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Grandview - Woodland |
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Health & Social Services—Assets |
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Assets 1. The Health Clinic for Babies, Children and Parents: As I entered North Community Health Centre, I recognized the comprehensiveness of health services for babies, children and parents. I saw this place as one of the assets for child and family living in the Grandview-Woodland community. At the reception table, there were two volunteers, directing parents to the waiting area for their children’s immunization. Along the walls in the area, there were about five to six colorful posters promoting health on child growth, nutrition and immunization. According to the brochure, the centre also provides child and family health services, such as “child growth and development assessments, group support for parents with newborns and young children, nursing consultation and health promotion in schools, nutritive advice and education, parenting information and support, and speech and language assessments and therapy for children from birth to age five” (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2005). With active participation of the volunteers, the health clinic for babies, children and parents is an asset to the community. 2. Needle Exchange, Out-patient Detox Services and Preventative Programs: In response to dramatic increase in drug overdose fatalities in the 90s, Addictions clinic, located on Commercial Drive, has established a couple of programs to address drug and addiction issues happening in the community (Murray & Condon, 2005). The three services that have gained wide community support include the full-time needle exchange program, the outpatient detox services (such as methadone and counseling) and the preventative programs for youth (Strathcona Research Group, 2006, August). From the community survey conducted for identifying solutions to drug and alcohol issues in Grandview Woodland, 69% of the respondents supported the needle exchange program; 87% of the respondents found the detox services are useful in dealing with the drug and alcohol issues; and 89% of the respondents thought that the preventative services (for all ages) are important (Strathcona Research Group, 2006, August). 3. Health and Social Services for First Nations: To serve a large Aboriginal population who reside in Grandview-Woodland, numbers of culturally-based services and programs have been set up to meet their health and social needs (Murray & Condon, 2005). For example, two large aboriginal housing service providers have supplied “a large number of social housing units for First Nations people” (Murray & Condon, 2005). The Aboriginal Health Initiative Program is also designed “to support and encourage Aboriginal communities to identify health promotion projects that are culturally meaningful to them” (Vancouver Coastal Health, 2008). To receive service based on their cultural values and beliefs, Aboriginal people with addiction problem can approach the aboriginal addictions agency and youth addictions service in the area. |