High Country Wellness Coalition

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On October 2nd a workshop took place involving three local Health Coalitions: Healthy Okotoks Coalition, High Country Wellness Coalition and High River 4C Coalition.
The purpose of the workshop was to allow the participants the opportunity to:
·    network with members of other health coalitions in the local area;
·    identify and share information and ideas on past programming including successes, challenges and supports received;
·    consider information on the determinants of health and how local coalition work addresses these;
·    consider tools and processes and identify community needs through brainstorming activities and consider common needs across the region;
·    consider tools and processes and spend time program planning to meet community needs with local coalition group members;
·    consider the needs and methods for program evaluation as part of program design and delivery.
The format of the workshop was a large group conversation followed by a brainstorming session to determine an understanding of local community health needs: “What do you see as issues facing your community in the next 2 years?”
Each coalition was then given the opportunity and templates to plan initiatives for their own community.
Participants then reviewed the tools and processes of the session and the planning process. They reflected on the value of the session and participants committed to take information from the session back to their respective coalitions. There was also interest in having another similar session in approximately one-year's time to reconnect and check in on progress.