Message forwarded on behalf of RNAO: RNAO is excited to announce a new project on smoking cessation for pre and post natal women and their families as part of their Smoking Cessation Initiative. We will be hosting one-day ‘Best Practice Champions for Smoke-Free Pregnancies’ workshops across the province at no cost to participants within Ontario. At these workshops participants will receive quit kits for their pregnant and postpartum clients as well as resources to support smoking cessation interventions with this population. At this time we are distributing a Request for Proposal for Host Sites due by or before May 8^th, 2014.  http://communities.rnao.ca/sites/community/files/rnao_best_practice_champions_for_smoke-free_pregnancies_host_sites.docx.  Priority will be given to host sites in primary care including family health teams, public health units and community and home health care. RNAO is hopeful that there will be much interest in these new workshops and encourages sites to apply. Please contact Katherine Wallace, Program Manager for Smoking Cessation at kwallace@rnao.ca if you require further details.

Data to Decisions What’s meaningful to you?

Register now for the webinar April 23, 2014, 12 pm to 1.30 pm EST 

Presentation slide deck

Data to Decisions 1.0: Advancing Primary Care (D2D 1.0) was launched on March 31, 2014. It is an opportunity to get an early start on sharing and reporting on those indicators that are most comparable, currently available and mean the most to you. Participation is completely voluntary – all AFHTO members are invited but NOT required to contribute data. AFHTO’s Indicators Working Group has reached an important milestone. Approximately 35 indicators have been shortlisted based on technical feasibility and availability. Now we need to know:

What’s meaningful to you?

The D2D 1.0 – What’s Meaningful to You? Webinar kicks off the voting process that will identify the top priorities. It is open to all members. It will provide you with additional background and give you an opportunity to learn more about indicator selection to date and the voting process—which starts immediately after the webinar.

Who should attend?

All members interested in learning more about D2D 1.0 and interested in sharing their feedback on the indicators that are most meaningful to them.

Registration details

Register now for D2D 1.0 What’s Meaningful to You?  taking place on April 23^rd 12 pm to 1.30 pm EST.

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And just a reminder, all AFHTO members are also invited to pre-register for our Political Action webinar – Tuesday, April 15, 4:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern time. Public Affairs consultant Patrick Nelson will join AFHTO President Keri Selkirk and ED Angie Heydon to:

• Give an overview of the current political landscape as it relates to primary care;
• Review AFHTO’s political action activities and responses to date;
• Share tips and techniques for making the most of your meetings with MPPs and candidates;
• Answer your questions and ensure you receive the support you need for your meetings.

This morning the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced plans to increase investments to community health infrastructure. Included in this announcement is the statement – “Ontario is also creating a dedicated Community Infrastructure Renewal Program that could also help community organizations such as Public Health Units, Family Health Teams and Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics with the cost of maintenance and deferred capital repairs.”  In the media conference the Minister noted the annual budget for this program would begin at $5 million for the next year and increase to $10 million annually in three years. No further details are available at this time. AFHTO will be connecting with the Minister’s Office to learn more about plans for implementing this program.

With a potential election on the horizon, now is the time to strengthen political support for interprofessional comprehensive primary care.  Regardless of which party forms the next government, our collective job is to ensure all politicians and candidates are well-educated on the value of interprofessional comprehensive primary care teams and the need for support to expand access, enhance value, and enable recruitment of the staff needed to deliver care. Learn more about this campaign and how you can participate in it. Pre-register to join us for our Political Action webinar – Tuesday, April 15, 4:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern time. Public Affairs consultant Patrick Nelson will join AFHTO President Keri Selkirk and ED Angie Heydon to:

• Give an overview of the current political landscape as it relates to primary care;
• Review AFHTO’s political action activities and responses to date;
• Share tips and techniques for making the most of your meetings with MPPs and candidates;
• Answer your questions and ensure you receive the support you need for your meetings.

AFHTO launched the province-wide “Better Care. Healthier Families. Best Value.” campaign in the Ontario Legislature on March 17^th – the 10-year anniversary of government’s announcement of Family Health teams. Following from that:

• You received an e-mail from us on March 27 or 28 asking you to meet with your local MPP(s) and candidates and equipping you with key messages and other materials for these meetings.  These were e-mailed on a riding-by-riding basis so that you could coordinate in ridings where there are multiple AFHTO members.
• AFHTO has mailed the “Better Care. Healthier Families. Best Value.” brochure to all MPPs.
• Last Thursday, AFHTO’s President Keri Selkirk and ED Angie Heydon met with the PC and NDP Health Critics, Christine Elliott and France Gélinas. While all parties support the general concept of interprofessional primary care, the key issue is to educate on the value of committing to further investment to expand access and enhance value while also enabling sufficient funding to recruit and retain staff.
• Keri and Angie are also scheduling meetings with key health policy advisors in all three parties.

With over 100 ridings in this province, your help is needed in this campaign, and AFHTO is here to help you. Many AFHTO members have cultivated strong relationships with their local politicians; others may welcome advice and support to strengthen political links. Please pre-register for the Building Political Support Webinar, April 15, 2014, 4:00 PM EDT, at:   https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1282647741528869121