The Responsive Intersectoral Children's Health, Education, and Research (RICHER) Initiative seeks to build upon the insights of the Social Pediatrics Approach developed by Dr. Gilles Julien to remove barriers to access thereby improving health and educational outcomes for inner city child and youth populations.
Dr. Julien’s innovative inner city program has been in place in Montreal, Quebec for over 20 years. In addition to providing care based in the children’s community, Dr. Julien’s approach involves healthcare providers working together with educators, citizens, community service agencies, and volunteers to provide holistic, barrier-free access for the population.
Our initiative seeks to work across jurisdictional and institutional boundaries to foster access to necessary care for children in the inner city. In our approach, we seek to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of the population that are related to the significant gaps in the social determinants of health. Clinicians work with community-based resources and practitioners to mobilize the most appropriate services to meet children’s health and developmental needs. When needed, they link children with necessary specialist services. Children are not viewed in isolation but are cared for in the context of relationships with resources of their neighbourhood and community. The approach draws upon best practices for healthcare delivery for populations who are vulnerable because of their social and material circumstances.
As an academic centre of excellence, our care team is actively participating in professional education, training, and research. Currently funded research projects include:
Social Pediatrics: A Responsive Interdisciplinary Coordinated Health ["RICH"] Model for Timely Accessible Services for At-Risk Families
Principal Researchers: M. J. Lynam (UBC Nursing), C. Loock (UBC Department of Pediatrics and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children), S. Wong (UBC Nursing), L. Irwin (UBC HELP) Co-Investigators: C. Hertzman (UBC HELP), L. Scott (BC Children’s Hospital) Institutional Partners: BC Children’s Hospital – B. Palmer & B. Fitzsimmons; Vancouver Coastal Health – V. Munroe Community Partners: Network of East Vancouver Community Organizations (NEVCO) Funding Support BC Medical Services Foundation Canadian Institute of Health Research – Partnerships for Health Services Innovation Canadian Nurses Foundation Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
Principal Researchers: M. J. Lynam (UBC Nursing), C. Loock (UBC Department of Pediatrics and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children), S. Wong (UBC Nursing), L. Irwin (UBC HELP)
Co-Investigators: C. Hertzman (UBC HELP), L. Scott (BC Children’s Hospital)
Institutional Partners: BC Children’s Hospital – B. Palmer & B. Fitzsimmons; Vancouver Coastal Health – V. Munroe
Community Partners: Network of East Vancouver Community Organizations (NEVCO)
Funding Support
Created: December 16, 2009