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Health Act Now

Act Now

A Step At A Time

Making Strides To Better Health

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Métis Nation British Columbia ActNow BC Project

ActNowActNow BC is the health promotion platform that is helping British Columbians live healthier lives by being more physically active, eating better foods, living tobacco free and making healthy choices in pregnancy. Th e goal of this platform is to make BC the healthiest jurisdiction to ever host an Olympic or Paralympic Winter Games. Th e Minister of State for ActNow BC is the Honourable Minister Gordon Hogg.

Goals for ActNow BC include:

  • To make British Columbia one of the healthiest jurisdictions to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games;
  • To build community capacity to create healthier, more sustainable and economically viable communities;
  • To improve the health of British Columbians by reducing tobacco use, eating healthy foods, being more active, and making healthy choices during pregnancy;
  • To reduce demand on the health care system.

Targets for 2010 include:

  • Tobacco Reduction: Reduce tobacco use by 10%
  • Healthy Eating: Increase percentage of people who eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day by 20%
  • Physical Activity: Increase percentage of people who are physically active by 20%
  • Healthy Weights: Reduce percentage of BC adults who are overweight or obese by 20%
  • Healthy Choices in Pregnancy: Increase number of women counselled about alcohol use during pregnancy by 50%

Success will require broad-based longterm changes in beliefs and behaviours; government can't do it alone and needs the participation of many partners from all sectors. www.actnowbc.gov.bc.ca

The National Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal Health (NCCAH ) is implementing the Aboriginal stream of the ActNow BC initiative. To support Métis participation in ActNow BC activities, the NCCAH has entered into an Agreement with Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC). The Agreement is comprised of developing thirty-seven (37) Métis Chartered Community health promotion projects and two age and gender specific projects, one specific to the Métis Women's Secretariat - BC and one specific to the BC United Métis Youth Circle, for a total of thirty-nine (39) projects.

The MNBC will serve as the mechanism through to which to guide the development of projects that contribute to the achievement of the ActNow BC goals within Métis communities. Activities undertaken may be up to two years in length and are intended to contribute to the following key objectives:

  • Promote wellness and support chronic disease prevention;
  • Promote physical activity in communities;
  • Promote wellness and healthy lifestyles in British Columbia;
  • Increase the capacity of the Métis communities to create and sustain health promoting policies, environments, programs and services; and
  • Enhance collaboration between Métis communities, government, non-government and private sector organizations.

Partnerships

Through its membership within the BC Healthy Living Alliance the MNBC has secured partnerships with national and provincial organizations with expertise in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation and prenatal health to support the development of the MNBC ActNow BC project(s). Th e partners to date include: the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Diabetes Association, the Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Health Aboriginal Tobacco Strategy and the Métis Centre of the National Aboriginal Health Organization.

Getting Your Act Now Project Going

In order to receive Act Now funding communities must submit an Act Now Community Project Application form and remit to the MNBC Act Now Coordinator. Within sixty days following completion of the program, an Act Now Final Report form must be submitted. Both forms have been developed to ensure Act Now projects are developing in accordance with the grant guidelines. It is helpful to read both documents prior to developing your project. A sample workplan template has also been provided to assist communities in planning their program. It is not necessary to submit a workplan with your Act Now application. The workplan is intended to assist the program lead in developing the program and ensure activities are completed on time and as planned.The MNBC Act Now Coordinator is available to answer any questions you may have in developing your project or completing the application or final report; local Victoria number is 220-8450, outside the capital region, please call 1-866-293-1504 or email mariev@mnbc.ca.

Community Resources

Healthy Weights

Health Canada develops and promotes guidelines for healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy weights.

BMI Nomogram

Body Mass Index Nomogram

Act Now Projects Documents