VSI - BEYOND AWARENESS

Working Together in the Canadian Health System:
Collaboration Between National Voluntary Health and
Health Professional Organizations

Although both National Voluntary Health Organizations (NVHOs) and Health Professional Organizations (HPOs) are important cornerstones of the Canadian health system, very little is known about the nature of collaborations (the types, the level of interest, challenges and benefits) between both groups. In 2002, through its Sector Development Partnership Grants Program, the Office of the Voluntary Sector of Health Canada provided funding to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to explore inter-sectoral collaboration within Canada. A project, entitled Beyond Awareness: Collaboration between Health Professional Organizations and National Voluntary Health Organizations was developed to assess the current and future status of inter-sectoral collaboration. The project’s national advisory committee consisted of representatives from the following NVHOs: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society and Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada.

The results of a national survey of both groups to assess collaboration and the compilation of an inventory of current collaborative initiatives are included in the final report. Survey findings include:

• Many NVHOs and HPOs are currently collaborating in different types of joint ventures and are interested in future collaborations.
• NVHO’s greatest challenges in joining forces with HPOs include: a lack of organizational support, resources and capacity; the different organizational culture found in each sector; and, a lack of awareness of programs and services offered by the other sector that are relevant to their organizations.
• HPO’s greatest challenges in inter-sectoral work include: a lack of organizational support and a lack of awareness of programs and services offered by the other sector.
• Perceived benefits of collaboration include development of shared policy perspectives, enhanced public credibility, an exchange of resources and knowledge and enhanced health program and service delivery to Canadians.
• Many similar attitudes and beliefs are held about inter-collaboration, except that the sectors are perceived as providing dissimilar information, and uncertain as to whether they share similar perspectives on the prevention, treatment and etiology of conditions and disorders

The implication of survey findings are discussed, particularly the need for communication mechanisms to overcome challenges and differences. Recommendations directed to various stakeholders, including Health Canada, the Health Charities Council of Canada, HPOs and NVHOs, are put forward in this report. Recommendations include an NVHO-HPO roundtable to develop an action plan on future collaboration, an investment in NVHO-HPO collaboration research, consideration of the importance of strategic partnerships between NVHOs and HPOs in a wide range of activities. A resource list featuring inter-sectoral activities currently underway in Canada is included in the report to facilitate and support future inter-sectoral collaborations.

Final Report