Linking women to health and wellness: Street Outreach takes a population health approach

In a small city (population 86,000) situated in the Interior Health Authority, one of six health authorities in British Columbia, Canada, a local Public Health Street Outreach program was challenged with addressing the increasing complexities of individuals and families affected by substance use, poverty, mental illness, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and homelessness. The individual health service delivery model currently used to provide care in the community, limited and impeded prevention and health promotion activities by nurses working with these populations. Changing to a client centred population health approach instead of the individual service approach gave Street Outreach nurses greater flexibility so that they were able to more effectively engage with clients, families, and other service providers regarding health related issues.The strategies that were developed to use a client centered population health approach entailed: (1) a compilation of health and related information of a specific client group (vulnerable, disenfranchised women); (2) a community based health conference for the specific client group and (3) resource development and knowledge translation to increase the education and awareness of health and social services providers as well as the community at large. All strategies were developed with particular attention to the World Health Organization (WHO) health determinants. Implementation of these strategies resulted in the building of capacity within the specific target group and their families, other health and service providers and the community at large.