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Outreach in Niagara. Stacey Allegro, Public Health Outreach Nurse . Health Bus . Social Determinants of Health Nursing Role. All Public Health agencies in Ontario were given funding for two SDOH nursing roles
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Outreach in Niagara Stacey Allegro, Public Health Outreach Nurse
Social Determinants of Health Nursing Role • All Public Health agencies in Ontario were given funding for two SDOH nursing roles • I was to focus on clients with drug addiction issues, and in particular, the IDU population • Main goal was to offer information and testing for STI/HepC/HIV to this population
Pounding the Pavement • Program development took at least 4 months • Met with over 50 agencies in the Niagara Region • Agency survey • Spoke to clients themselves to determine their needs
A Work in Progress • Experimented with different sites • Experimented with frequency of visits, some weekly, some monthly • Was willing to try anything from agency and client suggestions • Still moving things around to find the most suitable locations
Spreading the Word • Spoke to anyone, anywhere about the work I was trying to do • Team meetings throughout Public Health • Agency team meetings • Family, friends and neighbours • Church congregation • Facebook friends Anyone who was willing to listen!!
Harm Reduction Keeping clients as safe and as healthy as possible until they are able to decrease their harmful behaviour.
Is it Working? • Clients are more trusting of my services • Clients are referring friends to me • Colleagues at the Sexual Health Centres are seeing my clients at the centres
Statistics from March 2012 to present • 2,000 client visits • 270 Point Of Care tests administered • 300 vaccinations provided • Over 600 STI/HepC tests conducted
Agencies Involved • AIDS Niagara • Hepatitis C Care Clinic • Salvation Army • Community Health Centres • Niagara Region Mental Health/CMHA • Niagara Region Native Centre • Niagara Health System • Youth shelters • Community Care agencies • Various drop in centres
Contact Information • 1-800-263-5757 ext. 7704 • Cell Phone: 289-241-4231 • stacey.allegro@niagararegion.ca