Population Health Fund Atlantic Initiative - A Retrospective Review (2001-2008). 2008.

A review of the successes, challenges and impacts of PHAC Atlantic’s strategic use of the Population Health Fund for building policy capacity in Atlantic Canada.
By Bruce L. Smith
17 pages
...download full report (414 KB)

Description

In 2001, the Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada (then Health Canada) launched the Capacity Building for Policy Development Initiative. The aim was to use the federal Population Health Fund (PHF) to support the development of healthy public policy through capacity building among both community groups and government representatives. Seven population groups that are often excluded from the policy process were identified as priority populations for project funding under the Population Health Fund (PHF). Over a seven-year period, 128 PHF projects received funding to work on policy-related issues.

The Capacity Building for Policy Development Initiative has been the focus of three prior, interim evaluations. This retrospective draws on the findings of these earlier evaluations and other relevant documents. The author also interviewed 15 project representatives and spoke with key government partners. The report briefly describes the Initiative, discusses findings for each component and identifies key highlights and lessons learned.

The author concludes that the strategic and intentional use of the Population Health Fund supported activities that increased capacity, activity and opportunities for community participation in policy development:

• Capacity building and relationship development are definitive steps in the process that contribute to and have an impact on policy development.
• The PHF's seven-year time span is credited with providing clear intention, strong direction and the opportunity for in-depth learning.
• There is good evidence that the shift to longer-term funding resulted in significant benefits to funded groups and to improved project outcomes.
• The importance of building a strong foundation that rests on knowledge and evidence, capacity and relationships was affirmed.
• There is evidence that the focus on policy capacity continued to produce results (community action in policy development) after project funding ended.

Credits

Population Health Fund Atlantic Initiative - A Retrospective Review (2001-2008) was produced by Bruce L. Smith of BL Smith Groupwork Inc. for the Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Availability

This publication is available for download in English and French. To open the pdf file you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

... pdf English (414 KB)
... pdf French (664 KB)

For more information, contact:

Public Health Agency of Canada
Suite 1525, 15th Floor, Maritime Centre
1505 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3Y6
Tel: (902) 426-2700
Fax: (902) 426-9689
E-mail: atlantic-atlantique@phac-aspc.gc.ca