The Community Engagement (CE) team has been recognized for its excellence in public engagement with two awards from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2). Last month, they were honoured with two, 2014 Core Values Awards including:

1. Project of the Year Award and
2. Extending the Practice Award for Creativity, Innovation, and Innovation in the field Award.

Both awards were given in recognition of the hard work of the team in building the Community Engagement Advisory Network (CEAN).  The IAP2 committee said CEAN demonstrated the Core Values for public participation and credibility and that CEAN was a model that could be easily shared and replicated. “From decision-makers and staff to participants and facilitators, it appears that the level of collaboration and value of public input is extremely high. This is an example of how meaningful engagement can create positive change in systems and organizations,” IAP2 Awards committee.

It’s about providing the best care

Making sure to include the voices of patients and families into the health care decisions we make is central to our True North Goal to Provide the Best Care. In the last five years, the Community Engagement Team has grown CEAN into a network of more than 100 dedicated volunteers from the public. CEAN volunteers provide input into a broad range of initiatives, big and small, from large-scale projects like Clinical & Systems Transformation to smaller initiatives like patient education materials.

“CE is proud of the impact CEAN has had within VCH. The depth and breadth of requests for CEAN involvement has grown as staff experience the value and positive impact of CEAN’s voice and contributions to better decision making,” said Belinda Boyd, leader Community Engagement.

Make CEAN part of your health care planning

Visit Community Engagement on VCH-Connect to learn more or email us at ce@vch.ca

Learn more about IAP2

Visit the International Association for Public Participation website.