Last year Northern Health did community consultation meetings all across Northern B.C. to determine what characteristics were in the vision of communities growing up healthy. Recently Northern Health released the findings of their report.
Feeling loved – safe - valued - worthy, having the necessities of life, access to nature and free play, participation in organized activities, and becoming independent were outlined as important factors by most communities.
Though Houston did not host one of the consultation meetings in 2016, Dr. Sandra Alison, Chief Medical Health Officer forNorthern Health stated that poverty is a huge issue in the North.
“Many of our families in the North are struggling with issues around food security, access to safe and appropriate nutrition,safe housing, appropriate incomes, and those pieces. We know that poverty is a important health influence, and income itself is one of the most important determinants of health,” commented Dr. Alison.
Northern Health has partnered with groups in Houston to increase child and youth health in the past and continues to presently.
Four community groups in Houston received $9182 since 2014 through the Northern Health Imagine grants. In 2014Houston Link to Learning received a portion of this fund for the stepping stones project, in 2015 the Houston Hikers Society received money for the Morice-Klinger Network project, in the spring of 2016 the Houston Christian School Society was allocated funds for an accessible playground equipment project and Silverthorne Elementary School was awarded financial support for their serving salads project.
“Elementary school children and secondary school children are really benefiting from the generosity of community organization. Previously not all schools were benefiting from this, but now in the Houston area there is a breakfast programming serving the elementary and secondary program. We do realize that children are much more prepared to study with a full stomach,” added Dr. Alison.
Partnering for Healthier Communities is another grant pool of Northern Health that has financially supported Houston with$41,800 since 2013 for an obesity, diabetes, mental health, tobacco reduction and community engagement, a community seeds grant in 2014, and Winterfest in 2016.
The Community Health Education and Social Services committee in Houston is designed to address security needs and ascertain the beneficial solutions.
“CHESS takes ownership of the major issues in the community, and provides opportunities for community members to become engaged and active,” said Dr. Alison. “Sitting down with a number of partners and having a discussion about what are the issues and then trying to plan and map those needs is vital.”
Doctor Alison also stated that purpose of the Northern Health: Growing Up Healthy in Northern B.C. consultation is to report back to communities about what was discussed, and provide a foundation for districts to access to build healthy children and families.
Agencies in Houston to help with poverty Issues:
Houston provides the following services for those in need of food security and struggling with poverty:Love by the Bowl soup kitchen every Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. located on 3464 11th Street.
Food Bank days at the Houston Salvation Army are every Thursday. Stop by a day before to make an appointment during operating hours Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. or call 250-845-3494. Houston Salvation Army is located on3429 10th Street. The Salvation Army also provides emergency transportation for those with an out of town hospital appointment, and emergency lodging on some occasions. If you need to access these services you can call the same number and ask to speak with supervisor Marla McIntyre or the Bulkley Valley Ministries Director, Tim Sharp.
Good Food Box program applications can be found at the Northwest Community College at 3221 W 14th Street or at theHouston Link to Learning Office at 3221 14th Street. For more information call the Houston Link to Learning at 250-845-2727.