In the summer and fall of 2005, the Department of Community Services (Early Childhood Development Services) conducted written surveys with parents, community members, and child care sector stakeholders to gather input on the new Child Care Plan for Nova Scotia. We were interpreted the data from the surveys (primarily quantitative), and identified emerging themes to assist the Department in the development of the Child Care Plan.

In October 2005, we completed an evaluation of the Hants North Active School Communities Initiative (a local school/community physical activity project). For this evaluation, we developed the data collection protocols (surveys and focus groups), worked with local stakeholders to collect the evaluation data, analyzed the data, and completed a final evaluation report. The local Steering Committee used the evaluation results to make program revisions and provide indicators of program impact to its provincial funders.

We worked with the Mayors and Warden of Annapolis County to develop a research-based, comprehensive, community-based strategy for addressing and preventing youth criminal behaviours. The development of the strategy included conducting an environmental scan, reviewing best practice research, developing an indicator profile as a baseline measure, consulting with stakeholders in key organizations, developing a five-year implementation plan, and developing an evaluation framework for implementation of the strategy.

We worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection to develop the falls prevention component of the provincial Injury Prevention Strategy. Our work included: an international scan of comprehensive falls prevention initiatives; the development, implementation, and analysis of a web survey with over 300 stakeholders; the coordination and facilitation of a stakeholder workshop; and the development of a draft strategic framework.

In April 2005, we completed an evaluation of the Physical Activity Grant Program for Physical Activity, Sport, and Recreation, Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection. This evaluation consisted of reviewing files to develop a profile of the projects funded through this program, designing and implementing the data collection protocols (key informant interviews and file review templates), analyzing the interview and file data, and reporting the evaluation results.

In March 2005, Horizons completed a contract for the Nova Scotia Injury Prevention Strategy in which we worked with a large group of injury prevention stakeholders to develop a logic model and five-year evaluation framework for the overall provincial strategy. For this project, we worked with an evaluation steering committee; conducted a scan of evaluation literature/methods; consulted with a large group of cross-sector stakeholders (via a workshop consultation); revised the framework and logic model based on our collective evaluation expertise; presented the drafts to stakeholders for feedback before they were finalized; and developed the evaluation work plan and communication/reporting strategy.

Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion & Protection – A Framework for Youth Sexual Health for Nova Scotia (2005)

From October 2004 to March 2005, we worked with the Nova Scotia Roundtable on Youth Sexual Health to gather stakeholder feedback from across the province (via a web survey and in-person sessions) to inform and revise an initial draft of a youth sexual health strategy for Nova Scotia. The final product, A Framework for Action for Youth Sexual Health in Nova Scotia, is available at: http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/healthy_development/sexuality.asp

From October 2004 to March 2005, we worked with PEI Career Development Services Inc. (PEI CDS- a province-wide agency that delivers employment counseling and resource services) to develop and implement their first formative evaluation. This evaluation was designed to provide information to key stakeholders regarding: their operational progress; variances in their original implementation plan; lessons learned; working relationships with partners; initial indicators of service impact; and opportunities to improve service efficiency and effectiveness.

We worked with an intersectoral Evaluation Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive evaluation framework and logic model. We also reviewed internal files and databases to identify existing data sources, and conducted scans of similar evaluation work being done across the country. Our consultants also worked with their staff and a group of local research assistants to increase their capacity to collect some of the evaluation data identified in the framework. We designed the evaluation protocols (key informant interviews; focus groups; telephone surveys; case studies; and intercept surveys), managed the overall evaluation, collected, coded, and analyzed the data outlined in the framework, and generated an evaluation findings report for use by PEI CDS and its provincial and federal government partners.

In March 2005, Horizons completed an evaluation of the Continuing Care Assistant (CCA) Program’s Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Project for the Health Care Human Resource Sector Council. The purpose of the CCA-PLAR evaluation was to gather feedback on the successes and challenges of implementing a PLAR framework (including the framework development; policies and procedures; and PLAR tools) with professionals in home support and facility-based care settings.

The evaluation included three primary data collection methods implemented at the end of the framework pilot process: key informant interviews with project stakeholders; surveys with pilot participants; and focus groups with pilot participants. The comprehensive evaluation results were used by the Project Committee to make formal recommendations to the Provincial CCA Program Advisory Committee about the implementation of the PLAR process with future CCA applicants.

