View
2
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
INS IDE TH IS
I S SUE :
National
Social Work
Week
2
Continued 3
Mental Health
& Addictions
Team
4
Inside story
from Fort
Liard
5
Community
Nurse Practi-
tioner
6
Who’s New at
Dehcho
Health & So-
cial
Services
7
March Is
“Nutrition”
Month
8
HEALTH BEAT S P R I N G 2 0 0 8
V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 1
Health Promotions Team
Over the next 6 months Daniele Gregoire, Health Promotions Officer
and Bernice Hardisty, Health Promotions Officer will be working on the
following Health Promotion topics:
• Nutrition and Dental,
• Activity and Exercise
• Infection Control, and
• Injury prevention.
During the month of April the focus will be on Dental and Nutrition / Ac-
tivity and Exercise.
Bi-Monthly visits will be made to the Dehcho Communities where the
Health Promotion Officers (HPO’s) will meet with the Band Office and
schools informing them of what presentations will be made at the schools
during the visit.
Once a month the HPO team will be doing a presentation at the school
and also for the general public to raise awareness on healthy living.
The HPO team is very excited about their new positions and are anxious
to get out into the communities to share their knowledge about Health
Promotions Information. If you have any questions you can call Bernice
Hardisty or Daniele Gregoire at (867) 695-3815.
To Tracy Humphrey from all the staff at Dehcho
Health and Social Services for the completion of
her Masters Degree of Clinical Nursing from the
Charles Sturt University of Australia.
Congratulations
National Social Work Week March 3-7, 2008
What is Social Work?
Social work is a profession concerned with helping individuals, families
groups and communities to enhance their individual and collective well-
being. It aims to help people develop their skills and their ability to use
their own resources and those of the community to resolve problems.
What do Social Workers Do?
Social worker’s provide services as members of a multidisciplinary team
or on a one-to-one basis with the client. The duties of a social worker
very depending on the setting in which they work.
Social Workers are involved in responding to, and investigating child wel-
fare concerns. This can include the planning and delivery of a variety of
services for children and families, such as family support, residential care,
advocacy, foster care and adoption.
Social Worker’s also participate as part of a multidisciplinary team to as-
sist in the provision of services to the aged and mental/physical chal-
lenged. This can also mean working closely with the home care program,
mental health and addictions team and other non-government agencies in
the communities, such as friendship centers.
The Duty to Report When You Believe A Child is in Need of Protec-
tion:
Anyone with information or the belief that a child is in need of protection
must report this information to Social Worker without delay.
When is a Child Thought to be in Need of Protection?
A child (0-16 years) who is either being, or who is felt to be at risk of be-
ing physically, sexually or emotionally abused and/or neglected by a par-
ent or caregiver maybe in need of protection.
To whom should a report be made?
The report should be made to a Social Worker.
P A G E 2
H E A L T H B E A T
How is a report made?
Verbally (in person or by phone) or in writing. If someone is worried about giv-
ing their name they can ask to remain anonymous (however, if the case goes to
court, their name may have to be released).
Should a report be made when a person is unsure if the child is in need of
protection?
Community members reporting information regarding a child in need of protec-
tion will not be held liable for any information they give, unless the report was
made maliciously (i.e. done to get back at someone/get revenge) and the report is
not true.
How can I get in touch with a Social Worker?
Dehcho Health and Social Services employs nine Community Social Service
Workers, in the Region.
Fort Liard office Zak Khan can be reached at 867-770-4770
Fort Providence office
Angelina Antoine and Constance MacIntosh can be reached at 867-699-3421.
They also cover the community of Kakisa.
Fort Simpson office
Amy Fraser, Elsie Gresl, Chris Misevicius, Stephanie dePelham and Cindy
Browning can be reached at 867-695-7070. They also cover the communities of
Jean Marie River, Trout Lake, Nahanni Butte and Wrigley.
After hours, there is a on-call schedule where a Social Worker is scheduled to
take calls evenings and weekends. This schedule is dispersed to the Health Cen-
ters, RCMP and foster parents. You can reach the on-call worker, in Fort Simp-
son by calling 1-867-695-3711,
extension 028.
