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”