Horizons completed an environmental scan for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS) to help the Foundation reflect on its role in cardiac rehabilitation and stroke prevention, and clarify how to effectively channel its existing resources (financial and otherwise) to result in the best outcomes for people who are impacted by heart attack and stroke. Through the course of the environmental scan, we:

• Interviewed Heart and Stroke Foundation staff across Canada;
• Reviewed current best practices in the literature;
• Gathered input from members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members cardiovascular and stroke working committees, key HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via e-mail surveys; telephone interviews; focus groups; and in-person interviews);
• Met with staff in the HSFNS Health Promotion Resource Services Division to discuss findings and review the emerging recommendations; and
• Consulted with members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members of working committees, HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via focus groups; e-mail; and written surveys) to prioritize the recommendations gathered through the first consultation process.

Once we synthesized the results from the literature review and stakeholders consultation, we worked with HSFNS staff to generate a set of recommendations for inclusion in a “Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Education in Nova Scotia” report.

We worked with CHPNA to coordinate the Atlantic Region's participation in this national project. The national project was coordinated by the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations (NVO) and funded by Health Canada.

This was the first of a three-phase project focused on the capacity of voluntary health organizations to influence federal health policy. This first phase consisted of assessing the current capacity to influence health policy. Our work included working with local facilitators to host a series of roundtable meetings throughout Atlantic Canada and conducting a web survey to gather feedback and ideas from as many people as possible (e.g., those that did and did not participate in a roundtable meeting). We conducted an analysis of the consultation and web survey results, and prepared a report for Atlantic Canada. The findings outlined in the report were integrated into the national project report for NVO.

Through our work with Sharing Strengths, we took a lead role in developing and managing two evaluation processes for the Western PACY initiative in western Nova Scotia (both in 2001 and 2003). The focus of these evaluations was on assessing whether community capacity to promote physical activity for children and youth had increased. The results of this research helped inform the development of the provincial Active Kids Healthy Kids initiative currently sponsored by the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection.

We developed the evaluation frameworks (Phase I and Phase II) for this multi-stakeholder initiative and wrote a history of the initiative that included descriptions of the community projects funded through the initiative. We developed the evaluation frameworks and initiative profile not as an independent contractor but as a member of the Evaluation Subcommittee (although we were later contracted as an independent to refine the data collection tools, collect the data, and write the final report of results).

In February 2003, we worked with Recreation Nova Scotia’s High Five program to build the evaluation skills of Steering Committee members and work with them to develop an evaluation framework to measure the impact of this unique accreditation program. We facilitated a group of key stakeholders through an evaluation planning process and helped them develop an evaluation framework and logic model for the program. We also hosted a short workshop on the development of evaluation frameworks and the various methods of collecting evaluation data.

In 2002, on behalf of Sharing Strengths, we organized a regional consultation to assist decision-makers in nine government departments in the development of an intersectoral, coordinated intervention strategy for addressing youth violence in western Nova Scotia. The consultation process included surveys, key informant interviews, and an in-person consultation for stakeholders from across the region. The results of this consultation have been used to develop pilot projects for preventing youth violence in western Nova Scotia communities.

We developed the evaluation framework for the strategy and its incorporated programs, developed a profile of indicators to monitor the resulting strategy, and wrote descriptions of the individual programs that would be incorporated into the strategy. However, our primary role in this project was the development of the strategy rather than the evaluation framework (the evaluation framework was a value-added component to the contract).

In March 2005, we conducted a best practice literature review for incorporating physical activity strategies into mental health promotion services. The information we collected has been incorporated into a District-based integrated chronic disease prevention strategy, as well as into mental health service delivery on the South Shore of Nova Scotia.

We conducted an assessment of the current environment to determine the transferability of the Action in your Community against Tobacco (ACT) model to healthy eating and physical activity. ACT is a community-based initiative designed to increase the ability of community members to take action against tobacco in their own communities.

