1

Community Learning Centres:

A Model of Community Engagement in Health, Education and Training

Sandra Jarvis-Selinger – on behalf of the KCLC team

2

Ktunaxa Community Learning Centres UBC and Ktunaxa Nation

Ktunaxa communities: ʔAq̉�am Lower Kootenay ʔAkisq̉�nuk Tobacco Plains

3

Technology and Health Design, implement, and evaluate

Community Learning Centres (CLCs)

CLC defined: Freely accessible Internet-

linked computers Web-based health information that include community defined content

4

KCLC Outcomes CIHR funding laid the

groundwork

TEKTIC funding significantly enhanced KCLC by supporting specific initiatives that have helped define the success of KCLC project

5

TEKTIC Outcomes University-Community Mentorship

Music Technology Workshop

Yukon First Nations Partnerships

Ktunaxa-Yukon Knowledge Sharing Workshop

6

University-Community Mentorship A university researcher learned and applied

community-based research methodologies to support and mentor community leads

This mentorship empowered leads to: Engage with the community to determine health priorities Create the website content and design Organize CLC workshops and events

This mentorship also led to long-term relationships… Based on trust and open communication Over various mediums (e.g. email, Skype, WebEx) Which enhanced collaboration across social, cultural, and

physical boundaries.

7

“WebEx is a great tool for helping us out with our Community

Learning Centres. It’s a great way to get into new technology and it helps us to better communicate with all of the CLC workers as a

group.” -Lower Kootenay Research Lead

8

Music Technology Workshop Held in April 2009 for over 20 Ktunaxa youth to

collaboratively record music

Led by two successful Aboriginal musicians, and DigiDesign’s charity committee donated “state of the art” eq̉uipment

This workshop enabled youth to: Collaboratively create a song titled “Stomp” Organize regular evening music recording sessions at the CLC Access a sustainable outlet for self-expression and a healthy

environment to interact with peers Talk about important issues they face in their community (e.g.

depression, drug use) in an authentic way

9

“This is a beat, this is a song, this is an anthem.

Turn up the song, turn up the base, start dancin’.

Let loose, let the venom of the music intoxicate your body.

Feelin’ the rush, lovin’ the high, kickin’ the adrenaline.

My mind occupied from the rush of the music.”

- Donovan Williams, participant

10

Yukon First Nations Partnerships The UBC eHealth Strategy Office has begun a consultative

dialogue with the 14 Yukon First Nations communities

Discussions have been around assessing readiness and preparation for future Yukon CLCs

Yukon Health and Social Directors have expressed interest in collaboratively applying for Yukon CLC funding

This TEKTIC funding creates a reciprocal knowledge translation opportunity that will allow: Yukon communities to learn from KCLC best practices The KCLC team to learn about CLCs applied in a northern

context

11

“The Yukon Community Learning Centres (CLC) initiative aims to discuss the idea of

building partnerships with interested Yukon First Nation communities to develop centres where residents and health

professionals can access health resources through the use of ICTs.”

12

Ktunaxa-Yukon Knowledge Sharing Workshop The Ktunaxa CLC team plans to travel to the

Yukon to share experiences developing CLCs through a knowledge sharing workshop

The purpose of this workshop is to share best practices and lessons learned in CLC development and implementation

This workshop will create a synergistic link that supports ongoing CLC development and mentorship in both regions

13

Since I’ve been on this project, I’ve learned lots of things.  I’ve taken what computer

skills I’ve used in school to knew levels. I’ve grown with my people skills along with my

research skills. The CLC is a real good thing to have on our reserve.  It will be very

beneficial.-Lower Kootenay Research Lead

14

Looking Ahead

The KCLC project has created a strong research foundation. Building and expanding the CLC concept will contribute to: Technology-enabled knowledge translation research in

rural, Northern and Aboriginal health Best practices of community-based research Opportunities to develop, implement and evaluate CLCs

in a variety of settings Stronger outcomes and best practices, which will

contribute to an understanding of CLC appropriateness Establishing CLCs as an integral part of the health

services model, and as an educational innovation that improves access to health information

15

16

17

18

KCLC Project Partners

UBC eHealth Strategy OfficeSandra Jarvis-Selinger (Nominated Principal Investigator), Kendall

Ho, Helen Novak Lauscher, Yolanda Liman, Katherine Wisener

Ktunaxa Community PartnersDon Maki, Pauline Eugene, Lisa Jimmie, Ashley Casimer, Nigel

Warden, James White, Brandy Joe

19

Thank You

Questions or Comments