Welcome to CHWconnect
Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been successfully deployed around the world to address a spectrum of health needs, particularly in remote and rural communities. In Canada, CHWs are on the frontline delivering community-based diabetes care in First Nations communities.
CHWconnect encourages communities to access knowledge and lessons learned by CHWs and other health team members. Here you’ll find training materials and other resources to help CHWs and community members strengthen prevention and improve care for people living with diabetes.
The CHW Diabetes Program
Rural and remote First Nations in Northern Ontario experience a very high burden of diabetes, linked to other serious health conditions. The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and the Indigenous Health Partners Program (IHPP) at Dignitas International jointly launched a pilot CHW Diabetes Program aimed at helping CHWs deliver culturally-safe diabetes treatment and prevention. The IHPP has since transferred to the University of Toronto Department of Family and Community Medicine.
The CHW Diabetes Pilot Program took place in four remote communities in Northern Ontario: Kingfisher Lake, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), New Slate Falls and Kasabonika Lake.
The CHW Diabetes Program is expanding with the goal of supporting all communities in the the Sioux Lookout Area.
