Our Role

The Board was legislated in January 2001 by the Health Authorities Act. The Act outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Minister of Health, Provincial Health care centres, the District Health Boards, as well as the Community Health Boards.

Members of the Community Health Boards are volunteers and must live within the boundaries of their community. The Cobequid CH Board consists of six “mini” communities that include the areas of Bedford, Sackville, Waverley, Fall River, Beaver Bank and Hammonds Plains.

The Health Authorities Act states that the main role of the Community Health Board is that of an “advisory” Board. In its capacity as an advisory position, the Board focuses on:

• Fostering community development to encourage the public to actively participate in planning for health and service delivery (population health approach)
• Developing a community profile
• Developing a community health plan to provide to the Capital Health on an annual basis
• Recommending priorities for the delivery of community-based health services to the district Board

Tasks Involved

The Board assists with planning for the health needs of our community by consulting directly with residents, community groups, and service providers. By gathering feedback, we can forward issues, needs, and strategies to the Capital Health to help support planning for the health district.

Specific tasks that the Cobequid CH Board organizes and manages each year include:

• Managing an annual community consultation process
• Updating the inventory of community-based health services for our Board area
• Ongoing assessment of community needs and community-based health services in relation to those needs
• Managing the Community Development Funds
• Advocating on health issues, needs, or services for the community of Cobequid

The first three tasks relate to the Board consulting with its community to uncover their priority health needs, uncover gaps in service delivery, and also find ways to foster building a better, healthier community. Hence, the “community consultation” process that the Board undertakes each year is our most important task.

Last Updated: 7/24/2009 11:56:02 AM