Overview
Primary Health Care Service Delivery Model:
Primary Heath Care refers to a method of delivering health care services that is team based- and the ‘patient’ is a valued member of the team. PHC is about the whole person and their life circumstances, family and community, much like the elements of the medicine wheel, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components. PHC is care when you want it by the most appropriate provider, accessible and continuous across the lifespan.
Social Justice:
When the original Constitution for the Central Interior Native Health Society was written in 1991; the founding Board of Directors acknowledged that not only did Aboriginal people in Prince George need access to an exemplary outpatient health centre created to meet their needs, but that to achieve good health outcomes of the Society (CINHS) had to be engaged in, and committed to, confronting those issues that directly or indirectly impact on the health status of Aboriginal People. Other activities were entrenched in the Constitution, but this began the Society’s commitment to Social Justice.
Social Justice is based on the concepts of human rights and equality, and recognizes the dignity of every human being. It is based on the idea of a just society, which ensures individuals and groups fair treatment and a just share of the benefits of society. Social Justice provides the foundation for a healthy community.
This philosophy or foundational tenants has supported the Central Interior Native Health Society’s leadership and/or involvement in a number of community based social justice activities in Prince George. These have included, but not restricted to, endeavouring to put and end to poverty, racism, sexual exploitation, homelessness and homophobia. The Social Determinants of Health have been an effective indicator as to where systemic change needs to occur. It is our goal to be a community partner that sometimes leads, but always participates in the initiatives that strive to make Prince George a better place for Aboriginal people to live and prosper.
Harm Reduction:
Harm reduction is the use of a set of strategies that reduces the negative consequences of drug use or alcohol use to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies. We use a variety of strategies for people to choose from. They can choose to;
- manage their use of drugs or alcohol
- quit using or drinking
- work on issues that cause people to choose to drink or use
- live a drug or alcohol free life
- to have continued support in all areas of their lives
We recognize that poverty; racism, social isolation, classism, colonization, intergenerational trauma; sex-based discrimination and other social inequalities affect people’s ability to recognize the amount of pain these issues have caused them to store in their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. People use drugs or drink in an effort to not feel the pain, and don’t always recognize the damage they might do in the process.
CINHS offers the following strategies to promote harm reduction:
- advanced access – same day medical service
- integrated medical care
- interdisciplinary care management
- outreach services
- addiction counselling
- elder on team – connecting with culture
- cultural ceremonies
- methadone program
- sharing circle
- educational programs
- referral to self help groups like AA, NA, CA
- referral to detox unit
- referral to residential treatment programs
Education:
Family Practice Residency Program
Street Spirits
An award winning theatre company, Street Spirits uses Augosto Boal’s methods of participatory action theatre to work with street youth to express not only the conditions of their lives but to unlock their potential for creating solutions.