Our activities included:

• Reviewing the ACT Tool Kit and the relevant ACT documents that have been developed over the course of the initiative; 
• Identifying critical success factors or components contributing to the success of ACT; 
• Reviewing literature on effective practices in healthy eating/physical activity; 
• Assessing the congruence between healthy eating/active living success factors and ACT critical success factors; 
• Identifying key informants on healthy eating/physical activity in Nova Scotia; 
• Designing and implementing a key informant survey; 
• Compiling a list of relevant initiatives in healthy eating/physical activity in Nova Scotia; 
• Applying criteria for determining best and promising practices to the Nova Scotia initiatives; and 
• Developing recommendations regarding the transferability of the ACT model to healthy eating and physical activity.

Horizons completed an environmental scan for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS) to help the Foundation reflect on its role in cardiac rehabilitation and stroke prevention, and clarify how to effectively channel its existing resources (financial and otherwise) to result in the best outcomes for people who are impacted by heart attack and stroke. Through the course of the environmental scan, we:

• Interviewed Heart and Stroke Foundation staff across Canada;
• Reviewed current best practices in the literature;
• Gathered input from members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members cardiovascular and stroke working committees, key HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via e-mail surveys; telephone interviews; focus groups; and in-person interviews);
• Meet with staff in the HSFNS Health Promotion Resource Services Division to discuss findings and review the emerging recommendations; and
• Consulted with members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members of working committees, HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via focus groups; e-mail; and written surveys) to prioritize the recommendations gathered through the first consultation process.

Once we synthesized the results from the literature review and stakeholders consultation, we worked with HSFNS staff to generate a set of recommendations for inclusion in a “Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Education in Nova Scotia” report.

In October 2001, Primary/Community Mental Health Services underwent an accreditation review, which noted program strengths and areas for improvement. One of the areas identified for improvement was the identification and outreach to under-served populations. Working with the Primary/Community Mental Health Services staff, we conducted a literature review, analyzed results of focus groups with the program's Community Teams, and conducted a series of focus groups with people from several different population groups (service providers; lesbian/gay/bisexual and transgendered youth; First Nations peoples; rural citizens; African Nova Scotians; and people who have experienced homelessness). We used this information to develop recommendations for Primary/Community Mental Health Services to improve outreach to under-served populations. We also developed a series of workbooks to assist the staff in addressing the recommendations.

The development of a provincial chronic disease prevention strategy began in 2002 with the leadership of Dalhousie University’s Unit for Population Health and Chronic Disease Prevention (formerly Heart Health NS). Seven working groups, with representation from a wide range of knowledgeable and skilled organizations, developed action plans in the following areas: leadership; policy; research/evaluation; community capacity; healthy eating and active living; professional wellness; and social marketing.

We were contracted to provide each working group with information about best practices in their subject area. The information we compiled was incorporated into the working groups' action plans, which informed the Chronic Disease Prevention Strategy for Nova Scotia.

In the summer and autumn of 2005, we conducted 20 consultation sessions across Nova Scotia with child care stakeholders (parents; community members; child care sector workers; and policy/decision makers) to systematically gather input from stakeholders to inform the development of Nova Scotia’s Child Care Plan, which was being formulated as a result of the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on Early Learning and Childcare. Using questions developed by DCS, we collected the responses, analyzed the information, and prepared a final report with emergent themes for DCS to consider in the development of the Nova Scotia Child Care Plan.

We worked with the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection to develop the falls prevention component of the provincial Injury Prevention Strategy. Our work included an international scan of comprehensive falls prevention initiatives; the development, implementation, and analysis of a web survey with over 300 stakeholders; the coordination and facilitation of a stakeholder workshop; and the development of a draft strategic framework.

From October 2004 to March 2005, we worked with the Nova Scotia Roundtable on Youth Sexual Health to gather stakeholder feedback from across the province (via a web survey and in-person sessions) to inform and revise an initial draft of a youth sexual health strategy for Nova Scotia. The final product, A Framework for Action for Youth Sexual Health in Nova Scotia, is available at: http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/healthy_development/sexuality.asp">http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/healthy_development/sexuality.asp

In 2005, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS) chose physical activity as a strategic priority area, and decided to develop an integrated Physical Activity Strategy for the Foundation. As part of the Strategy development process, the HSFNS Health Promotion Division contracted us to design and facilitate a workshop with physical activity stakeholders. The purpose of this workshop was to gather initial stakeholder feedback to help guide HSFNS in the development of a Physical Activity Strategy that would be useful for its stakeholders. We developed a series of stakeholder consultation questions, facilitated the consultation discussion, and analyzed a consultation priority-setting exercise. A consultation report highlighted key results and recommendations that emerged from the workshop session.

