here. - Canadian Women's Health Network

Women, Income andHealth in Manitoba742. WINNIPEG WOMEN’S HEALTHCLINIC MODEL OF CAREPHILOSOPHYThe Women’s Health Clinic Model of Careis based on the following philosophy andprinciples.1. All women deserve fundamentalrespect and have the right to makeinformed decisions about their healthcare. In particular, it is recognized that:a) all women bring valuable anddiverse experiences as careproviders of family and friends,as workers, and as consumers ofhealth services. Their ideas andinsights should be encouragedand valued in developing healthservices appropriate to theirneeds; andb) women from equity communities,including Aboriginal women,immigrant women, visible andlanguage minority women, womenwith disabilities, and lesbians,bring unique experiences andinsights to an understanding ofhealth and illness. Oftenmarginalized in the planning ofhealth service delivery, theirinvolvement and participation isessential for the developmentof quality, culturallyappropriate services.2. Health status improves when a personhas a greater sense of control overtheir life situation. Women’s HealthClinic is committed to facilitating theempowerment of women, individuallyand collectively, in all its programsand services.3. A person’s health must be understoodholistically, with an appreciation for theinterrelationship of physical, social,emotional and spiritual aspects.APPROACHThe Women’s Health Clinic approach todelivery of services is based on theprinciples and philosophy outlined above.Key elements of woman-sensitive,“best practices” include:Priority PopulationsIn keeping with its population healthapproach, Women’s Health Clinicprograms and services strive toserve the needs of:(a) women who are mostvulnerable to poor health dueto factors such as poverty; and(b) women who are more likely toexperience barriers in accessingappropriate health servicesdue to their ethnic origin, race,social class, language, sexualorientation or disability.Women-Centred ServicesThe woman, in the context of hercommunity, is the centre ofWomen’s Health Clinic serviceplanning and delivery. Sufficienttime is taken with each woman togain an understanding of how herunique background and life situationimpacts upon her health.Interventions and educationalstrategies are flexible and variedand may involve linkages beyondthe formal health care system.These services may be offered bythe Clinic directly or through referralto other service providers oragencies, such as justice, education,housing or employment.Develop a Partnership Betweenthe Woman and Care ProviderPrograms and services are based onthe assumption that the womanbrings a valuable perspective of herlife situation and her body. She mustfeel empowered to make informeddecisions about her health and healthcare. Accordingly, staff andvolunteers de-emphasize