Table of Contents
Community Assets & Challenges
Vulnerability and Incarceration
Potential Health Challenge
Priority for Community
Aboriginal Communities and Addiction
Ways to Promote Well-Being
Citations
Community health nurses are vital to the well-being of a local community (Stanhope. Lancaster. Jakubec. & Pike MacDonald 2017, 2017). Community health nurses are responsible for analyzing a community and providing a foundational analysis. They also gather data and interpret the findings to identify strengths and areas of concern (Stanhope and co., 2017). This paper’s overall goal was to conduct a comprehensive community assessment to identify strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities, priorities, and challenges. The priority of substance abuse and addiction was identified by the community. Elizabeth Fry staff provided invaluable input to the decision-making process.
We will discuss tertiary interventions that can be used to address the addiction issue. This will refer to the Riversdale community and the Elizabeth Fry Society women. Numerous data were collected by a windshield/walking and other sources. All names mentioned in this paper were granted permission. The overall message is that it was clear that the community assessment should be thorough and include community members. These findings were based on multiple interactions with Elizabeth Fry Society staff and women from the community. They also identified community challenges and assets. Strengths Various health care services. The Elizabeth Fry Society is within one-kilometer distance of many health services. There is a bus service that frequently stops at Elizabeth Fry. (Primary Health Care (2018) A paramedic and nurse practitioner are on hand to diagnose and treat common injuries and illnesses. They provide services such as sexually transmitted infections testing, birth control and chronic disease monitoring.
The bus is an interdisciplinary team that can refer patients to mental health services and addictions services. The community benefits greatly from the on-site health care bus that promotes wellbeing and health at no cost to them (Primary Health Care 2018, 2018). The community is home to St. Paul’s Hospital as well as two pharmacies, providing members easy access to healthcare services. A mother of three children was thankful to the community for its many healthcare resources. It makes everything easier” (anonymous, private communication, September 11, 2018. It is clear that women benefit from the many resources available in healthcare.
Hopkins and Rippon (2015) state that health services which promote and sustain good health are an asset to communities. The community is fortunate to have all the health care services within a radius of Elizabeth Fry Society. Recreation for families and youth. Recreation for youth and families is another asset. White Buffalo Youth Lodge (WBYL), the largest recreation center in the neighbourhood, is free to use (White Buffalo Youth Lodge. n.d.). After school programs for children include a free meal at White Buffalo Youth Lodge, N.d. “Many children who visit this place will not be able eat until tomorrow.
The kids are more likely to come in if they are fed. This allows the children to be taken off the streets into safe, secure environments that offer positive supports. WBYL has strong ties to the Saskatoon Tribal Council. Jump Start, Strengthening Families Program and Saskatchewan Health Authority (White Buffalo Youth Lodge) are also part of the WBYL. This is a great community asset. This is an invaluable resource because many of the women in the community have children. The WBYL recently held a self defense course, which Elizabeth Fry women were invited to take part in. Station Twenty West.
Station 20 West, which houses the Elizabeth Fry Society (Station 20 West (2018)), seems to be a community asset. An outsider stated that she is satisfied with the service provided by the building. Quint has looked at my resume. I go to Quint with my children. CHEP has also provided food boxes in the past. Anonymous, personal communication, September 10, 2018. This building has been called the “engine of urban renewal”, and it houses many dedicated organizations, all of which are located in the same building (Meili 2012). Their goal is to “significantly contribute to social, economic, and health equality” (Station 20, West, 2018).
CHEP is one of several organizations in the building. Quint, a resource to find affordable housing, Quint and Mother’s Centre are other resources. The Elizabeth Fry Society provides support for women who have been involved in criminal justice (Station 20 West 2018). The building is often used by women. It is recommended that women visiting Pine Grove visit the building after they have been reintroduced to the community. Overall, the Station 20 building offers various beneficial community-centered resources.ChallengesFood. It was discovered that Riversdale had no major supermarkets, except for small grocery stores.
