National Nursing Week

WINNIPEg FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015 11 Neighbours helping Neighbours NorWest Co-op is an essential part of the community By Holli Moncrieff - For the Free Press A unique program in northwest Winnipeg is making a significant difference in its community. T he only health care co-operative in Manitoba, NorWest Co-op Community Health is committed to working individually with people who access its programs and services, which include primary health care, community development, counselling and support services, as well as early learning and child care. Those who are eligible can access services in the areas of family violence, immigrant and refugee matters, substance abuse during pregnancy, diabetes education and support, and aboriginal health issues. "We're a huge collaborative interdisciplinary team. We're very unique," says NorWest's primary care coordinator Renata Cook, a registered nurse who has been with the co-op for 26 years. "We've greatly expanded. We have way more resources now than we once did. Our centre offers many services." While NorWest Co-op has been around for 44 years, it has expanded to offer three different resource centres, in Blake gardens, gilbert Park, and in its original location on Alexander Avenue. Community residents can purchase a lifetime membership for $10. "The community wanted a health co-op to give them more ownership over their health and more input over services. Individuals in the community can become involved by attending our annual general meeting, getting on the board, or volunteering," Cook explains. "Being a member of the co-op gives you a voice and a vote, but anyone who lives in the Inkster community can come to the co-op without being a member." When it first opened, the co-op employed one primary care nurse. Today, it has teams of nurses with specialized expertise, including five nurse practitioners, five foot-care nurses, seven primary care nurses, and nine public health nurses. "I live and work in the same community, and you have the best of all worlds working in your home community. You see where the people are at and how you're able to support these families over time. They become a part of your life," Cook says. "You feel like you're making a difference because you're there for the long term in that family's life." One of the many ways the co-op makes a difference in the community is through its Volunteer Training Program. Applicants for the program are interviewed about their interests and skills, and then organizers try to match them with training that will engage and challenge them. "Many of our volunteers are actually able to get a job after they've finished the program. When they finish their training, they're all getting jobs, which is wonderful," Cook says. "We build on their experiences and interests." The co-op also runs a Community Food Centre (CFC), a welcoming space where people can come together to grow, cook, share and advocate for nutritious food. "It's a really nice space that has a chef. We run programs out of the CFC that deal with food-security issues, gardening and cooking," Cook says. "We offer free meals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at lunch." CFCs provide emergency access to high-quality food in a dignified setting that doesn't compromise people's self- worth. Children can get their hands dirty in the garden and in the kitchen in ways that expand their tastes and help them make healthier food choices. The co-op also offers a variety of free counselling services, as well as legal aid for abused women who are at risk. "Clients can access these services by self-referral. Our community development team works with clients and their families on parenting issues, youth programs and the challenges new immigrants face," Cook says. "We're trying to make the community aware of what we're all about." For National Nursing Week, the co-op is encouraging its nurses to share their success stories. "We try to recognize everyone who works here. We do everything from a staff retreat to a special barbecue," Cook says. "Nurses in general do not work in isolation. They're an integral part of a bigger collaborative team. We're connectors; we're advocates. You're never alone. You never have to figure things out on your own." ● NorWest Co-op Community Health nurses and nurse practitioners provide a variety of important services. NURSES With you every step of the way Photo by Darcy Finley

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