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 1
P A G E 4
“to Support
people in living
balanced lives by
promoting,
protecting, and
restoring mental
health and well-
being”
Mental Health & Addictions Team About Menta l
Health &
Addictions (MHA):
Goal: of the Mental
Health & Addictions
program is to support
people to live balanced
lives by promoting, pro-
tecting, and restoring
mental health and well
being.
Counselors are bound by a code of ethics. All communication and re-cords are kept strictly confidential. Information can only be released by your per-mission or court order. Information pertaining to a person harming him/herself or another person must, according to law, be shared with the appropriate authori-ties.
What Services Are Offered:
•Counseling to individu-als, couples, and fami-lies. •After treatment care and follow up service •Education, prevention and awareness presen-tation and programs in the areas of Mental Health, Addictions and Family Violence •Student Assisted pro- gram– A counseling based program that can be accessed by youth at their school.
Community Wellness Workers Pat Switzer and Justin Carre
Mental Health & Addictions & Community Well-ness Workers (CWW) : Fort Simpson Office: 1-867-695-7070 Jen Olsen– MHA Coun-selor Pierre Morais– MHA Counselor Pat Switzer– CWW Justin Carre– CWW Fort Liard Office: 1-867-770-4770 Margaret Watson– MHA Counselor Robert Firth– CWW Fort Providence: 1-867-699-3421 Victoria Cleveland– MHA Counselor Tina Gargan– CWW Hay River Reserve: 1-867-874-2838 Sh i r l ey Lama l i ce– CWW Regional Office: 1-867-695-3815 Ethel Lamothe M a n a g e r , M e n t a l Health, Addictions & Family Violence
H E A L T H B E A T
Alison White, one of the Community Health Nurses
in Fort Liard had an unfortunate fall while visiting
Fort St. John and as a result has broken her leg, she
will be off work for the foreseeable future. Best
wishes for a speedy recovery to Alison from all of us
at Dehcho Health and Social Services.
We would also like to send our best wish to Lois
Martin Supervisor Long Term Care, for a speedy re-
covery.
The Colorectal Cancer project By Joan Peddle
The colorectal cancer project is moving ahead slowly. The Canadian Cancer Society has
donated a sum of money that will be used to do a media promotion. Hopefully, this will
encourage more people to come forward and participate in this survey. The Northwest
Territories has the highest incidence of colorectal cancer in the country making it very
important that people between the ages of 50 and 74 be screened annually. More informa-
tion on this worthwhile study is available free of charge at the Health Centre in Fort
Liard. All you have to do is contact one of the Community Health Nurses
The Inside story from Fort Liard Health Centre
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 1
The big news in Fort Liard is that Irene McLeod Clerk interpreter has been
awarded a wise woman award by the Status of Women Council of the NWT.
You are most deserving of this recognition for your work in the health centre and in the
community. Congratulations , Irene from all your friends at Dehcho Health and Social Ser-
vices.
The Wise Women Awards are meant to honor women who are role models in their commu-
nities and who provide volunteer, counseling, and caregiver services to others.
Congratulations
Get Well Soon
P A G E 6
“The Nurse
Practitioner
Provides
comprehensive
nursing care to
clients”
“Community Nurse Practitioner”
H E A L T H B E A T
Update from Nahanni Butte :
Marlene Konisenta has worked for
Dehcho Health and Social Services for
seven years offering help and support to
the one hundred and twenty residents of Nahanni Butte. Its
business as usual in Nahanni Butte with the monthly visits
from the doctor and nurses.
The focus of the Nurse
Practitioner is community
health nursing with par-
ticular emphasis in Com-
munity development and
health promotion as well
as knowledge and skills in
assessment diagnosis, in-
tervention, treatment man-
agement, drug therapy and
referral function which are
shared with physicians,
pharmacists and other ser-
vices providers.
The Nurse Practitioner
provides comprehensive
nursing care to clients in-
cluding health promotion,
illness and injury preven-
tion, supportive curative ,
rehabilative and palliative
care. The Nurse Practitio-
ner collaborates with the
Dehcho communities to in-
crease the capacity for self
care and direction as edu-
cator, leader, researcher
and advanced clinical prac-
titioner.
Who’s New at Dehcho Health and Social Services?