In the fall of 2004, we conducted consultation sessions with primary health care team members across the province to gather input about priority learning needs to assist primary care teams in improving their effectiveness. We also managed the distribution of a written survey for input from a wider range of primary health care stakeholders.

Horizons completed an environmental scan for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia (HSFNS) to help the Foundation reflect on its role in cardiac rehabilitation and stroke prevention, and clarify how to effectively channel its existing resources (financial and otherwise) to result in the best outcomes for people who are impacted by heart attack and stroke. Through the course of the environmental scan, we:

• Interviewed Heart and Stroke Foundation staff across Canada;
• Reviewed current best practices in the literature;
• Gathered input from members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members cardiovascular and stroke working committees, key HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via e-mail surveys; telephone interviews; focus groups; and in-person interviews);
• Meet with staff in the HSFNS Health Promotion Resource Services Division to discuss findings and review the emerging recommendations; and
• Consulted with members of the Yarmouth Stroke Demonstration Program, members of working committees, HSFNS partners, and cardiac/stroke survivors and their family members (via focus groups; e-mail; and written surveys) to prioritize the recommendations gathered through the first consultation process.

Once we synthesized the results from the literature review and stakeholders consultation, we worked with HSFNS staff to generate a set of recommendations for inclusion in a “Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Education in Nova Scotia” report.

We facilitated the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia’s provincial Stroke Forum, which brought together representatives from stroke support groups across Nova Scotia. We planned the agenda and facilitated the Frum, which included building links and capacity across chapters, as well as discussing the results and recommendations from the report “Cardiac and Stroke Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Education in Nova Scotia”.

Horizons worked with the Yarmouth County Community Health Board (YCCHB) to design and facilitate a community consultation with a wide range of stakeholders to assess priority issues for the YCCHB to address in its community health plan. We were responsible for the design and delivery of the forum (including presentations on health indicators and the population health approach, and interactive group exercises) and developing a follow-up report summarizing the input and priorities of the stakeholders.

In October 2001, Primary/Community Mental Health Services underwent an accreditation review, which noted program strengths and areas for improvement. One of the areas identified for improvement was the identification and outreach to under-served populations. Working with the Primary/Community Mental Health Services staff, we conducted a literature review, analyzed results of focus groups with the program's Community Teams, and conducted a series of focus groups with people from several different population groups (service providers; lesbian/gay/bisexual and transgendered youth; First Nations peoples; rural citizens; African Nova Scotians; and people who have experienced homelessness). We used this information to develop recommendations for Primary/Community Mental Health Services to improve outreach to under-served populations. We also developed a series of workbooks to assist the staff in addressing the recommendations.

We worked with CHPNA to coordinate the Atlantic Region's participation in this national project. The national project was coordinated by the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations (NVO) and funded by Health Canada.

This was the first of a three-phase project focused on the capacity of voluntary health organizations to influence federal health policy. This first phase consisted of assessing the current capacity to influence health policy. Our work included working with local facilitators to host a series of roundtable meetings throughout Atlantic Canada and conducting a web survey to gather feedback and ideas from as many people as possible (e.g., those that did and did not participate in a roundtable meeting). We conducted an analysis of the consultation and web survey results, and prepared a report for Atlantic Canada. The findings outlined in the report were integrated into the national project report for NVO.

Horizons developed a Health Directory for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia to help people in Nova Scotia easily access information and resources on health issues within their own communities. Two main questions were addressed by the Directory:

• What are the major initiatives in place in each District Health Authority in Nova Scotia, in relation to cardiac and stroke, healthy eating, physical activity, and smoking cessation?
• Overall, where can people find out about what's going on in their District Health Authority in relation to cardiac and stroke, healthy eating, physical activity, and smoking cessation?

The Health Directory contains information about:

• Physical Activity: Engaging in sufficient physical activity to receive positive health benefits;
• Healthy Eating: Eating practices based on Canada's Food Guide to healthy eating;
• Smoking Cessation: Decreasing and eliminating the use of tobacco; and
• Cardiac and Stroke Issues: Cardiac or stroke-related secondary prevention issues.

