PROJECT HOPE SUPPORTS HEALTH PROMOTION IN PRAIRIE NORTH

The Prairie North Health Region will soon have new staff focusing on promoting mental health and preventing substance abuse thanks to new funding from Project Hope and Saskatchewan Health.

"People, especially our young people, need environments that support them to make informed, healthy choices," Health Minister John Nilson said. "By working with the health regions, we will ensure that prevention and health promotion activities are based on each community's unique needs."

The Prairie North Health Region will receive $35,000 for the balance of this fiscal year and will receive $70,000 in annualized funding in subsequent years.

"Prairie North health region is thrilled to receive the Project Hope funding focused on prevention and promotion activities to support two key goals of our Population Health plan," Primary Health Services vice-president Glennys Uzelman said. "Prairie North plans to take a community development approach to provide tools for parents and communities to support children and youth in making healthy choices, and to denormalize the use of alcohol and drugs for young people."

Health promotion and prevention are cornerstones of The Premier's Project Hope and the government's Population Health Promotion Strategy.

Healthier Places to Live, Work and Play…A Population Health Promotion Strategy for Saskatchewan challenges communities to move beyond traditional approaches to health promotion in order to create environments where people find it easier to take positive actions for their health.

Project Hope is a three-year plan to prevent and treat substance abuse. The government has committed $10 million of new annual funding for the project, in addition to the $4.7 million announced in the 2005-06 budget. This new funding is based on the 15 recommendations contained in the report Healthy Choices in a Healthy Community by Legislative Secretary to the Premier on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Graham Addley.

"During my consultations, prevention initiatives surfaced as a need again and again," Addley said. "Through Project Hope, this initiative will help to fill that need, moving toward a Saskatchewan in which every child has the best possible chance of growing up free of addiction."

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For More Information, Contact:

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083

Linda Lewis Prairie North Health Region North Battleford Phone: (306) 446-6625