Posted • Last updated
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Commitment: Short-term
Connection method: Virtual
Open to Provincial Region
Last updated
Volunteer Opportunity
Are you a youth with experience of substance use or a caregiver of a youth who uses or has used substances? We would love to hear from you. Child Health BC and BC Children’s Hospital are updating a provincial guideline on caring for children and youth presenting to hospitals intoxicated or undergoing withdrawal from substances. We are seeking five patient partners to join a focused conversation on caring for youth substance intoxication and withdrawal in hospitals. Opportunity for partners to review the draft guideline and participate in working group will also be available.
Lead Organization/Department
Provincial Health Services Authority – Child Health BC
Aim
• To ensure that the care of children and youth presenting to hospitals intoxicated or in withdrawal from a substance is provided in a manner that is child/youth and family centered, supports trauma informed practice, is culturally sensitive and based on the principles of harm reduction.
• Patient partner(s) will share their experiences, provide input on considerations for care and identify how patient partners can be involved in the guideline update.
Level of Engagement
This opportunity is at the level of involve on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will involve patients in planning and design phases to ensure ideas or concerns are considered and reflected in alternatives and recommendations.
Eligibility
Open to volunteers from across the province who:
• Have experience with child or youth substance use.
• Are comfortable sharing your experience.
If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Patient Partner Commitment, or are unsure if your experience is a good fit, please contact Jami Brown directly.
There will be an informal conversation about the opportunity. The goal is to find the best fit for all involved.
Logistics
• Number of vacancies: 5
• Date/Time: The focused conversations will be scheduled at a time convenient for you including evenings and weekends.
• Commitment: One hour, with some time to review questions prior to the event. An opportunity for continued engagement in the guideline update following initial conversation is an option for patient partners. The maximum commitment would be up to 12 hours over approximately 6 months.
• Location: Zoom online event
Reimbursement
No out-of-pocket expenses are anticipated for this engagement opportunity. An honorarium in recognition for time will be provided according to the health care partners’ organizational policies. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria, but have concerns about your ability to participate, please contact Jami Brown- jbrown@bcpsqc.ca to see if support options are available. We are always seeking to better understand and reduce barriers to participation.
Background
Child Health BC is a network that brings together people interested in improving the health and well-being of children and youth across the province of BC. We are interested in all areas where health care is provided. This includes care received from family doctors, nurse practitioners, outpatient clinics, and hospitals (emergency departments and inpatient units) as well as health care in schools and other community health services.
BC Children’s Hospital are co-leading this work. As the only pediatric specific hospital in the province BC Children’s Hospital provides expert health care, including mental health care, for the most seriously ill or injured children from across British Columbia. In addition to providing specialized pediatric services — many of which are not available elsewhere in the province – BC Children’s is the province’s leading teaching and research facility for child health.
This guideline will provide direction to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health care providers working with children and youth up to 19 years of age who present to hospitals in BC intoxicated or undergoing withdrawal from substance use. This includes from substances such as alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines, and nicotine. It is important that the experiences of youth and their families is represented in this guidance alongside evidence from research and practice.
