October 27, 1995
Dear Friend of the Canadian Women's Health Network:
While some of you have written or phoned, it's been some time since we last communicated with all of you. There have been developments regarding the Canadian Women's Health Network which we are anxious to share. We need your advice and involvement to move forward. In the past few months things have been moving forward very quickly.
Please don't feel overwhelmed by this long letter. The first part is an Update; the second includes Specific Suggestions for how the networking process can continue.
Please read this letter carefully. We are asking for your input and for your involvement in furthering the development of the CWHN.
Please return the enclosed survey questions ASAP or by December 1, 1995. This is crucial to the planning process now underway! Please read on!
Sincerely,
Madeline Boscoe, Winnipeg
Sari Tudiver, Winnipeg
Anne Rochon Ford, Toronto
Lise Lamontagne, Montreal
Gene Lara, Regina
Joanne Lowell, Yellowknife
Carla Marcelis, Ottawa
Catherine Martell, Vancouver
Monica McCunn, New Glascow, Nova Scotia
Monica Riutort, Toronto
Valerie Wiebe, Calgary
Anna Demetrakopoulus, Ensemble, Ottawa
Joan Grant-Cummings, Toronto
First, at long last, you will find enclosed a copy of the report, The Strength of Links: Building the Canadian Women's Health Network. It is a working document which can be used as a tool in network building. The report is based on the Consultation meeting held in Winnipeg in May of 1993, where women representing about 70 organizations across Canada launched the network. Much has happened in women's health since then, and the report includes an update to December, 1994.
The long delays in producing and distributing the reports were largely due, sadly, to the closing of Healthsharing magazine, the anchor organization of the Canadian Women's Health Network Project. As one of the co-sponsors of the Consultation meeting, Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg was asked to complete the Health Canada sponsored project and agreed. Women's Health Clinic provided some limited staff time (for Madeline Boscoe and Sari Tudiver) to do this. A great deal of that time was spent finding ways to meet the terms of the project, and looking for some additional money that Healthsharing had planned to raise for the project. Without staff resources, things moved very slowly. However, they did move ahead. And thanks particularly to the efforts of Margo Fauchon in Saskatchewan, the Coordinating Committee was able to have two low cost conference calls!
This project had several benefits. First, it identified some important cultural and economic differences regarding the issue of women and smoking across Canada. It examined what role women's groups could play in tobacco issues and suggests what resources we would find useful. It summarizes the input from a variety of groups. As a result there may be the opportunity for interested groups to be involved in a cross-Canada project on these issues.
We were also able to add to our database of women's groups working in the areas of women's health.
It also allowed some women in different parts of the country to learn to use electronic mail and to become part of Web, a Canadian computer network used by nonprofit groups, including many women's groups. The project provided start-up costs for electronic communication among groups in different regions--one of the goals women had identified at the Consultation meeting. As more women become computer literate, this will be one important way to maintain linkages and share information through the CWHN.
We are enclosing information on the Web for Women program. Web is a computer network and server that has developed particularly to serve people working on environmental, international development, human rights and social justice issues. It was a founding member of the Association for Progressive Communications, an international association of computer networks with similar mandates. It is run by NirvCentre, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to ``bring affordable communication technologies to the nonprofit sector in Canada.'' They have a special outreach and training program for women. We have found them to be very supportive of our goals and fears! (See enclosure.)
We are proceeding with the creation of a CWHN "home page" on the Internet. The Strength of Links report and this letter (in English and French) will be posted there as well as other documents. Eventually, we would like to see a resource listing developed of various women's health resources and activities on the Internet. Our Internet address is:
The goals of the Canadian Women's Health Network are to help women across the country exchange information and resources, find others with complementary or similar concerns and interests and collaborate on actions, as needed. This is why we called the report, The Strength of Links. Some important steps have been taken to establish this vision. However, there are organizational realities to deal with.
We swing between talking about the network as links among groups and individuals, but we also talk about it as if it had an organizational structure beyond what it currently has. We all want to "use" it, but we don't want to drain time and energy maintaining a structure. We don't want to duplicate the structures or roles of national organizations, such as the National Action Committee on the Status of Women or the Congress of Black Women, but work with them.
However, training people to use electronic mail and conferencing, developing and maintaining databases, having a regular newsletter, an information line to find out who is doing what and where, etc. can't just "happen", but needs planning, coordination and limited structure. We still need a process to involve women in the "how" of the network.
Right now, we have a Coordinating Committee established at the Consultation. Many of the women named two years ago are still there, others have moved on. New women have come forward and said they are interested in being actively involved. They have demonstrated that interest by their involvement and commitment to recent activities. We have contacts in every province and the Territories.
We remain committed to a fair, clear, open and accountable process for how decisions pertaining to "networking" are agreed to and carried out. From the few conference calls that the CWHN Coordinating Committee have had, we realize that it is difficult to discuss issues in any depth in this way. Without significant staff time to devote to network activities, it has been really hard to respond to women who write to us for information or even to be in touch with women who attended the Consultation. Even drafting this letter took weeks of work!
