the role of the Heart Health Coordinator?

OHHP Coordinator responsibilities

Accountability

  • Maintain official records (documents, contributions-in-kind, reports)
  • Monitor Operational Plan (budget, timelines, outputs) against the strategic direction and original needs assessment (1998)
  • Process incoming invoices for expenditures
  • Gather contributions-in-kind and resource distribution numbers for inclusion in reports
  • Coordinate, collate and submit, on behalf of the CP, required provincial plans and reports, including the collation of contributions-in-kind from partners

Communication

  • Link between local project work groups
  • Establish and maintain local communication vehicles
  • Initially deal with all incoming correspondence for the CP
  • Link between community partnership and Board of Health
  • Contact person for the provincial components (Ministry, Evaluation, OHPRS / HHRC, OHHN)
  • Link to OHPRS / HHRC consultants providing local service
  • Monitor, on a daily basis, postings to the HHRC “Heartlinks” list serv
  • Network with partners, OHHN and regional colleagues

Coordination

  • Coordinate the local planning and evaluation process
  • Connect the necessary components of various project working groups and programs
  • Coordinate, with appropriate partners, local meetings and partnership-wide events
  • Coordinate submissions for any funding requests, proposals created by the CP
  • Coordinate the completion of surveys, requests for information coming to the CP
  • Secure additional technical or human resource assistance as needed for work groups and Steering Committee (e.g., HHRC consultants)
  • Coordinate the various aspects of a Volunteer Management program for partners and volunteers

Partnership Support

  • Nurture the relationship with and between partners to maintain their participation
  • Work with CP Chair(s) to establish meeting details (agenda, timing, materials, consultants as required)
  • Provide CP with regular Operational Plan updates (budget, timelines, outputs)
  • Identify and facilitate access to training and learning needs of the partners
  • Ensure new partners are well oriented

Program Support

  • Act as a technical resource and coach to local work groups, as needed (e.g., planning, evaluation, “recommended practices”, specific risk factors)
  • Ensure local identity appears as necessary
  • Monitor inventory of local products (promotional items, program materials)
  • Implement program elements as assigned in the Operational Plan

Representation

  • Ex-officio member of local project CP Steering Committee
  • Participate on relevant local community committees, groups, and coalitions on behalf of CP
  • Active participation in the OHHN
  • Active participation on regional OHHP groups, if they exist (OHHN regional groups, OHHP Coordinator meetings)
  • Attend HHRC provincial and/or regional training events
  • Participate in the OHPRS/HHRC evaluation, as requested

Important tools and tips

  1. Health Promotion 101
  2. Theory and Practice in the OHHP
  3. Model for Decision Making for OHHP: TAFHL Community
  4. Partnerships
  5. Guidelines for Roles and Responsibilities for OHHP: TAFHL
  6. Planning, Reporting and Evaluating OHHP: TAFHL

Visit the Section 8 of the Orientation Manual for detailed information.

Get connected with other Heart Health Coordinators in your area - Sign up for the Heart Health electronic mailing list. If you are interested in joining more e-mailing lists visit the Coordinator Connections section of the site.