Co-creating Health System Innovation with People Who Use Drugs in Central Edmonton

Study Lead: Ginetta Salvalaggio & Renee McBeth

Funding Support: Canadian Institutes of Health Research  (CIHR)

Status: Ongoing

In partnership with Boyle Street Community Services (BSCS) and in co-development with People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) we assessed the post-COVID social services landscape to capture community member’s thoughts and experiences with services and how to improve access. Utilizing narrative and art-based research practices we conducted:

  • Asset Mapping

  • Community-Based Surveys

  • Research Ethnography

  • Participatory Sense Making (Micro Narratives)

  • Collage making

The research includes the participation of 215 people who use drugs and access BSCS and 18 clinical-researcher, trainees, and harm reduction workers. The objective is to capture PWUD voiced priorities as they relate to emerging health threats, identify community strengths and assets, and determine resources and strengths needed to implement voiced priorities.

Key findings identified by participants include:

  1. Supporting natural helpers in the community

  2. Create opportunities for upskilling

  3. Tailor supports to intersectional needs

  4. Ensure low barrier relational connections that build trust with support workers

  5. Build connections with mainstream health care system to work together to create safer systems of care, and bridge access to health care when clients need it

  6. Identify opportunities to rapidly engage during key transitions.

  7. Advocate for the right of PWUD and unhoused community members to spend time in public spaces without punishment or discrimination

  8. Provide space for community members to store their belongings safely during the day.

  9. Seek lawyers in residence to help with legal issues, including lawyers with background in mental health law in anticipation of Involuntary Care Act implementation

  10. Foster community care, connection and visiting in an Indigenous cultural context, recognizing the significance of kîhokêwin (visiting) “as a prairie Indigenous form of knowledge transfer.”

Follow the continued knowledge making and translation through this page.

 

Zine: Stories of the Street

One of the key arts-based knowledge mobilization is through the community developed Zine “Stores of the Street”, which includes community members personal stories, pictures of the collage making, and more. Special thanks to Veronica “Roni” Varewny for all their work on the Zine project.