A City of Saskatoon community report (2010) revealed that Riversdale residents have difficulty accessing supermarkets. Lotoski and Engler-Stringer (2015) found that most core neighborhoods (including Riversdale) are without access to supermarkets. These stores offer a variety of healthy and affordable food options. A Riversdale resident, a woman, said that she has never owned a vehicle and that it was impossible to walk to the grocery stores. “I cannot believe that there is still not a major grocery store in the downtown, no matter how many years I have lived here.” (anonymous communication, September 10, 2018).
Many Pine Grove women reported poor nutrition quality. Access to nutritious food is not always simple, regardless of whether the Pine Grove women are the same as the other women within the community. Access to housing is another issue that Elizabeth Fry Society staff considers to be important. City of Saskatoon (2018) statistics confirm this. They state that Riversdale is not considered affordable for housing. This is a problem not only for the women of the community, but also for the Pine Grove residents that will soon be released.
Pine Grove has seen many women request housing applications as they worry about their future. According to Saskatoon Housing Authority (2018) prioritization must be granted to applicants once they are qualified. This could lead to lengthy processes. Quint is an organization that often provides affordable housing options to people (Quint Saskatoon (2018)). Many women are looking for housing after being incarcerated. Aboriginal women in Canada face oppression. They are far more likely to be held in jail than women who are not from the country (Hansen, 2014).
Swopes Davis, Scholl (2015) reported that high numbers of women in prison are struggling with addiction. Beverly, Elizabeth Fry Society office manager stated that these women are not receiving enough resources to deal with their addictions. They need help now, not tomorrow. Sue Delanoy (executive director of Elizabeth Fry) also noted that addictions are a problem for women and that there is not much information about how to access them. Elizabeth Fry is located just one-kilometer from two methadone centers. However, the hours are different and an assessment by a counselor in addictions is required before treatment can begin.
Incarceration and VulnerabilityAccording to Stanhope, Lancaster, Jakubec and Pike-MacDonald (2017), vulnerability refers to specific groups of people who are at higher risk for negative health outcomes due to the determinants of health. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to illness and receive less care (Stanhope Lancaster Jakubec & Pike MacDonald, 2017). Elizabeth Fry Society (2018) highlights women who work in the criminal justice process, which is considered vulnerable (Rich, Cortina, Uvin, und Dumont, 2013,). These findings indicate that Elizabeth Fry Society and Pine Grove are vulnerable.
Balfour (2013) suggests that aboriginal incarceration may be linked to social determinants, such as poverty and education. This includes the disadvantages of single parenting, low education, transiency and low income (Balfour 2013, 2013). Balfour (2013) says that aboriginal peoples moving from the reserves to urban centres are more at risk of being imprisoned and criminalized. Aboriginal women are more likely to face charges and be imprisoned in urban or reserve communities than non-Aboriginal females. The fact that Elizabeth Fry has many aboriginal women makes it clear that an upstream approach needs to be used when working with such women. Pine GroveWomen serving their sentence are particularly at risk (Correctional Service Canada 2017.
Correctional Service Canada, 2017, p. 58. Chartrand (2015) noted that women in correctional institutions have a higher rate of mental health issues, addiction, and history of physical and sexual abuse than those in the community. This can lead them to be isolated, confined, or even sentencing increases. Pine Grove prisoner, who felt judged, said that the mental health counselling she received was not good. These services should be prioritized, as evidence suggests that prisoners are more likely to have mental health problems than others.
Potential Health ChallengeAn inability to reintegrate into the community without reoffending could pose a health risk. Wilma, personal contact, September 10, 2018, stated: Every woman in prison has poor coping abilities. Many women resort to alcohol and other drugs to deal with colonization, racism, domestic abuse, or colonization. Because we are so hurt, we can be angry at others and end up in jail. The process of reintegrating into society after incarceration presents many health problems for both the woman and the entire community (Jenkins, 2017,). Women often return to destructive behaviors and are more likely to reoffend if they don’t have the support of their communities. This is due to the need to address these social determinants.