Recreation facilities are also listed at the end of each section, as programs related to healthy eating, smoking cessation, cardiac/stroke issues, and physical activity are frequently offered.

Horizons coordinated the Developing Rural Seniors' Skills to Influence Policy: Transportation project, a Public Health Agency of Canada's Population Health Fund project for Community Links. Our work included identifying and working with three groups of seniors from various geographic areas of Nova Scotia who were interested in community-based transportation and public policy. We coordinated and delivered two workshops to increase their skills in influencing public policy and their understanding of community based transportation. We also developed the Public Policy & Community Based Transportation Resource, which includes information on the steps to influence public policy, what determines good public policy, and building personal and organizational capacity to influence policy. As well, it offers the reader the steps and information to develop a community-based transportation program, a directory of existing services in Nova Scotia, and selected resources in the areas of public policy and organizational development.

During the Nova Scotia Canada Volunteerism Initiative (NSCVI) Network's strategic planning process, participants observed that there is a number of tools, training resources, research documents, and a great deal of statistical information developed by various volunteer organizations and agencies in Nova Scotia. The NSCVI Network hired Horizons to catalogue the existing resources and create user-friendly reference documents to distribute to volunteers and their organizations province-wide. We surveyed volunteers and their organizations (in Nova Scotia and nationally) to create an inventory of resources and tools for volunteers to use in their work. Using this inventory, we developed two documents: The Volunteer Community Action Pack and the Volunteer Resource Reference Catalogue.

The purpose of the Volunteer Community Action Pack is to provide a simple tool kit for local advocacy. The Action Pack can assist grassroots volunteers in securing the support of and in engaging local government and community leaders in their work, and is designed to be easily adapted to specific communities, inexpensive to duplicate, and easily accessible through web-based resources. Its companion document, the Volunteer Resource Reference Catalogue, provides an extensive clearinghouse of existing resources and research relative to the volunteer sector in Nova Scotia, in the form of an up-to-date, user-friendly catalogue.

From May to November 2003, we worked with staff and stakeholders from Housing Services and the Regional Housing Authorities in western Nova Scotia on the Toolkit for Family Enriched Public Housing. Our primary task was to work with the Project Working Group (made up of staff from Housing Authorities and people who live in or have lived in public housing) to develop a process for Housing to implement its vision of working with tenants and the community at large for healthier communities. Together we developed Working for Healthy Communities: A Toolkit for Family Enriched Public Housing and its companion document, Working for Healthy Communities: A Toolkit for Family Enriched Public Housing Toolkit Appendices.

The Toolkit developed by the Project Working Group is intended for use by Housing staff to engage people living in public housing with the broader community at large. The materials in the Toolkit have been drawn from a number of existing best practice resources (many developed in Nova Scotia), and will be useful to any community group working to improve the health of their community.

The Toolkit describes the type of process a group goes through when organizing to make their community healthy. The main steps in this kind of process are: bringing people together; assessing community strengths and needs; getting a picture of the community's starting place; identifying priorities and developing an action plan; implementing the plan; evaluating the work; and starting the cycle again. The Toolkit is organized around these main components of working for healthy communities.

With funding support from Health Canada's Population Health Fund, the Sharing Strengths Society and Horizons worked with five diverse community groups in southwest Nova Scotia to develop a process for community groups to define their own capacity, and assess whether it is increasing over time. Measuring Community Capacity draws on the work of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, which convened a symposium in 1995 to develop consensus on integral dimensions of community capacity. 

The heart of Measuring Community Capacity is a facilitated group-survey for collecting information about the various ways groups build, develop, and sustain their capacity to address community issues. The Resource Kit contains the supports necessary for facilitators to use the survey with their groups, and the supports to work with the information once it is gathered. The Resource Kit has six sections, with supports and tools for each section:

• Deciding to Use the Survey;
• Preparing to Use the Survey;
• Using the Survey;
• Analyzing the Group's Responses;
• Moving Forward: Using the Information; and
• Feedback.

