Researchers are looking for two Patient/Public Partners to help write a grant application for a research project that will create a social prescribing plan. This plan will be shaped by the community and designed to meet their needs. The project will also study how social prescribing affects the health and well-being of people in Halifax (HRM). To do this, the team will talk to people, work with stakeholders, and use a process that focuses on improving the plan with input from those with lived experience. This work will connect with ongoing efforts by Nova Scotia Health and build on previous research in Nova Scotia and across Canada. The goal is to eventually expand this plan to the whole province.
This opportunity is flexible and can be all virtual if desired. There is also a possibility of being involved in the research project should it receive funding. Compensation will be offered once the project is funded.
Eligibility:
- Have experience as a patient or a caregiver in the healthcare system, and
- Have experiences with one or more social determinant of health challenges. These may include financial, housing, unemployment, or food security challenges, challenges accessing education, experiences of racism, homophobia, or transphobia, or experiences with social isolation or lack of social support.
- Must be 18+
- Live in Nova Scotia
Time commitment:
Expected to start as soon as possible until mid-October. Should the project receive funding, it is expected to start in January or February 2025 and will run until December 2026.
It should be just a few meetings and hour or two reviewing grant materials. Opportunity for flexibility, to accommodate the schedules of our partners as much as possible.
Study Background:
Social determinants of health (SDHs) are important social factors that affect health and include social isolation, housing, and food security. Social prescribing, the act of prescribing community and social services to address SDH challenges, may be an effective and equitable way to improve health and well-being. Social prescription interventions have demonstrated significant benefits including improved health status, well-being, and healthier behaviours, especially for vulnerable populations. While the popularity of social prescribing is quickly growing in Nova Scotia and Canada, it is not routine practice in many healthcare institutions across Nova Scotia and there is a significant lack of research on the health impact of social prescribing. A social prescribing approach may be especially useful in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) community which is facing increasing SDH challenges such as rising rates of poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. This project is in the grant application phase.