 |
Much has been achieved in the nine months since the transfer of four resource centres from the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (MHPS) to PHO. Collaboratively, we have developed a strategic plan, accountability mechanisms and an overall evaluation framework with the Alcohol Policy Network, the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre, the Program Training and Consultation Centre and The Health Communication Unit (THCU). Please note that the Public Health Ontario and The Health Communication Unit (THCU) are collaborating to implement the new delivery model to ensure continuity of service. These FAQs will be updated as additional information becomes available.
THCU has built a reputation for its broad base of expertise, networks and resources and has played a leadership role in the field of knowledge transfer and health promotion skill building. THCU products and services are key components that align with PHO mandate for health promotion capacity building, and health promotion intermediaries will benefit from increased access to PHO’s scientists, content experts, applied research and its expertise in program evaluation, education and knowledge exchange.
No. It is business as usual for PHO’s other partner Resource Centres.
Unlike the other Resource Centres that provide services to support specialized areas within public health (such as tobacco control and injury prevention), THCU has broad expertise that applies to many areas. Its services fit well with PHO’s broad mandate. A collaborative decision was reached to find a new “home organization” for the THCU programs and services. The existing partnership between PHO and THCU, along with the opportunity to build and integrate services for the field around program planning and evaluation guided the transition decision.
Yes. THCU clients and stakeholders will continue to be able to access THCU services during the transition. Over time, we will be working together with THCU staff and consultants to find ways to augment or increase services based on new innovations in health promotion practice and emerging priorities from the field.
Larry Hershfield is taking the position of senior health promotion field support specialist, and as such will work closely with THCU. A member of the Centre for Health Promotion (CHP) at the University of Toronto since 1991, he developed THCU from the beginning and managed it to March 31, 2011. Hershfield is very proud of the many innovations THCU developed including the recent online tools beginning with the Online Health Program Planner. He has made major contributions to facilitating health promotion in Ontario through such roles as curriculum consultant and keynote speaker at the Health Promotion Summer School and the Canadian Health Network. Prior to his involvement with the CHP, he held senior positions in the public health field, including director of the prevention and health promotion programs division at the Addiction Research Foundation. His interest in health communication and health promotion was shaped by graduate work in social psychology and over 35 years of developing diverse programs. Nimira Lalani has worked in the fields of adult education, health promotion/public health, research, and knowledge exchange for 15 years. Originally from London, England, she studied nutrition at the University of British Columbia and completed a master’s of science in Community Health Sciences from the University of Calgary. She enjoys communicating, using her love of words in teaching, writing, getting to know others and developing relationships. Lalani has a creative streak and enjoys finding novel ways to address complex problems. She is committed to using a social justice, client-centred approach in her work and to bringing about meaningful change. Lalani will be joining us as our health promotion field support specialist, policy and planning. Susan Snelling will be joining us as our health promotion field support specialist, evaluation. She has been providing consulting and training on evaluation for 15 years, including 10 years in a local public health unit setting. At the Sudbury & District Health Unit, she was manager of research and evaluation, and evaluation specialist. She recently completed a Canadian Health Services Research Foundation fellowship in the Executive Training for Research Application (EXTRA) program, where her team's work focused on applying evidence on reducing health inequities to a local public health context. Snelling has a doctorate of philosophy in psychology, and holds the Credentialed Evaluator designation from the Canadian Evaluation Society. Sophie Rosa holds a master’s of science in health studies and gerontology, a bachelor of science in psychology and a bachelor of arts. in professional writing in English. Her professional background covers over 12 years of experience in health promotion, communications and strategic planning. She has led numerous national, provincial and municipal communication and public engagement initiatives for the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Previously, Rosa functioned as a senior communications advisor in the public service and as a freelance health writer. She began her career as a communications advisor for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and as a health promotion specialist for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Fluently bilingual, Rosa joins us as our health promotion field support specialist, health communication. Melody Roberts, Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, strategic advisor, who is responsible for leading the design, implementation, strategic management, monitoring and evaluation of capacity building initiatives for the health promotion chronic disease and injury prevention unit will be responsible for overseeing THCU.
The consultants at THCU have been pivotal to its success and credibility in the field. They have been invited to apply for positions and tenders that will be posted.
Yes.
As of April 1, 2011, the email address for the THCU is: THCU@oahpp.ca.
PHO’s Communications Unit will partner with Health Nexus to produce the bulletin.
The PHO headquarters are at 480 University Avenue, Toronto. |
||||||||||||||
| Top of Page |  |