Health Promotion Initiative

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses the implementation of a health promotion project for at-risk youth in Toronto, which addressed several issues. The writer notes that the youth in the project were homeless, marginalized and had matters related to substance abuse, addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, such as severe depression, and risky sexual behaviors such as prostitution. The writer mentions that other issues relating to physical illness included hepatitis B and C, HIV, AIDS and STDS. HIV was linked to IV drug use, incarceration, and unprotected sex. Further, the writer points out that additional issues included withdrawal behavior, low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence. The writer notes that the majority of the youth exhibited varying levels of anger, frustration, as well as feelings of hopelessness and detachment from their environment. The writer concludes that among the limitations of the initiative was the problem that the young people encountered many structural barriers such as questions about health insurance and consent for care.

From the Paper:

"The youth who might not have been reached would be young people at Covenant House and the Turning Point Shelter who do not bother with the drop-in facility. Other youth that especially need to be reached may still not have cut their ties with the street. They are simply sleeping at the shelters. The best way to reach them is to ensure that the youth who do attend the Evergreen Center will transmit information about it to other youth. In addition, Ontario Works is the gatekeeper of information for the youth."
"I knew that the initiative was important to the community aggregates because of their response once they had an opportunity to share their frustrations and concerns. They demonstrated an interest in coming to the center, and many of them developed a loyalty to the center. I conducted a survey of the youth at one point, and also collected stories and data. The youth indicated that hey learned a great deal of information which addressed their health concerns. They also demonstrated interest in making improvements to this community."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Community Health Nurses Association of Canada (CHNAC) (2003). Standards of practice. Ottawa: CHNAC.
• Raphael, A. (2000). Watson's philosophy, science, and theory of human caring as a conceptual framework for guiding community health nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science, 23 (2), 34-44.
• Raphael, A. (2000). Community assessment guided by Watson's theory. Advances in Nursing Science, 23 (2), 47-48.
• World Health Organization (WHO) (1998). The Ottawa Charter on Health Promotion. Geneva: WHO.
• Reifsnider, E. (2005). Collaboration with city agencies: A winning approach to community assessment. Journal of Nursing Education, 44 (7), 323-326.

More papers on Health Promotion Initiative:

• Analytical Essay # 88314 : "Health Promotion"
• Research Paper # 116880 : "Community Health Promotion Project Design"
• Descriptive Essay # 146968 : "Implementing a Health Promotion Program"

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