We need to look closely at how operational issues can be addressed such as:
The Coordinating Committee and other women who have been involved in various projects have discussed some options and offer them here as a way to move forward.
We would appreciate hearing any comments from you about these suggestions, any alternative suggestions and whether you are able to take on any specific tasks. We don't see these suggestions written in stone, but as a way to proceed for the next two years. During this period, there would be time and room for exploring other models of network-building, and for many groups and individuals to get involved, as envisioned at the original consultation meeting.
We suggest:
Women's Health Clinic has a strong policy on ensuring equity and diversity is integrated into all aspects of Clinic work. The Board is comprised of women from diverse constituencies and communities, including women with disabilities, immigrant and visible minority women, Aboriginal women, lesbians and women of diverse ages. As we envision it, the WHC role would be to receive reports about CWHN activities, and monitor financial accountability of any projects. It would not be directly involved in any ways in shaping or determining policies or activities. As the anchor organization of the CWHN, the Women's Health Clinic would work from the principle that when any projects or grants are developed, the work and resources would be decentralized.
We would like to see CC members commit themselves and/or their organizations to taking on a particular task (e.g. chairing a working group; writing the newsletter; etc.). Ideally, an organization would be willing to commit some staff time towards these tasks.
Women on the Coordinating Committee would be expected to keep in touch with groups in their area who are interested in the CWHN and able to pass on information.
Members of the CC would ensure that the mandate of the CC decided at the Consultation would be carried out over the next two years and would initiate and advise on the development of network policies and activities. Ideally, they would be part of a local network or set of networks that could be convened to discuss issues and policies as they come forward.
Given that there are no funds for face-to face meetings, we would like to have everyone on the CC have access to e-mail for communication and conferencing with other CC members.
Each group would liaise with the Coordinating Committee member responsible for a particular area.
None of us have any clear answers about how the CWHN will evolve. A foundation is there and we know there are many interested women's groups and individuals across the country.
This is a long-term process of figuring out how to work together, drawing strength and learning from our differences. How we work will evolve and change over time. The vision and planning for a Canadian network has been going on for over 20 years. Other networks in other countries (e.g. Latin American And Caribbean Women's Health Network and ISIS, National Women's Health Network in the U.S., Australian Women's Health Network) have encountered struggles and successes that we can learn from.
We look forward to hearing from you. Please share this letter.
"The policy oriented centres will help define the health status of Canadian women and identify key issues requiring research, investigation and action. They will undertake work that traditional research granting bodies might not normally fund and will also influence the granting processes of those funding sources. The Centres will also provide analysis, advice and information to government and health organizations."
Some of us who had attended the CWHN Consultation meeting in Winnipeg were able to meet at the Women's Health Conference organized by the (now-defunct) Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women in Ottawa last September. We had some serious talks about the Centres of Excellence and whether we should try to be involved. The notion of Centres of Excellence, which traditionally has had a very academic and non-grassroots flavour, raised some concerns. We looked at early drafts of the mandate for the program and became cautiously optimistic. The program clearly recognizes a model of health which is based on determinants of health rather than a disease model.
Early in April, 1995, a group of approximately 50 women were invited to a consultation in Ottawa organized by Abby Hoffmann, the Director General of the Women's Health Bureau, to discuss the Centres of Excellence program. The goal of this meeting was to discuss the framework for these centres, provide feedback and to discuss the various issues regarding "operationalizing" them. Those attending were health care workers, researchers, federal and provincial governmental staff and women working with grass roots organizations. A few of us active in developing the network were also present.
At this meeting, Ms. Hoffman outlined the process for competition for the $12 million which has been allotted to this program over 3 years. We were assured that a determinants of health model will predominate and that policy-based (rather than clinical) research will be the focus of any research sponsored by the Centres. A formal call for letters of intent is now expected sometime in the Fall, 1995. It is our understanding that these applicants will be screened and a request for detailed proposals will go out, with proposals due 2 to 3 months later. An announcement of those selected is expected early in 1996.
The CWHN and the Centres of Excellence
Where might the CWHN fit into all this? The Health Minister's announcement on March 8 stated:
"The Centres of Excellence program will include support for a women's health network that will link researchers, policy makers, health providers and women's organizations at all levels across the country."
At the April, 1995 meeting, Abby Hoffmann laid out a "networking" function for the program and sees this as being carried out by a body separate from the centres. She views this body having a strong grassroots base, an ability to "popularize" information which is coming out of the centres and disseminate it widely to women across Canada.
In turn, there would be a need to gather and share information from community groups, identify the range of community-based research being carried out, and work in collaboration with the Centres to priorize the various needs for policy-oriented research on women's health. The function would be mainly one of communication and finding creative ways of linking academic and community-based work in women's health. There was strong support from attendees at this meeting to build on the existing networking processes and not to create something "new".
We have indicated to Ms Hoffman that the Coordinating Committee/contacts we have recently been in touch with are interested in pursuing this.
