Abstract
Background: The Alberta Healthy Communities Approach (AHCA) project aimed to strengthen supportive environments for cancer and chronic disease prevention in rural communities across Alberta.
Approach: The Alberta Healthy Communities Approach (AHCA) is an evidence-based, participatory approach to creating supportive environments for health across key risk factors for cancer and chronic disease (e.g., healthy eating, mental health, UVR protection). In the AHCA project (209-2023), the Community Team in Cancer Prevention and Screening Innovation (CPSI), Alberta Health Services (AHS), collaborated with members from multi-sectoral teams (MSTs) across nineteen rural communities to implement and evaluate the AHCA. The MSTs included diverse representation from community-at-large, facilities and organizations, healthcare, schools, and workplaces. Using the AHCA five-step process, MSTs created connections; identified community strengths and capacity; co-created a shared vision and goal; and planned, implemented, and evaluated healthy community initiatives to address local priorities. Community surveys and assessments were developed and conducted by MSTs to determine the outcomes of their initiatives. Members of MSTs also participated in evaluation activities conducted by CPSI (e.g., focus groups, surveys) to contextualize findings and determine the overall impact and effectiveness of the AHCA in communities.
Results: Despite facing challenges due to the COVID-9 pandemic, communities implemented 232 healthy community initiatives - including creating walking trails, building community gardens, and organizing cooking classes - with an estimated reach of over 72,000 community members. Pre-post assessments demonstrated statistically significant increases in community capacity in addition to improvements in supportive environments for health (i.e., social, physical, economic). Community surveys also indicated increased awareness of available resources and facilities, improved knowledge about healthy lifestyles, and adoption of healthy behaviors. Furthermore, MST members shared that the AHCA created new and strengthened existing relationships in their communities, supported investment in community, and reduced social isolation and mental health stigma. After the four-year project, most MSTs remain operational and have continued to maintain, enhance, and develop healthy community initiatives through the AHCA.
Implications: By using a participatory approach, the AHCA project has demonstrated impact and effectiveness in strengthening community capacity and supportive environments for health. Building on the success of the AHCA in rural communities, CPSI is currently engaging urban communities in the AHCA process to develop, implement, and evaluate healthy community initiatives. In doing so, the AHCA Urban project will leverage lessons learned from the AHCA rural evaluation while adapting to a new context to increase reach and adoption. By combining community knowledge with rigorous research and evaluation, the AHCA is well-positioned to support community health and well-being for all Albertans.