The Community Health Nurses' Group Educational Scholarship

At the CHNIG AGM two lucky CHNIG members were awarded the CHNIG Educational Scholarships.

1) Karalyn Dyck University of Waterloo,

Department of Health Studies & Gerontology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

Program of Studies: Master of Public Health Major Focus: Community Health Nursing (Public Health Nurse)

Karalyn Dyck has worked as a Public Health Nurse across the lifespan among pre- and post-natal women, young families, adolescents, and most recently striving toward development of healthy public policy. At present, Karalyn is working toward a Master of Public Health, with a practicum focused on development of policies that environments which allow optimal health for all. Karalyn has partnered with community stakeholders including municipal urban planners to develop a Built Environment Framework in order to raise public and political awareness about the impact of the built environment on community health.

2) Cara-Lee Coghill McMaster University

Program of Studies: Master of Science in Nursing, Major Focus: Public Health & Community Health Cara-Lee is currently a first year graduate student at McMaster University where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing. Her research interests are in nursing education, public policy, public health and environmental health. Cara-Lee's thesis will focus on the extent and process of integration of environmental health information in preconception, prenatal and child health policies and programming at Ontario health units. Her previous nursing roles include: nursing as a Public Health Nurse in the Family Health Program, teaching childbirth preparation classes to expectant parents, teaching nursing students, and working as a Registered Nurse in Multi-Organ Transplant.

The Community Health Nurses' Group Research Award

CHNIG has also awarded a research award to member Oona St-Amant from University of Western Ontario, School of Nursing

Program of Studies: PhD in Nursing, Major Focus: Community and International Health / Health Promotion Oona (RN, BScN, MScN) completed her undergraduate degree in Nursing from the University of Ottawa in 2006.

With a keen interest in health research, Ms. St-Amant completed a Masters degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2008. Hoping to further contribute to the profession of Nursing, Oona is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing at Western. Ms. St-Amant research interests include HIV/AIDS healthcare delivery in developing nations and international Nursing practice.

The winners of the CHNIG Professional Development bursary to help with attending the CHNC conference in Halifax are:

Student members: Rebecca Ganann: MacMaster University and Randie Gregorie: Conestoga-MacMaster University.

RN members: Erin Ferguson: St. Elizabeth Health Care, Windsor Ontario, Natasha Datt: Public Health Nurse: City of Toronto, Jane Haywood-Farmer: Public Health Nurse: City of Toronto, Marlene Slepkov: Clinical instructor: Brock University

All CHNIG members are Community Health Nurses of Canada (CHNC) members. CHNC has provided exemplary leadership in building capacity in community health nursing nationally in the development of such pivotal documents to community health nursing such as: the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice; Public Health Nursing Competencies; Public ~ Community Health Nursing Roles and Responsibilities in Canada; Home Health Nursing Competencies; Community Health Nursing Vision 2020; and the Blueprint for Action. Other benefits include hosting an annual National Community Health Nursing Conference and membership as an Associate, Affiliate and Emerging group with the Canadian Nurses Association. CHNs from Ontario have participated in various activities with CHNC such as webinars (e.g., evidence based practice), and on standing committees of the board, as a board member and in national projects.

In 2010 CHNC voted to increase their individual and group fees as a sustainability strategy stemming from a change in the Public Health Agency funding cycle. In 2011 the CHNC group member increased to $4.00/member and in 2012 will be $13.50/member.

CHNIG has not increased membership fees in many years. An increase would be consistent with what other interest groups pay to belong to their national counterparts and within the normal range of fees for interest groups. The CHNIG executive and members recognized that a unified voice to represent and promote community health nursing and the health of communities is vitally important both provincially and nationally. CHNIG is committed to being a full partner with CHNC. As well, CHNIG will be required to pay HST this year.

Decision: At the 2011 AGM on April 9th the CHNIG membership voted to increase our fees to $45/member starting in the 2011-2012 year. This increase will include the existing membership fee, the CHNC increase, the resulting HST and book keeping costs associated with HST payments.

At the CHNIG AGM, Katie Dilworth thanked Kim Miller-Dalla Bona for her tremendous leadership for CHNIG during the past several years. Kim finished her term as past president at the April 2011 AGM. Kim has led CHNIG as the Professional Practice Lead for Home Health Nursing, President elect, President and Past President. Kim has also acted as the CHNIG representative on the CHNC Board of Directors for the past two years. Kim will be missed for her leadership, commitment and passion for Community Health Nursing.

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