FORGE AHEAD launches Wave2

The TransFORmation of IndiGEnous PrimAry HEAlthcare Delivery (FORGE AHEAD) Research Program begins the 2nd wave of implementation this month.

Five community members from First Nations communities in British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario joined staff at The Western Centre for Public Health and Family Medicine on May 6th and 7th for the Community Facilitator Training Workshop. Our Wave 2 Community Facilitators join the FORGE AHEAD Team with a range of backgrounds and positions, including: community health resource workers, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and coordinators of diabetes program and community services. Alex McComber, one of the FORGE AHEAD Co-Investigators from Kahnawake Mohawk Territory near Montreal, and a workshop facilitator, opened the 2-day training workshop with a prayer, followed by Braden Te Hiwi, a Western PhD candidate who led the group in a team building exercise. Workshops facilitators included Mariam Naqshbandi Hayward, Jann Paquette-Warren and Meghan Fournie. The training workshop was geared to provide detailed information about the FORGE AHEAD Research Program. Community Facilitators enhanced their knowledge and skills on participatory research principles, research confidentiality & privacy, facilitation skills, community and clinical readiness consultations, and quality improvement. Community Facilitators will guide their Community and Clinical Team Members to develop, implement and evaluate culturally relevant diabetes initiatives using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle tool. Over the next 18 months, each Team will plan tests of change (Plan), carry out the test (Do), observe and learn from the consequences (Study), and determine what modifications should be made to the test (Act).

Wave 1 Partnering Communities

Since the Wave 1 Community and Clinical Quality Improvement Workshops #1 in January, Community and Clinical Teams have progressed with tests of change in diabetes in their clinics and communities using the PDSA cycle tool in six First Nations Communities across Canada.

Tsuu T’ina Nation, AB

Maskwacis Cree Nation, AB

Ebb & Flow First Nations, MB

Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, QC

Waskaganish First Nation, QC

Miawpukek First Nation, NL

 

Wave 2 Partnering Communities:

Cowichan Tribes, BC

Seabird Island Band, BC

Opaskwayak Cree Nation, MB

Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation, ON

Saugeen First Nation, ON

 

FORGE AHEAD is a five-year research program that brings together First Nations communities, academic researchers, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, government and policy partners, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to improve diabetes management in First Nations communities. The program is being implemented in two waves in order to facilitate community participation. The primary objective of FORGE AHEAD is to develop and evaluate community-driven, culturally relevant, primary healthcare models that enhance chronic disease management and appropriate access to available services in First Nations communities in Canada.

FORGE AHEAD WEBSITE: http://www.tndms.ca/forgeahead/index.html

FIND US ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/FAProgram.

Wave 2 Community Facilitators (front row): Marie Jebb, Bonnie Nickels, Danna Hadden, Hazel Skunk, and (back row) Western Team staff 

Community Facilitator Training Workshop welcome by Dr. Stewart Harris, PI FORGE AHEAD