"Moving the Dial" on: Inclusive & Innovative Models for Refugee Health Equity

Established in August 2021, the New Canadians Health Centre (NCHC) provides health and settlement services to government assisted refugees in Edmonton, AB, according to a principles-based model which is underpinned by the core value of social justice, equity, and inclusion. These principles are as follows: 1) welcoming and inclusive; 2) social model of health; 3) community ownership; 4) collaborative; and 5) supportive learning community. The NCHC has also established a partnership with the Evaluation Capacity Network (ECN), a group within the Community-University Partnership (CUP) at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health.

In this presentation, Astrid and Madeleine will be discussing the principles-based model, developed through community-based research, and its impact on the NCHC community, including the current community-based evaluation of the NCHC’s service provision to date, which focuses on alignment of the services with the NCHC’s principles. The evaluation will comprehensively assess the adherence to these core principles, and the impact of the NCHC’s principles-based model on refugees' experiences in relation to their desired health and well-being. The insights gained from the evaluation process will be shared to ensure the sustainability of effective practices and to contribute to the expanding body of evidence surrounding community-based health and social support for refugees.