Thank you for your interest in and involvement with the RIFS project. This project was a ground-breaking collaboration between primary care, public health and communities utilizing a collaborative approach to address income as a determinant of health within the Patient’s Medical Home, Health Neighbourhood, and the community, resulting in a stronger, more integrated health ecosystem for patients. We are grateful to the many teams who made the work such a success and continue to collaborate and take action to reduce financial strain.

With the formal RIFS project now complete, focus has shifted to enabling this work to grow and evolve in other clinics and communities. Visit the Alberta Health Services – Healthier Together website to learn more and stay up to date on the initiatives that result from this project.  

• Primary Care Screening Tool for financial strain

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  Family physicians and other health professionals use this screening tool to learn about how financial strain affects their patients. The tool is:

  • Individualized for Alberta and incorporates local resources and supports
  • Designed for quick and intuitive use in day-to-day practice
  • Endorsed by the CFPC and its provincial Chapters

  Do you ask this question to patients?

  

  
  

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• Building Financial Well-Being A COMMUNITY PLANNING TOOLKIT

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  What strategies promote financial well-being in your community. To inspire and energize your community to act on financial well-being, use this toolkit to explore:

  • implementation details
  • tips on how to get started, and
  • stories and insights from organizations across Alberta and Canada.

  What has worked in your community?

  

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• Helping deal with Financial Stain and Impact from COVID-19

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
  

  
  

  “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead

  There are so many inspiring stories of communities working together and showing kindness. Tell us what your community has done to support those dealing with financial strain. Many communities and organizations have put together ways that individuals and families can get local, provincial and federal support. Check it out

  Morinville

  Whitecourt

  Vermilion

  Viking

  Greater Edmonton

  Greater Edmonton Seniors

  AHS Help in Tough Times

  211 Alberta is building a comprehensive Information and Referral system accessible to all Albertans. The 211 system is an enhancement, not a replacement, of local Information & Referral services currently operating across the province. If you see a listing that should be posted on 211, please suggest a new listing.

  What resources and services are in your community that help people with the stresses and financial challenges of COVID-19? What provincial and federal programs have you leveraged or heard are helpful? Share what has helped you and what would be helpful?

• Sherry & Her Dogs: Story of Financial Strain, Relationship Strain and Mental Health Strain

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  Sherry (not her real name) is a 66 year old female residing in small town close to an urban center. She is married with no children. Sherry has been unemployed for the past year related to her depression and PTSD. She was a member of the armed forces and has worked as a counsellor in the past. She is hoping to return to work soon; currently work opportunities are minimal and contract based. Sherry does not have a car, which limits her employment opportunities as public transit to the urban areas is not available. A temporary contract may be offered to Sherry in March, but will require relocation to Quebec.

  Sherry has a tumultuous relationship with her husband of 10 years. He pays the rent and Sherry’s CCP is just enough to cover other basic expenses (food, meds and transportation). Sherry is concerned that if she separates from her husband, related to the stress in their relationship, she may need to move from her current residence of 10 years. Sherry has 3 dogs, she states are her children. She is unaware of any affordable housing that will support her dogs.

  Sherry’s husband has a history of mental illness which may jeopardize her mental and emotional safety. Sherry feels trapped in her unhealthy relationship; she states she stays as it provides financial stability. She is struggling to make life changes related to the inability to access affordable housing and the potential loss of her dogs. Uncertainty of increased financial strain has decreased her ability to care for her own mental health as she attempts to re-enter employment.

  Her primary care team plans to:

  · Connect her with Alberta Supports to see if she would qualify for the rent supplement program, if she is estranged from her spouse.

  · Provide local community support for application of emergency funding in case finds self without housing or being able to pay rent while transitioning.

  How can the health system and community best assist Sherry? How might we support people like Sherry to continue living with their four legged family members? How might Sherry’s health be impacted? Share your story with us.

  

  
  

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• Webinar - Clinic and Community: Making the Connections

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

  Join us online Feb 12 to help solve real-life challenges around linking clinic and community services. How might we foster connections/relationships that support financial wellness?

  • Hear patient experiences, success stories & practical tips.
  • Share your experiences, challenges and successes.
  • Help find solutions and join in the lively discussion.

  

  

  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Graphically Recording the Vermilion Poverty Simulation

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  Check out this unique way that the learnings from the Poverty simulation event was captured. Vermilion can watch around town for the graphic recording of their Poverty Simulation thanks to Aaron Russell, a graphic recorder with AHS. As the community and Primary Care Network work towards addressing financial strain, this super sized graphic can serve as a remind of the experiences people go through and to start from a place of empathy. What stands out for you?

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• Hopes and Dreams of Committed Community Members

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  An inclusive community with no service barriers or bias and has increased integration and collaboration to maximize the level of supports to community members are just some of the hopes and dreams of 21 Whitecourt community members that attended the first RIFS coalition meeting in September.

  
  

  When they dreamed of Whitecourt's financial wellness in two years here are some of their thoughts: Families adjusting to lower income levels; Alternative safe housing for our at risk teens; Children that do not shoulder financial strain; No limits set on children/youth due to finances; Affordable housing for everyone who needs it, when they need it; Healthy food for all; More part-time meaningful employment opportunities for those with barriers.

  They hope that working together on RIFS, will lead to greater understanding of community and social services, financial education, positive attitudes towards those who are struggling, interconnection between support services, and engagement of community members. Check out the meeting summary. Do their hopes and dreams ring true for you?
  

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• Community come together

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  The community of Viking came together to begin exploring how they might collectively work together to strengthen financial wellness for their community members. Some of their powerful insights and community strengths were captured in this report. Share more insights on the forum. What would you like to see at future meetings in Viking?

  
  

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• Poverty Simulation

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  Organizers of the Poverty Simulation in Vermillion, Joanne Stewart, Carole Coleman, Natasja Hallett, and Charlotte Thompson walked in the shoes of families and individuals living in poverty.

  The Kalyna Country PCN staff, AHS teams, and Vermillion community members including business organizations and services groups were surprised by the numerous challenges and frustrations they encountered everyday and how it shifted their thinking from thriving to just surviving. Graphic Designer, Aaron Russell captured the event moments and some of those frustrations. The community aims to continue to explore the pain points and paths to financial wellness, knowing that health improves when financial strain is reduced.

  Add your comments and what impact you think this might have.

  This video gives you an idea of what the event was like and how they experienced living with financial challenges.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Edson / McLeod River November

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  CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.