Priority for The CommunitySubstance abuse, addiction and other problems are a priority issue for the community. These issues have been highlighted by Elizabeth Fry’s staff, as well as women themselves. Many of these women have suffered from addiction. This was made clear through active listening and community engagement. This was the main motivator behind the community prioritizing addiction.
The women’s comments suggest that they lack education in coping skills and need to access immediate resources for addiction. Sue Delanoy was the executive director for Elizabeth Fry. (personal communication, September 11, 2018,). Lang et.al. Lang et al. (2013) report that there is often insufficient knowledge and awareness about addiction resources. Addiction is a common problem in the community. This is why it is so important to address the problem.
Addiction can cause problems in many areas of one’s life, including relationships (Selbekk Sagvaag and Fauske (2015)), homelessness (Hansen (2014)), incarceration (Hansen (2014)) and mental health (Lang (2013). It is clear that addiction can affect one’s ability to succeed in other areas of life.
Aboriginal Communities and Addiction Marsh, Young Cote-Meek and Najavits (2016) discovered that trauma from residential schools is passed down through generations and substance abuse is often the only way to cope. Many women in the community have shared their stories about substance abuse with both their parents and their children (personal communications, September 18, 2018,).
It is complex but it is important to not ignore addiction. Preventative approaches must be taken to addictions. Women should be educated about it and how to prevent it. Hansen & Calihoo (2014) made a strong argument that addiction recovery is better than jail sentences. There are many factors that can lead to addiction, including abuse, neglect, and intergenerational traumas like the residential school system. When speaking with women in the community, it is important to consider their past. It is vital that women are taught new ways to cope with high stress.
Health Promotion Strategies: After a thorough assessment of the community and data collection, the community nursing staff must begin a planning process for health promotion. The community health nurse is responsible for identifying resources in the local community when working with vulnerable populations (Stanhope. Lancaster. Jakubec. & Pike Macdonald, 2017. The community has one goal: to reduce the number of people addicted to drugs and alcohol by using tertiary services. An educational pamphlet will be created for the community that contains information on addiction resources and services in Saskatoon.
As noted previously, many are not aware of available resources to help them with their addictions (Lang et.al. 2013). Advocacy is a vital role for the community nurse (Stanhope Lancaster Jakubec & Pike Macdonald 2017). These women need to be given basic information about accessing addiction resources. Educational resources on coping skills will also be offered to the community as an intervention. It has been established that many people who abuse substances are dealing with trauma. Therefore, education resources about coping skills will be a key intervention (Swopes, Davis, & Scholl, 2016).
A downstream approach is needed when treating addiction, as the tertiary prevention strategy’s aim is “to restore and enhance functioning” (p.448). The downstream approach is curative rather than preventive (Stanhope Lancaster Jakubec & Pike Macdonald 2017,). It is important to implement activities that address substance abuse and addiction in order to reduce the use of drugs as a coping strategy. It is obvious that community rehabilitation must be promoted to address addiction. This will help to break the cycle of dependency for future generations.
Cites
Aguiar, W., & Halseth, R. (2015). Aboriginal peoples and history trauma: Intergenerational transmission. Prince George, British Columbia : National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health = Centre de collaboration nationale de la sante autochtone.
Balfour, G. (2013). Does law reform matter? Investigating victimization The criminalization continuum in Canada’s sentencing for Aboriginal women. International Review of Victimology,19(1), 85-102. doi:10.1177/0269758012447213
Chavira, D., & Jason, L. (2017). The Effect of limited housing opportunities on formerly imprisoned people in the context of addiction recovery. Journal of addictive behavior and therapy, 1(1).
