Grant: Planning Grants - PA: Aboriginal Health Research Priority Setting - Regional

Toronto Aboriginal Birth Search: Birth & Reproductive Health Priority Setting for Seven Generations is a planning meeting grant meant to create an opportunity for members of the Toronto Aboriginal community and relevant Aboriginal reproductive health stakeholders to inform the strategic development of an Urban Aboriginal Birthing and Reproductive Health Centre in the greater Toronto area (GTA). An existing team of Aboriginal reproductive health researchers and knowledge users will seek input from members of the Toronto Aboriginal community and relevant Aboriginal reproductive health stakeholders regarding priorities, needs, aspirations and opportunities for the Toronto Aboriginal Birthing and Reproductive Health Centre (TAB-RHC). As well it will determine the needs and priorities of the Toronto Aboriginal community regarding the collection, storage, and application of health information (health information systems) to support maternal-child and reproductive health services. This input is essential to the ongoing development of the strategic implementation plan for the TAB-RHC that has already been initiated by the Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto (SGMT). This community priority setting meeting will complement the ongoing CIHR funded systematic review of published and oral knowledge regarding Aboriginal birthing and reproductive care that is being led by midwife Sara Wolfe of SGMT and Dr. Janet Smylie, Centre for Research on Inner City Health (CRICH), by ensuring that the scholarly findings of the systematic review is balanced by input from Aboriginal community and reproductive health care stakeholders. The proposed three-day meeting will take place in November 2011. The result of this project will be a meeting report document; a community generated mural art project; and an interim TAB-RHC strategic plan that integrates community and key stakeholder input and recommendations shared at the planning meeting.