Since my posts in February it has become more of a focus for me to ramp up my knowledge of the global movement on Social Prescribing as it gathers momentum in educating Canada in 2024.
Notably over the last five to six years, Social Prescribing has been described, implemented into health and social care systems in various ways, as can be found in this excellent summary document Social Prescribing Around the Worldfound on the National Academy for Social Prescribing in the UK.The process in Canada seems now beginning to find its legs as evidenced on the CISP website through efforts of organizations partnering with CISP.
In 2022, CISP teamed with service design consultancy firm Bridgeable to produce an excellent summary report titled the Current State of Social Prescribing in Canada and since then a wide range of research and evaluation of existing practices has led to a deeper body of knowledge with virtual educational roadshows largely developed for professionals in the field of health and social care, and inclusive of voluntary organizations, funders and policy influencers.
Leading up to the conference this fall, CISP has produced a series of weekly webinars – Research in Focus – from March 13 to April 3, 2024, which I have registered for in order to help inform my ability to serve as an advocate for Social Prescribing in any way I can.
Tomorrow, March 20, the topic is Pan-Canadian Policy Scans –“a deeper dive to understand current health system challenges, priorities and opportunities while sharing considerations on where social prescribing fits within these, how it can help, or where it can grow.” Though Social Prescribing is meant for everyone, on March 27 the discussion will focus on older adults in the session titled Understanding the Social Prescribing Needs and Perspectives of Seniors.
Making March 20th a double header, I have also registered for Social Prescribing: A holistic equitable patient navigation system presented byOntario SPOR SUPPORT Unit (OSSU), a network of 14 provincial health Research Centres. Here Social Prescribing is described as “an approach commonly embedded in primary care, to refer patients to resources that can address patients’ unmet health and social needs, and help them access services and navigate through the system.”
In addition, by the end of March, CISP will release a report based on KPMG’s research on the Social & Economic Impact of Social Prescribing with a central focus on two pathways, one for older adults and the other for selected groups of youth in need of social support as part of a life of wellbeing, and will shed light on outcomes possible through social prescribing.
If all of this is not enough, last week the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) announced its collaboration with CISP to enhance health and well-being opportunities for caregivers across Canada with a $1.8 million investment over two years through four provincial bodies, representing caregivers in Alberta, BC, Nova Scotia and Ontario. The caregiver focus is welcome news as caregiver burnout is a reality for growing numbers of family & friend caregivers.
Surely over the next few weeks I will have more to share about how everyday citizens can fully engage in the education and advocacy for Social Prescribing across Canada.