Chartrand, V. (2015). Violent scenes in nature. Champ Penal, (Vol. XII). doi:10.4000/champpenal.9158Correctional Service Canada (2017). Women Offenders.Retrieved from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/005007-3012-eng.shtml
Hansen, J. G., & Callihoo, N. (2014). How urban aboriginal people and their clients at the friendship center in saskatoon view addiction recovery. Aboriginal Policy Studies published a special issue that included two volumes, each focusing on different topics. doi:10.5663/aps.v3i1-2.21702
Hopkins, T., & Rippon, S. (2015). Health care from the head, hands and heart: Asset-based strategies. The Health Foundations of London. Retrieved from http://www.colabdudley.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/headhandsandheartassetbasedapproachesinhealthcare.pdf
Intergenerational communication has recently been examined and studied (2018). Merriam Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intergenerational
Jenkins, M. J., Danimer, H., & Raciti, D. (2017). “Built around success”: Improving county jailinmates’ perceptions regarding reentry. Corrections Today. 79(4). Retrieved from https://login.libproxy.uregina.ca:8443/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy.uregina.ca:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=123999474&site=ehost-live
Lang, K., Neil, J., Wright, J., Dell, C., Berenbaum, S., & El-Aneed, A. (2013). Qualitative research of barriers to accessing treatment for people who inject drugs, Saskatoon Canada: Perspectives on service providers. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy,8(1), 35. doi:10.1186/1747-597x-8-35
Lotoski, L. C., Engler-Stringer, R., & Muhajarine, N. (2015). Cross-sectional study of intervention at a community-based cooperative grocery stores in Saskatoon Canada. The Canadian Journal of Public Health published an issue (Volume 106, Issue 3) that discussed various topics related to public health. doi:10.17269/cjph.106.4710
Marsh, T. N., & Young, N. L. (2016). An Aboriginal Sample Study reveals the impact of Indigenous Healing & Seeking Safety on Intergenerational Trauma, Substance Use and Intergenerational Trauma. The Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy published an article in their 7th volume, 3rd issue. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000284
Meili, R. (2018). The health of Canada: A focus on the human condition can help to revive democracy. Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ISk_DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=A healthy society. How a Focus on Health can Revive Canadian Democracy&ots=yvEpficpVH&sig=ymLCe-wuEF4Rnknes-ReO_NiBYc#v=onepage&q=
A healthy community. How a focus on health can revive Canadian democracy – Health Bus (2018). Retrieved from https://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/Primary-Health/Pages/HealthBus.aspx
Rich, J., Cortina, S., Uvin, Z., & Dumont, D. (2013). Women, inincarceration, and health. Women’s health issues. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2013.08.002Saskatoon Health Region (2010). Report on Food Access to Saskatoon Community. Retrieved September 21, 2018 from https://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/Health-Observatory/Documents/Reports-Publications/CommunityFoodAccessReportOct2010.pdf
Saskatoon Health Region (2015). Better Health for All Health Status Reporting Series 6. Retrieved September 21, 2018 from https://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/Health-Observatory/Documents/Reports-Publications/2015_shr_series6_hsrfull.pdf
Selbekk, A. S., Sagvaag, H., & Fauske, H. (2014). Addiction, treatment and families: A critical realist search of theories that could improve practice. Addiction Research & Theory,23(3), 196-204. doi:10.3109/16066359.2014.954555
Stanhope, M., Lancaster, J., Jakubec, S. L., & Pike-MacDonald, S. A. (2017). Working with vulnerable populations. Community Health Nursing in Canada (3rd Ed., pp. 410-456). Toronto, ON: Elsevier Canada.
Swopes, R. M., Davis, J. L., & Scholl, J. A. (2016). Treatment of Substance Abuse in Incarcerated Women. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,32(7), 1143-1165. doi:10.1177/0886260515587668
The White Buffalo Youth Lodge is a facility that supports young people. (n.d.). [Website] Retrieved from https://www.sktc.sk.ca/programs-services/family-community-services/community-supports/white-buffalo-youth-lodge/
Website reference Stats Canada City of saskatoon Community Profile website referenceSaskatoon housing Authority (2018). [Website] Retrieved from https://www.saskatoonhousingauthority.com
About Station 20 East. (2018). [Website] Retrieved from http://station20west.org/about
The Saskatchewan Health Authority reported in 2018. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Retrieved from https://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/mhas/Pages/MethadoneAssistedRecoveryServices.aspx
