2007-2008:

In 2007-2008, the cluster undertook a novel team development process to arrive at four projects for the year that build on the successes of the previous year as well as bring new areas of focus to the cluster. The projects include: (1) an assessment of barriers to young mens' health care seeking at the Evergreen Health Unit; (2) an investigation of knowledge translation of key indicators of community level health indicators between SMART Fund decision-makers and community based programs; (3) a multi-stakeholder enviornmental scan of environmental inequities in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside; and (4) an evaluation of a health literacy partnership program for Vancouver street youth.

To view the 2007-08 contact list for the Vulnerable Populations/Community Health Cluster, please click here.

2006-2007:

This cluster usually works on a couple of projects each year. The projects are determined by the interests of the cluster members, and often include continuing at least one project from the previous year.

During the first and second years, the cluster focused on delineating a charter for the group based upon a literature search, and setting research interests. They chose to work on three issues: literacy and health, food security and youth at risk. As part of their environmental scan research and to building relationships with several community groups, the cluster organized a forum on literacy and health research, and developed/implemented a consultation program for a few community groups needing research assistance.

During the third year, the cluster established a relationship with the Sharon Martin Community Health Trust Fund (SMART Fund) at Vancouver Coastal Health, and began researching qualitative methods to analyze the narrative portion of project progress reports, in order to demonstrate the capacity building work being done with vulnerable populations in the community. They also organized and hosted a National Summer Institute on Literacy and Health.

In their fourth year, the cluster worked to complete their SMART Fund project, and start two new projects: Latin American Health Literacy, and a "Youth Health Ambassador" program to develop skills of youth at risk, using research methodologies such as interviewing, focus groups, community surveys and participatory research.

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As one of their PCHR projects, the 2006-2007 Vulnerable Populations Cluster completed a report entitled Designing and Implementing Accountability Strategies in Community Health Promotion: The SMART Fund Case. The report was authored by learners Marina Niks, Brian Evoy, Juan Solorzano and Daryl Kirpalani. Please click here to read their report.