Glossary of Terms

Below is a glossary of terms commonly used by Health Canada and by the voluntary sector. This Glossary provides working definitions and descriptions of key terms found throughout the Partnership with the Voluntary Sector Website. While many of the terms refer you to other documents, some terms have been achieved through consensus with voluntary sector partners.

Capacity Building Activities: Activities that strengthen and improve the ability of voluntary organizations to increase their effectiveness in achieving their goals and aid in enhancing the capacity of the sector to serve Canadians. Such activities may include information sharing, policy development workshops, volunteer training and skill enhancement, and research skill and policy development tools. (See the Joint Framework for Action and the Partnering for the Benefit of Canadians report for specific capacity building activities.)

Collective Commitment: Mutual agreement and involvement on shared issues between Health Canada and national voluntary organizations working in health. National voluntary organizations working in health and Health Canada recognize the need for:

• an explicit and collective commitment in order to strengthen the relationship;
• mechanisms, processes and plans for working both independently and jointly;
• inclusiveness and participation by the broad range of national voluntary organizations working in health;
• a better base of knowledge and information on which to build the relationship.

This is one of the 4 recommended actions in the Joint Framework for Action.

Collective Organizational Capacities: The ability of voluntary organizations to work collaboratively and advocate a collective agenda on shared issues with the government. See the Joint Framework for Action . Health Canada and national voluntary organizations working in health agree to enhance individual and collective organizational capacities of NVOWH to:

• increase collaboration with Health Canada;
• take on a greater role in health policy development, implementation and evaluation;
• represent citizen and community interests and views;
• provide a national voice;
• connect with citizens and communities in Canada;
• mobilize participation and action on health;
• ensure accountability.

Determinants of Health: The entire range of individual and collective factors-and their interactions-that affect the health of the people of Canada. These factors may include income and social status; social support networks; education; employment and working conditions; social environments; physical environment; personal health practices and coping skills; healthy child development; culture; health services; gender; biology and genetic endowment. For more information on determinants of health go to the Population Health Website.

Engaging Citizens: Encouraging citizens to become active in their communities, in the voluntary sector and in government by providing them with information, activities, and initiatives, which appeal to their own desire to better their communities and society in general. The Department refers to citizen engagement as a process that:

• Involves citizens, not just the public-as represented by associations, health professionals, lobbyists and interest groups-in policy formulation, priority setting and program delivery;
• Is a key component of "governance," namely the process and traditions that determine how a society steers itself and how citizens are accorded a voice on issues of public concern, and how decisions are made on these issues;
• Builds on, complements and generally moves beyond information distribution and consultation practices. It does not replace "traditional" consultation with stakeholder organizations, nor does it replace citizens' roles in the broader democratic process. Its purpose is to provide new opportunities to bring interested parties together as civic-minded individuals concerned about health issues.

See the Health Canada Policy Toolkit for Public Involvement in Decision Making, 2000 for further information on citizen engagement.

Framework For Action: Entitled Building the Relationship Between National Voluntary Organizations Working in Health and Health Canada: Joint Framework for Action, this framework was developed by the Joint Working Group on the Voluntary Sector for Health Canada composed of Health Canada officials and volunteers from national voluntary organizations working in health (NVOWH). The framework is the basis for the renewal of the partnership between NVOWH and Health Canada. Focussing on voluntary organizations working at the national level, this plan is a building block for a broader policy framework and for further joint work between NVOWH and Health Canada. It is a model for the Voluntary Sector and Federal Government departments.

Governance: The act of affecting government and monitoring (through policy) the long-term strategy and direction of an organization. In general, governance comprises the traditions, institutions and processes that determine how power is exercised, how citizens are given a voice, and how decisions are made on issues of public concern. See the Institute on Governance. Also see the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy.

Health Care: Canada has a publically-financed, privately-delivered health care system. The system provides access to universal, comprehensive coverage for medically necessary hospital, inpatient and outpatient physician services. Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for the delivery of Canada's health care and hospital services; the federal government shares in the cost of these services. The voluntary sector plays a vital role in the health care system. See the Health Care Network for a detailed look at health care issues, including links to many sites outside Health Canada.

Health Donor: Individuals, corporations and communities who give to volunteer health organizations. For more information on charitable giving to voluntary health organizations go to: Charitable Giving to Charitable and Non-Profit Health Organizations: Perspectives Provided from the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating.

Health Policy Capacity Building: Activities or strategies developed to increase the ability of voluntary health organizations to have an impact on the effectiveness of health policy in government. Health Canada and national voluntary organizations working in health recognize that greater participation by NVOWH in health policy will create better policy, better programs and better health for the people of Canada, and they strive to do the following:

• to increase individual and collective participation by national voluntary organizations working in health in policy development, implementation and evaluation; and
• to enhance participation in each aspect of the policy development process:
  • identification and definition of policy issues
  • refinement of policy priorities
  • development of policy options
  • contributing policy expertise and research
  • strengthening links to the research community
  • monitoring and reporting on the impact of policies
  • policy evaluation and dissemination
  • review of existing policies

This is one of the 4 recommended actions in the Joint Framework for Action.

Health Promotion, Prevention and Protection: Health Promotion is a strategy for improving the health of the population by providing individuals, groups and communities with the tools to make informed decisions about their well-being. Moving beyond the traditional treatment of illness and injury, health promotion efforts are centred primarily on the social, physical, economical and political factors that affect health, and include such activities as the promotion of physical fitness, healthy living and good nutrition. Emphasis is placed on collaborative work with other sectors.