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 1 1
Zulfqar Khan
Zalfqar Khan also Known as Zak
grew up in Pakistan and moved to
Toronto, Canada in 2003. Zak, com-
pleted his Masters in Social
Work in Pakistan and then did
one internship with International
Labor Organization (United Na-
tion) in Geneva, Switzerland.
While still in Pakistan, Zak
worked with the Rehabilitation Ser-
vices as a Medical Social Worker
for two years. In Toronto he was
employed by senior link for two
years before he received an oppor-
tunity to work with the Ontario
Disability Support Program as
an employment specialists, at
the same time he completed
some certifications for his pro-
fessional development like Di-
versity awareness and under-
standing mental illness. He was
also honored by the House of
Common Canada for his volun-
teer work for seniors in To-
ronto, Ontario.
along with Daniele Gregorie who is
also a Health Promotion Officer
some of you might have met her al-
ready. We will be working with the
Community Health Representatives
and the Community Health Workers
in the communities. I’m happy to be
back at work and ready to take on
I would like to say a big hello to
all the Dehcho communities.
Letting you all know that I’m
back at work, not as a Regional
Community Health Representa-
tive or a Community Wellness
Worker but as an Health Pro-
motion Officer. I will be working
this new
role as
H e a l t h
Promotion Officer and looking
forward to seeing you all during
our community visits.
left the community 25 years ago
for educational purposes and dur-
ing that time I got married and
have lived in the community of
Fort Resolution with my husband
and family for fifteen years. We
relocated to Edmonton, Alberta
to further my education and as a
result, I obtained a Bachelor of
Science in
Nursing Degree. I am very ex-
cited and pleased to be given
this opportunity to work with
the Dehcho Health and Social
Services and look forward to an
exciting and challenging career.
My name is Karen Balsillie,
I'm the newly hired Home Care
Nurse for Dehcho Health and
Social Services. I am originally
from Fort Simpson, my par-
ents are Florence and the late
Jim Isaiah. I have returned to
Fort Simpson with my family
to work and make a home . I
Zulfqar Khan
also known as
Zak
Karen Balsillie
Welcome Back Bernice Hardisty
March is “Nutrition” Month
This is nutrition month, it is a good chance to bring forward the latest advances in thinking about
natural substances, and the beneficial effect they might play in keeping us healthy. In addition to
adhering to “Canada’s Food Guide”, we know that increased intake of Vitamin D is not only
beneficial in making our bones stronger and preventing Osteoporosis, but it may reduce the risk
of breast and bowel cancer by 30%. The new recommendation is 2000 IU each day. Calcium
also prevents Osteoporosis or weakening of the bones and is very important after we reach mid-
dle-age and older.
We know that a natural enzyme found in the muscles may be depleted somewhat if we are on a
prescription drug Statin (includes Lipitor, Zocor, Meyacor, Lescol, Pravechol and Crestor) for
cholesterol reduction. If you are on these drugs, it would be beneficial to take 1 or 2 Q-enzyme
capsules each day. They can be purchased over the counter at health food stores or local store.
The benefits of fish oil is also beneficial to boost the HDL or good fats, and they decrease the risk
of platelet aggregation and lowering the serum fibrinogen and triglyceride concentration and
therefore may prevent heart attacks and strokes. Nuts, flax seeds and other omega-3 fatty acids
are very good.
Lots of exercise, good healthy diet combined with the suggestions outlined about, as well as not
smoking, no excessive alcohol intake and low stress levels all help to keep us healthy. Keep
healthy and live a long and productive life.
Ivan Woolfrey, M.D.
100th Anniversary of the Canadian Nurses
Association
Dehcho Health and Social Services wishes the Cana-
dian Nurses Association (C.N.A) success with the
100th anniversary celebrations of this association.
The C.N.A formed in 1908 and now is the national
voice for Canadian nurses across our vast country.
This years theme celebration is “My Voice, My
C.N.A”.
The C.N.A is working to provide a stronger voice for
a more ‘vibrant health system for all’. Dehcho
Health and Social Services has encouraged staff to
participate in this ‘once in a lifetime’ event.
Congratulations, C.N.A.!
BOX 246
Fort Simpson, NT
X0E 0N0
Phone: 867-695-3815
Fax: 867-695-2920
Email: health_beat@gov.nt.ca
“Working Together for Healthy
Lifestyles”
Recommended