Municipal decision making and interventions have an influence on health protection and promotion, which makes municipalities key partners for the public health sector. The past year has shown that such collaborations remain utterly relevant both throughout the COVID-19 crisis and to support recovery. But how can alliances with the municipal sector be made?
In this webinar, we will first outline the typical structure and operations of Canadian municipalities. We will then present an overview of a practical guide meant to support public health actors as they attempt to establish collaborations with municipalities: whom they should approach, how to initiate contact, tips for framing their messages, etc. This will be followed by lessons learned from the experience of the Grey Bruce Health Unit (Ontario) in collaborating with surrounding municipalities. This includes recommendations on establishing and strengthening municipal connections, integrating health policies into community planning and ensuring impact at multiple levels of municipal government. The webinar will also highlight how collaboration with municipal partners supported the public health response to emergency preparedness throughout the pandemic.
The webinar will be interactive, and participants will be invited to share their own lessons learned in collaborations with municipalities.
This webinar is particularly intended for public health practitioners, decision makers and researchers who are relatively new to establishing partnerships with municipalities. For those already engaged in meaningful collaborations, this webinar will provide insights into how public health colleagues have managed such collaborations over time.