Description
Description:
For many years, community members in Nunavut have highlighted the need for parenting support. In 2009, the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre in Iqaluit, NU set out to develop a parenting program based on Inuit perspectives on childrearing and family. The Inunnguiniq Parenting Program was the result of 5 years of research and consultation with many organizations and communities. Qaujigiartiit piloted, evaluated and revised this evidence-based, culturally-responsive parenting program prior to releasing it for use in Nunavut in 2015. Ten communities completed pilots of the Inunnguiniq Parenting Support Program between 2012 and 2014.
In this presentation, the story of the creation of the program was shared and a broad overview of the core content was provided. Program successes and challenges were also discussed.
Presenter: Gwen Healey Executive and Scientific Director, Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (AHRN-NU)
Gwen Healey was born and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut and still lives and works there with her family. Gwen is the Executive and Scientific Director of the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (AHRN-NU). She completed her PhD in Public Health at the University of Toronto in 2015, where she studied youth and parent perspectives on sexual health and relationships in Nunavut. More about the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre in Iqaluit, NU It is well-known in Canada that northerners face a number of challenging circumstances when it comes to health. There are also tremendous strengths in communities to address local health concerns, such as a willingness to work together, traditions and customs that support healthy lifestyles and activity and strong cultural pride. Drawing upon existing community strengths and resources, and building capacity to conduct research in the North, is the key to addressing a number of health concerns presently and over the coming years. For this reason, the Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre (AHRN-NU) was founded in 2006, as an independent, non-profit community research centre governed by a volunteer board of directors. The goal of the Centre is to enable health research to be conducted locally, by northerners, and with communities in a supportive, safe, culturally-responsive and ethical environment, as well as to promote the inclusion of both Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and western sciences in addressing health concerns, creating healthy environments and improving the health of Nunavummiut. Since Qaujigiartiit’s inception in 2006, Qaujigiartiit has successfully brought over $8 million dollars in research and training grants into Nunavut, and more than 400 Nunavummiut have led, partnered on, or participated in research projects and training workshops in Nunavut during that time.