With the health reform in Quebec (Canada), Local Community Health Centers (CLSCs) must now allocate an important part of their resources to personal health care services which were previously delivered by hospitals. Given the difficult financial context, there is a risk that such a new mandate put a lot of pressure on already existing CLSCs' programs such as community organization programs. The objective of this study is to describe CLSCs' community organization efforts aimed at promoting children's health, five years after the initiation of the health reform in Quebec. Three types of activities were investigated: participation in community coalitions, implementation of community organizations and advocacy. Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire mailed to all Quebec CLSCs (n=146). The response rate was 65%. Results revealed a high level of implication in community coalitions and implementation of community organizations with 82% and 55% of CLSCs declaring being involved in such activities, respectively. Substance abuse, parent-child relationships, education, and leisure were the intervention domains most often targeted. Advocacy activities were declared by 30% of CLSCs; poverty was the issue most often tackled within this context. A variety of community partners were identified for each of the three types of activities. Correspondence analysis revealed four groups of CLSCs defined along two dimensions: type of activity and intensity of the involvement in each of these activities. Community organization remains a dynamic intervention sector in CLSCs. Possible facilitators of such intervention efforts are explored in the discussion.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Children, Community Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.