Prevention is a method of averting health problems (e.g. disease, injury) through interventions. Preventing and reducing the incidence of illness and injury may be accomplished through three mechanisms: activities geared toward reducing factors leading to health problems; activities involving the early detection of, and intervention in, the potential development or occurrence of a health problem; and activities focussing on the treatment of health problems and the prevention of further deterioration and recurrence.

Protection involves the development and implementation of direct regulation and other strategies aimed at protecting the health of the people of Canada against proven health risks over which they, by themselves, have little or no control (e.g. radiation, food and water quality, environmental and workplace hazards ).

Healthy Aging: One aspect of health promotion, prevention, and protection focusses on the factors that affect Canada's aging population. This involves maintaining a good quality of life and preventing disability. For more information see the report prepared for the Division of Aging and Seniors, Health Canada: Toward Healthy-Aging Communities: A Population Health Approach.

Healthy Communities: Those communities which encourage, enhance and promote the overall health and well-being of all citizens. In addition to meeting the most basic needs of the population (e.g. ensuring access to food, water and housing), healthy communities:

• provide residents with clean, safe physical environments;
• involve residents in local government and decision-making processes; ensure easily-accessible health services;
• celebrate community heritage and spirit;
• promote a sustainable ecosystem;
• maintain a wide range of public services and leisure opportunities; and
• encourage diversity, innovation, participation and respect.

For further information on healthy communities see the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition Website.

International Year of Volunteers: In November 1997, the United Nations proclaimed 2001, as the International Year of Volunteers. With its main objectives of increasing recognition of volunteers, facilitation, networking and promotion of volunteering, the International Year of Volunteers 2001 will provide an opportunity to highlight the achievements of the millions of volunteers worldwide and to encourage more people globally to engage in volunteer activity. For more information on Canadian activities.

Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Voluntary Sector: In 1997, at the request of the Deputy Minister of Health Canada, a Joint Working Group was formed to discuss the re-establishment of Health Canada's working relationship with the sector. A committee consisting of members drawn from various Health Canada branches and representatives from national voluntary organizations working in health developed the Joint Framework For Action in consultation with over 150 national voluntary organizations.

National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP): The NSGVP was a national survey undertaken in 1997 and 2000 by a consortium of federal departments, voluntary organizations and Statistics Canada to provide data on the actions of the Canadian population in the areas of charitable giving, volunteering and participation. As part of the federal Voluntary Sector Initiative, this will become a regularly updated Statistics Canada survey, the next report to be available in the fall of 2001. http://www.nsgvp.org/. Also see www.statisticscanada.ca.

National Voluntary Organizations Working in Health (NVOWH): NVOWH does not allude to an organization or entity. NVOWH consist of approximately 190 voluntary organizations working at a national level (often with regional and community affiliates), which have the primary focus of improving the health of the people of Canada through activities such as advocacy, service delivery, education, research, information sharing, policy development, etc. These organizations are primary partners with Health Canada.

Policy Capacity Funding: The Government of Canada has set aside nearly $30 million to help find ways to ensure that the voluntary sector is involved in the development of government policies and programs as announced in June, 2000.

Population Health: An approach to health that aims to improve the health of the entire population and to reduce health inequities among population groups. In order to reach these objectives, it looks at and acts upon the broad range of factors and conditions that have a strong influence on our health (e.g. income, education, environment, biology). For more information go to the Population Health Website.

Quality of Life: The degree to which intellectual, spiritual, economical, social and health pursuits are achieved and maintained.

Self-Enhancement: Activities intended for the improvement of oneself.

Social Capital (also referred to as Social Cohesion/Social Support): The degree to which a community or society collaborates and cooperates (through such mechanisms as networks, shared trust, norms and values) to achieve mutual benefits. There are many definitions and discussions about social capital, for more information see Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital

Third Pillar/Third Sector: A term used in reference to the voluntary sector which attempts to distinguish it from the public or first sector (government), and from the private or second sector (business).

Voluntary Health Sector / Voluntary Organizations: Although no clear definition for the voluntary health sector yet exists from either the sector or the government, the following working definitions and descriptions of the voluntary sector and voluntary organizations were developed to provide context and enhance understanding of the Joint Framework for Action.

Voluntary Health Sector:

• Voluntary organizations that focus primarily on improving the health of the people of Canada through advocating health concerns, service delivery, organizational capacity, information gathering, research, public education, or policy development.
• Consists of private, nonprofit organizations, primarily devoted to the public good, whose activities are carried out by volunteers and paid staff.
• Depends on the willingness of people to donate their time, knowledge, skills, energy and resources to assist fellow citizens.
• Is involved in activities designed to provide help to individuals, families, groups and communities. These "helping" activities include: direct service, information exchange, public awareness, education, support, fundraising, advocacy, research, public dialogue and policy development.
• Unlike national voluntary health organizations, the voluntary health sector includes all levels of activity, from national coalitions to local grass root organizations.

Voluntary Organizations:

• Help to organize voluntary action and volunteers to: further a common public goal; provide services; give support and resources; and engage in dialogue and action.
• Do not seek profit as an end in itself.
• Are accountable to constituencies or members through democratic governing structures and sometimes legal frameworks.
• Encompass national, provincial or territorial, regional, local, and citizens' organizations.
• May have a financial relationship with governments, the private sector and citizens, for which they are accountable, but are primarily autonomous and independent.
• Are recognized for their role as our society's "social conscience."
• Include a range of groups such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the United Way of Canada, local food banks and community organizations.

Voluntary Sector Initiative: The Government of Canada will commit more than $90 million over the next five years to developing its relationship with the voluntary sector in an effort to enhance quality of life in Canada. This will entail working with sector partners so that government can better serve Canadians, as well as supporting the sector in its own work in serving Canadians.

For further information on the Voluntary Sector Initiative visit the Voluntary Sector Task Force website.

Important Notices