Edmonton Social Planning Council

Category: **Resources: Social Issues:

  • 2011 Health Casebook

    Title:Population health intervention research casebook
    Corporate Author: Institute of Population and Public Health
    Canadian Population Health Initiative
    Subject:Health issues – general|split|Health issues – programs, services
    Publisher:Canadian Institute for Health Information
    Place of Publication:Ottawa
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    This casebook showcases population health intervention research in Canada. Importantly, the case studies, which were selected through a peer-review process, reveal some of the intriguing, yet often unanswered questions that surround population health intervention research, for example, how did the research question(s) arise; how were partners involved; how did local context shape the interventions; and what challenges were encountered in scaling up and sustaining interventions?

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.02 HEALTH/2011 health_casebook.pdf

  • 2011 Population Health

     

    Title:Population health: in brief.
    Variant Title:La danté de la population en bref
    Corporate Author: Canadian Institute for Health Information
    Subject:Health issues – general|split|Health issues – planning, policy
    Publisher:Canadian Institute for Health Information
    Place of Publication:Ottawa
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    This document is a list of recent developments in policies, programs and politics related to population health. These interventions may have potential impacts on population health outcomes and be of interest to researchers, practitioners and decision-makers.
    For more information on the policies and programs, please follow the links. In some cases, the external web pages or documents may be available in English, French or in both official languages. The following descriptions are abstracted directly from the source documents.

    Language:English/French
    Material Type:Fact Sheet

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.02 HEALTH/2011 population_health.pdf

  • 2011 Living Wage

     

    Title:Living wage: an introduction.
    Author(s):Cabal Garces, Maria L.
    Subject:Employment – wage issues
    Publisher:Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
    Place of Publication:Guelph ON
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    Many Canadian families are finding it difficult to make ends meet even when they work long hours. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)1 reported that Canadian families in the bottom half of the population, those who have the lowest incomes from a 50% cut-off, are working more compared to families in the 1970’s, yet they have experienced a 24% drop in total earnings. Long work hours means that less time is available for family activities leading to difficulties balancing work and family responsibilities.
    For many Canadians then, having a job does not guarantee a route out of poverty, and in many cases makes them working poor. According to the CCPA3, the working poor are individuals who work year-round and full time but receive wages that are insufficient to lift oneself out poverty. The concept of a living wage, or a rate of pay high enough that allows families to afford a decent and dignified life, has been introduced as a way to improve the livelihoods of the working poor. Many lessons need to be learned from those who have used living wage policies as a tool to fight poverty. This report explores some of the issues related to their implementation.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.05 INCOME/2011 living_wage.pdf

  • 2011 Street Involved Youth

    Title:Impacts of a peer support program for street involved youth
    Author(s):Currie, Cheryl L.|split|LaBoucane-Benson, Patti
    Citation:Published in “Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health” (Vol. 9, Issue 1)
    Subject:Housing – temporary, emergency, homelessness|split|Youth – programs, services|split|Poverty – specified groups|split|Indigenous peoples – inner city
    Publisher:Native Counselling Services of Alberta
    Place of Publication:Edmonton
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    Homelessness is a growing problem in urban centres. The well-documented overrepresentation of Aboriginal peoples among the homeless in Canada makes it a particularly relevant issue for this population. Some of the most vulnerable homeless are youth who are at special risk for gang recruitment, prostitution, and exploitation. The Links program began in 2005 as a three-year project bringing street-involved youth and university students together to increase understanding, foster supportive relationships, and enhance the knowledge and skills of each group. Emphasis was placed on recruiting Aboriginal youth to the program. As a result 50% of street-involved youth who took part identified as Aboriginal. Qualitative evaluation data were collected via surveys, written assignments, and in-person interviews. Findings suggest the program created intense bonds between students and youth. Stereotypes were identified and broken down and youth were empowered to broaden their perspectives on what they could achieve. Both groups gained knowledge they can use to build a better future for themselves and their communities.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Article

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.09 YOUTH/2011 StreetInvolvedYouth.pdf

  • 2011 Hunger Count 2011

    Title:HungerCount 2011: a comprehensive report on hunger and food bank use in Canada, and recommendations for change.
    Corporate Author: Food Banks Canada
    Subject:Food security – hunger, health|split|Food security – planning, policy
    Publisher:Food Banks Canada
    Place of Publication:Toronto
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    In March 2011, 851,014 people were assisted by food banks in Canada. Food bank use is 26% higher than in 2008, and this fact sends a clear message: the effects of the recession are still being felt across the country. As a result, a near record number of people are unable to afford enough food for themselves and their families.

    Fifteen months after the end of the 2008-09 recession, food bank use was essentially unchanged from the same period in 2010. Almost half of food banks actually reported an increase in the number of people they assisted in March 2011, compared to the year before.

    During the HungerCount survey period, 4,188 organizations participated in collecting information. Their records show that 93,085 people made the difficult decision to ask for help from a food bank for the first time. Requests for help came, in every province and territory, from a wide range of Canadians: people with jobs, on social assistance, and on pensions; single people and families with children; renters, homeowners, and the homeless; those whose families have lived here for generations, and new Canadians.

    Food Banks Canada, in partnership with provincial associations, food banks, soup kitchens, and other food programs, has collected data on the need for charitable food assistance annually since 1997. This wealth of information allows us to see that food bank use increases and decreases with the health of the economy – for example, the number of people helped by food banks decreased steadily during the economic boom of the mid-2000s, only to shoot up during the recession, and stay elevated in the current year.

    The HungerCount survey also shows that while food bank use moves with the economy, there appears to be a stubborn limit to how low the need for assistance can fall. Food banks have been helping more than 700,000 separate individuals each month for the better part of a decade, through good economic times and bad – a fact of life that the majority of Canadians find unacceptable.

    This report provides a snapshot of the problem, and offers constructive recommendations that will improve the economic health of people assisted by food banks and drastically reduce the need for food assistance.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report
    Frequency:Annual

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.15 HUNGER/2011 HungerCount-2011-web-print-friendly.pdf

  • 2011 Hunger Crisis

     

    Title:Hunger crisis: report of the hunger inquiry.
    Corporate Author: Recession Relief Coalition
    Subject:Food security – general|split|Social issues – economy
    Publisher:Recession Relief Coalition
    Place of Publication:Toronto
    Date of Publication:2011
    Abstract:

    This report contains shocking testimony about hunger in Ontario as well as recommendations to help resolve this preventable crisis.
    Based on the evidence presented at the Hunger Inquiry, panelists agreed that the principle means by which hunger should be addressed in Ontario should be to raise incomes and made a number of recommendations toward this end. The RRC have responded to the recommendations with a focus on social assistance rates which we believe must be raised immediately in order to stave off a drastic increase in serious health concerns stemming from widespread hunger and malnourishment among the poorest Ontarians.

    Language:English
    Material Type:Report

    F. SOCIAL ISSUES/F.15 HUNGER/2011 hunger_crisis.pdf