Pages 483-490 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
The Health Systems Research Unit, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry and University of Toronto, Canada
Source
Pages 483-490 in G. Pétursdóttir et al., eds. Circumpolar Health 93. Proceedings of the 9th International Congress on Circumpolar Health, Reykjavík, Iceland, June 20-25, 1993. Arctic Medical Research. 1994;53(Suppl.2)
The authors are outside evaluators for an innovative program which uses experienced mental health nurse practitioners to provide a range of mental health services to remote Native communities in Manitoba. Native and local representatives are involved in designing and implementing the program, which aims to transfer skills, knowledge, and decision-making about mental health services to local communities. This paper describes evaluation methods and mid-term findings. Impediments to evaluation (funding restraints, distance, and trust issues) are discussed together with approaches used to deal with them. Results to date provide strong indications that the program is fulfilling its goals and objectives and is having a positive impact on the communities involved. The evaluation has been a useful tool for identifying areas for improvement and future service directions and priorities.