ACICR 2007 -2008 Annual Report Addendum - Alberta Centre for ...

Alberta Injury Control Strategy
Background The Alberta Injury Control Strategy (AICS) was completed in the spring of 2003
under the guidance of an Advisory Committee with input from across the province
through a series of consultation sessions and a provincial summit. With the vision of
“Making Alberta the Safest Place to Live”, the Strategy sets out seven strategic goals
with specific objectives and recommended actions. It addresses the full continuum of
injury control for both intentional and unintentional injuries, with a focus on
prevention. The executive summary and complete document are available at:
www.albertainjurycontrol.com
The Advisory Committee approved the Strategy recommendation that the Alberta
Centre for Injury Control & Research assume the coordination role in moving the
Strategy forward, within the limitations of current human and financial resources,
while awaiting Government of Alberta acceptance and implementation support for
the Strategy. ACICR set up a Steering Committee to give guidance and direction on
day-to-day coordination and activities and assigned a staff member as project
manager. The Committee and staff have focussed on two things:
1. Seeking broad, high level, cross-ministerial acceptance, policy participation and
implementation support for the Strategy from the Government of Alberta.
2. Seeking broad community, regional and provincial multi-stakeholder
participation and support by building and strengthening the Alberta Injury
Control Alliance to provide a concrete way for organizations, business and
industry, schools, communities and other stakeholders to ‘sign on’ and help move
the Strategy forward.
The Alberta Injury Control Alliance was officially launched in December 2005 (see
separate overview). Following a presentation in 2005 to Standing Policy Committee
on Health and Community Living requesting buy-in and financial support to develop
and coordinate an implementation plan for the Strategy in 2006, the Minister of
Health and Wellness set up a cross-ministerial working group to review the request
for support. Also during 2006 a proposed implementation model and new
organizational model were developed. A document was developed to compare and
align the Alberta Injury Control Strategy with the Canadian Injury Prevention
Strategy. A website was developed at www.albertainjurycontrol.com
Goals 1. Increase the awareness and commitment of Albertans to injury prevention.
2. Promote the development and enforcement of healthy public policies and
legislation aimed at injury prevention.
3. Build and sustain the capacity and capability to deliver effective injury
prevention programs.
4. Increase the availability of and access to comprehensive provincial injury
surveillance data.
5. Increase research and program evaluation on injury causes, injury programs
and practices.
6. Optimize emergency response, acute care and rehabilitation services to those
who are affected by injury.
7. Strengthen partnerships among injury control stakeholders.
Status • The terms for the Advisory and Steering Committees ended. Meanwhile work
continued to set up a new organizational structure involving a cross-ministerial
leadership committee.
• ACICR continued to cover all costs associated with project management and
coordination for the Strategy and Alliance.
• At the request of Alberta Health and Wellness, a written funding request was
prepared and submitted. It proposed that ACICR take a coordination role in
developing an implementation and evaluation plan for the Strategy under the
guidance and leadership of a cross-ministerial committee. The proposal was
approved. The first meeting of the cross-ministerial committee was held in
February 2008. Next steps include the formation of working groups.
Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research Page 16 of 66 Annual Report Addendum 2007/2008