The terms of reference for the activities of the networking component of the Centres of Excellence have yet to be set. There are many issues to be discussed and worked through including: the role of the network as a forum for education and debate on key issues; how decisions will be made regarding directions and priorities; training groups to effectively use electronic communications; long-term sustainability of the networking process; ensuring accessibility to and input from diverse community groups, etc etc. The Women's Health Bureau is planning to hold a special meeting in January, 1996 to discuss this further. We suggested that a discussion paper be developed over the fall that would identify key questions, issues and possible ways a networking function might be handled, and that this paper be distributed widely. This would allow enough time for input from different community groups and it would form a basis for discussion at the January meeting. Ms Hoffman has agreed. Anne Rochon Ford has been hired to do this. If you are interested in seeing this document, FAX us IMMEDIATELY. This discussion paper will be posted electronically on our home page as well.
There is no doubt that proceeding with the Centres of Excellence will shape how the network develops. But it seems to be an opportunity for developing what we saw as our key goals and mission--communication, transferring information in accessible ways, sharing strategies about health policies, giving input to researchers, and governments--in a significant way.
c/o Women's Health Clinic 419 Graham Avenue, 3rd floor Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0M3 Phone: 204-947-1517 Fax: 204-943-3844 e-mail: cwhn@cwhn.ca
Sari Tudiver
e-mail: studiver@web.apc.org
Margo Fauchon 5609 - 53rd Avenue St. Paul, Alberta T0A 3A1 tel: 403-645-6673 fax: 403-645-2045
Anne Rochon Ford 24 Lonsdale Toronto, Ontario M4V 1W3 tel: 416-482-6591 fax: 416-488-8995 e-mail: Annerf@web.apc.org
Lise Lamontagne Regroupement des Centres de santé des femmes du Québec 4205, rue Saint-Denis, bureau 320 Montréal (Québec) H2J 2K9 tel: 514-844-0909 fax: 514-844-2498 e-mail (not installed): rcfq@ web.apc.org Gene Lara Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan Inc. (Regina Chapter) 2248 Lorne Street Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2M7 tel: 306-359-6514 fax: 306-359-6522 e-mail: iwsregel@web.apc.org Joanne Lowell 42-A Otto Drive Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2T8 tel: 403-873-2417 fax: 403-873-9417 Carla Marcelis Convergence 255 Montreal Road Ottawa, Ontario K1L 6C4 tel: 613-745-7505 fax: 613-745-8753 e-mail: carla@web.apc.org Catherine Martell Box 4285 Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 3Z7 tel: 604-683-0818 fax: 604-683-0818 e-mail: cmartell@unixg.ubc.ca Monica McCunn Planned Parenthood - Pictou County c/o Pictou Women's Centre PO Box 964 New Glascow, Nova Scotia B2H 5K7 tel (h): 902-396-4236 tel (w): 902-755-4647 or 902-752-2233 fax:902-755-6302 e-mail: pcwc@north.nsis.com Monica Riutort 61 Robina Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6C 3Y8 tel: 416-658-5102 fax: 416-658-5032 e-mail: monicari@web.apc.org Valerie Weibe Alberta Catalyst Group 922-9th Ave. S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2G 0S4 tel: 403-266-2622 fax: 403-266-2692 e-mail: alex@acs.ucalgary.ca CONTACT LIST Louise Bouvier Native Women's Association of Canada Yukon Indian Women's Association 11 Nisultin Drive Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 3S4 tel: 403-667-6162 Mary Burlie Boyle Street Community Services Co-op Main Fl., 9720 102 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B2 tel: 403-424-4106 fax: 403-425-2205 Anna Demetrakopoulos (Ensemble) General Delivery Chelsea, Qu‚bec J0X 1N0 tel: 819-456-4195 fax: 819-682-1667 e-mail: ademetra@web.apc.org Joan Grant-Cummings Women's Health in Women's Hands 2 Carlton Street, Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3 tel: 416-593-7655 fax: 416-593-5867 e-mail: whiwh@web.apc.org Deborah Holmberg-Schwartz Nelson Women's Centre 420 Mill Street Nelson, British Columbia V1L 4R9 tel: 604-352-9916 fax: 604-352-7100 e-mail: deborah@web.apc.org Maureen Hill ASWAC and The Endometriosis Association 18 Oakview Crescent St. Albert, Alberta T8N 6H8 tel: 403-426-5330 fax: 403-428-1066 Raine Mckay Vancouver Women's Health Collective 219-1675 West 8th Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 1V2 tel: 604-736-4234 fax: 604-736-2152 Nuzhath Leedham Riverdale Immigrant Women's Centre 1326 Gerrard St. E., Unit 100 Toronto, Ontario M4L 1Z1 tel: 416-465-6021 fax: 416-465-4785 Marie Storaszczuk-Reid Women Working with Immigrant Women 361 Queen Street Frederiction, New Brunswick E3B 1B1 tel: 506-458-5708 fax:506-459-1756 e-mail: wwiw@web.apc.org Laurienne Ring 72 Marlowe Crescent Ottawa, Ontario K1S 1J1 tel: 613-563-4336 Maggie Thompson 1761 Lee Avenue Victoria, British Columbia V8R 4W7 Jane Walsh St. John's Status of Women Council 83 Military Road St. John's, Newfoundland A1C 2C8 tel: 709-753-0220 fax: 709-753-3817 e-mail: sjswc@web.apc.org