About PHAC Atlantic

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Atlantic is the Atlantic Regional Office of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

PHAC Atlantic undertakes a broad range of activities to improve conditions for everyone in Atlantic Canada, as well as for specific population groups at risk.  The common thread that binds our activities together is reflected in the mission of the Public Health Agency of Canada:  to enable Canadians to take action on their health and the factors that influence it.  In the Atlantic Region, we maintain a commitment to involve the public in program and policy development through partnerships and public education initiatives and by facilitating capacity building in urban and rural communities.

Our team administers federally funded health promotion programs in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.  Working with government departments and organizations both inside and outside the health sector, we contribute to the following areas:

• Research
• Policy development
• Program development
• Community-based capacity building
• Public education
• Professional education
• Intersectoral collaboration
• Information synthesis and exchange.

The funding programs we administer include:

• Aboriginal Head Start (AHS)
• AIDS Community Action Program (ACAP)
• Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP)
• Community Action Program for Children (CAPC)
• Diabetes Prevention and Promotion Contribution Program (PPCP)
• Hepatitis C Disease Prevention, Community-based Support and Research Program
• Population Health Fund (PHF)

Collaboration with Other Sectors

PHAC Atlantic works with the governments of the four Atlantic provinces to ensure that federally funded programs complement provincial priorities. Avoiding duplication is a priority. We work collaboratively with the Public Health Agency of Canada's national office, other regional offices, and other government departments through programs such as the Community Animation Program, the Canadian Rural Partnership, Labour Market Development Agreements, and Nova Scotia Sustainable Communities Initiative. We also maintain close links with universities, research centres, community organizations, and cultural communities.

Population Health Approach

The population health approach recognizes that health depends on more than health care. The key determinants of health include:

• Biology and genetic endowment
• Culture
• Education and literacy
• Employment / working conditions
• Gender
• Health services
• Healthy child development
• Income and social status
• Personal health practices and coping skills
• Physical environments
• Social environments
• Social support networks.

These determinants of health interact to influence the health and well-being of individuals throughout their lives.  PHAC Atlantic addresses the determinants of health in each life stage.

Regional Objectives 2001 - 2004

PHAC Atlantic's work and decisions related to priorities, investments, programs and policies are guided by evidence about the relationship between population health status and the interactions of multiple determinants. Through programs and services targeted toward health promotion, injury prevention, and disease prevention and control, PHAC Atlantic continues to support the Agency's proactive approach to maintaining and improving health. Within the framework of the overall goal of PHAC Atlantic, the following regional objectives reflect PHAC Atlantic's understanding of both population and public health, and encompass both our policy work and our program work. Our mandate is to take action and work collaboratively, whatever the entry point - be it critical issues, hazards to health, or the broad determinants of health. Our work is carried out in concert with the four provincial governments, communities throughout Atlantic Canada and many diverse stakeholders.

The first five regional objectives reflect PHAC Atlantic's commitment to work towards excellence, to add to the knowledge of health determinants and to focus on communities. The last two objectives seek to reaffirm PHAC Atlantic as a place where people want to work.

Intended to guide the work through to 2004, it is recognized that these regional objectives will likely be adapted to reflect the living, ever-changing nature of PHAC Atlantic's efforts to improve the health of Atlantic Canadians.

Goal of PHAC Atlantic

To help maintain and improve the health of Atlantic Canadians by influencing healthy public policies and programs that address priority public health issues and populations, within a population health framework, guided by the concept of social and economic inclusion.

Objectives

1. To enhance intersectoral collaboration in initiatives that promote understanding, acceptance and implementation of a population health approach in addressing issues related to the health and well-being of Atlantic Canadians.
2. To increase and support community capacity to address priority health issues, populations and determinants that reflect community needs. This is primarily accomplished through PHAC Atlantic's community-based funding.
3. To continue to define the work of PHAC Atlantic within the context of population health and public health.
4. To enhance the visibility of PHAC Atlantic's work in order to foster collaboration, influence policy and program development, and improve performance.
5. To enhance the capacity for and the use of evidence-based decision making in Atlantic Canada by using information from community initiatives, research and population health data to shape programs and policies.
6. To support initiatives and opportunities that promote a healthy work environment and a culture of continuous learning.
7. To ensure that internal administrative and management systems meet the needs of PHAC Atlantic.

Meet PHAC Atlantic

About Us publications from PHAC

Visit the Community Health Promotion Network Atlantic (CHPNA) to learn more about health promotion in Atlantic Canada.

"Our mission is to promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health."

Important Notices