The Comox Valley Community Health Network (CVCHN) facilitates collective action to positively impact the social determinants of health.
One of its initiatives is a Substance Use Strategy. The strategy will recommend community actions aimed at reducing substance-related harm in the Comox Valley and is a collaboration between local organizations, and those with lived experience.
“The strategy requires the development of shared community understanding and a belief that a co-ordinated implementation of good policies and actions can produce positive change,” said CVCHN facilitator Lindsay McGinn.
Phase one of the strategy will be launched to the community on Sunday, Nov. 28. Concurrently, Walk with Me, a Comox Valley Art Gallery community action research project addressing the human dimensions of the toxic drug poisoning crisis will be launching its policy report.
The Walk with Me project brought people impacted by the crisis together for story and insight-sharing and is disseminating its key findings outward to policy-makers, systems leaders, and community members-at-large.
Walk With Me will co-lead Phase Two of the Substance Use Strategy.
“We are so excited to have partnered with our friends at Walk With Me on this work,” said McGinn. “They have been a great example to other groups in our community about how to centre the voices of people with lived and living experience in the work we are doing to bring about change in our communities.”
The second phase of the Substance Use Strategy will map the lived experience of people who use substances with the goal of addressing gaps, barriers, and opportunities in the delivery of substance use services.
Join the Network and Walk With Me on Sunday, Nov. 28, 1:30-2:15 p.m. at the Comox Valley Art Gallery Plaza for the release of the reports. Individuals from both organizations will be on hand to provide copies of the reports and to discuss the project. Warm beverages will be provided.
Anyone who is unable to attend but would like more information can visit https://www.cvchn.ca/ or https://www.walkwithme.ca
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