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Because your voice matters.

Member, Community Advisory Committee for Perinatal Services BC

Posted • Last updated

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Commitment: Long-term

Connection method: Virtual

Open to Provincial Region

Last updated

Volunteer Opportunity
Would you like to have a voice in improving health outcomes of pregnant individuals and newborns. If yes, this could be the opportunity for you!

Perinatal Services BC is looking for patient partners and family members who are interested in joining a Community Advisory Committee to support projects such as updating prenatal education and health promotion materials and other projects.

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Lead Organization/Department
Perinatal Services BC (PSBC)

Aim
As members of the Community Advisory Committee, patient partners will support:
• The development of prenatal education and resources that recognize pregnancy and birth as a sacred, natural and culturally significant celebration in a families life
• Creating resources for prenatal education that are inclusive of cultural diversity, gender identity and gender expression
• Navigating a digital platform to best suit your needs
• Providing insights and experiences with prenatal education: what went well and were there any gaps experienced?
• Projects on virtual health, screening and pathways of care
• Updating health care provider resources
• Reviewing parent facing resources
• Being involved with patient and provider education
• Assisting and establishing health promotion and disease prevention materials

Level of Engagement
This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will listen to and acknowledge your ideas and concerns, and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility
Open to patient and client partners from across the province who:
• Are thinking about or planning to have a baby in the next year, currently pregnant or have had a baby in the last 2 years. This can also be partners and supports.
• Are comfortable sharing their experiences and giving feedback in a small group environment
• Previous advisory committee experience is an asset but not required
• Have a passion for prenatal education/health promotion and information from pre-pregnancy, pregnancy to postpartum, newborn care and parenting
• Are comfortable attending online meetings via Zoom

As connection & relationship building is important to PSBC, we would like to meet with patient and client partners as part of our selection process.

If you have a strong interest in this work but have not yet completed a PVN orientation and Patient Partner Commitments, are unsure if your experience is a good fit or feel another format of engagement would work better with your availability, please contact Cassy Mitchell.

Logistics
• Number of vacancies: up to 15
• Date and Time: Meeting schedule to be determined based on the availability of committee members. It is anticipated that monthly meetings will occur up to 1.5 hour in duration starting mid January 2023.
• Location: Online meetings via Zoom
• Commitment: 12 months with the possibility of renewal

Reimbursement
No out of pocket expenses are anticipated for this engagement opportunity. However, if you meet the eligibility criteria, but have concerns about your ability to participate, please contact Cassy Mitchell cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca to see if support options are available. We are always seeking to better understand and reduce barriers to participation.

Recognition for time will be provided according to Perinatal Services BC organizational policy at $30 per hour.

Background
Perinatal Services BC (PSBC) provides leadership, support, and coordination for the strategic planning of perinatal services in British Columbia and is the central source in the province for evidence-based perinatal information. PSBC collaborates with the Ministry of Health, health authorities, and other key partners. Perinatal Services BC is the central source in the province for evidence-based perinatal information. Through partnerships and collaboration and by building a high-quality system of care across the continuum, we will optimize pregnancy and birth outcomes as a foundation for a healthy population.

Building a foundation of patient- and family-centred care is a priority within British Columbia’s health care system. To achieve this goal at PSBC, we want to engage patients, caregivers and the public by bringing together diverse voices, ideas, experiences, expertise and evidence to improve the quality of care.

There is a risk that being part of this project might bring up uncomfortable feelings about care received in the past.  This is an extremely caring group who will do their best to be supportive and compassionate.  We strive to be culturally safe and trauma and resiliency informed with the goal of working in partnership with patients and community providers.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Cassy Mitchell Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement 250.279.0717 | cmitchell@bcpsqc.ca

From Our Community

Shannon Griffin

Leader, Patient and Family Centred Care in Fraser Health

Shannon Griffin

Recently, a PVN Patient Advisor asked healthcare partners, “What are we learning from patients, families, and others thus far during this pandemic?”. This is an excellent question and one to ask ourselves daily.