Measuring Community Capacity is a user-friendly tool for communities to assess their capacity over time. It is not an evaluation, a judgment, or a report card critiquing how community groups work. Rather, it is a tool to assist groups in self-reflection. It is completely up to each group to decide whether and how to use the tool, as well as whether and how to use the information that is gathered in the group's responses.

Horizons coordinated the Developing Rural Seniors' Skills to Influence Policy: Transportation project, a Public Health Agency of Canada's Population Health Fund project for Community Links. Our work included identifying and working with three groups of seniors from various geographic areas of Nova Scotia who were interested in community-based transportation and public policy. We coordinated and delivered two workshops to increase their skills in influencing public policy and their understanding of community based transportation. We also developed the Public Policy & Community Based Transportation Resource, which includes information on the steps to influence public policy, what determines good public policy, and building personal and organizational capacity to influence policy. As well, it offers the reader the steps and information to develop a community-based transportation program, a directory of existing services in Nova Scotia, and selected resources in the areas of public policy and organizational development.

We coordinated Developing Rural Seniors' Skills to Influence Policy, a Public Health Agency of Canada Population Health Fund project, with the purpose of increasing the capacity of rural seniors to influence public policies that affect their health and well-being. We coordinated two workshops to enhance the skills of seniors to influence policies, especially through their community organizations, as well as administered all aspects of the project.

The purpose of Preventing Falls Together is to increase the capacity of organizations that work with seniors to incorporate falls prevention strategies into their day-to-day work, with the goal of reducing the rate of falling among seniors and veterans. The project was originally funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada, and sponsored by Community Links. The program is now funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection.

Between 2002 and 2004, Horizons coordinated all project activities, including:

• Partnership development at the provincial and regional level, including the development of regional coalitions across the province;
• Supporting the work of the intersectoral provincial Steering Committee (comprised of over 20 government and not-for-profit agencies) and its working groups and management committee;
• Coordinating the development of Preventing Falls Together: A Population Health Tool Kit, a comprehensive resource of falls prevention strategies and tools;
• Orientating provincial partners and regional coalitions to the Tool Kit;
• Coordinating meetings of Atlantic falls prevention partners;
• Acting as spokesperson for the project, including media interviews, press releases, conference, and workshop presentations (e.g., the 2003 Canadian Association on Gerontology National Scientific and Educational Meeting; and the 2003 Atlantic Coordinating Committee on Crime Prevention and Community Safety Conference);
• Facilitating the hiring of a permanent coordinator once funding was secured for the ongoing program; and
• Continuing to offer Tool Kit orientation workshops on an as needed basis.

In the spring of 2004, we coordinated the Health Promotion Clearinghouse (HPC) for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia and its partners until a full-time Coordinator could be hired. In addition to delivering the program over a five-month period, we also were responsible for data analysis, writing the interim funding accountability report, and training the new HPC Coordinator.

From September to November 2003, Horizons managed Community Links and assisted the Board of Directors with several tasks:

• Managing the ongoing operations of the organization;
• Representing the organization in various initiatives, including the Canadian Volunteer Initiative and the Healthy Communities Network;
• Updating members about the status of the organization;
• Ensuring that relationships with funders remain current;
• Completing relevant reports and updates to funders;
• Providing support to project coordinators and administrative staff;
• Providing support for Board meetings;
• Assisting in the analysis of organizational direction, and supporting the Board in clarifying its working approach and role;
• Developing a policy manual;
• Providing knowledge and skill-building opportunities in the area of community development;
• Providing an analysis of key decisions for the Board to make during the transition period;
• Assisting the Hiring Committee in reviewing compensation packages, reviewing the Provincial Coordinator job description, advertising the senior staff position posting, and organizing the interview and hiring process for the new Provincial Coordinator;
• Assisting the Board in planning for ongoing accounting and administrative support;
• Coordinating the move of the provincial office, including researching appropriate options, managing the physical move, setting up the new office, and informing partners and members about the new location; and
• Taking advantage of relevant funding opportunities and responding to appropriate requests for proposals.

In the summer and autumn of 2005, we conducted 20 consultation sessions across Nova Scotia with child care stakeholders (parents; community members; child care sector workers; and policy/decision makers) to systematically gather input from stakeholders to inform the development of Nova Scotia's Child Care Plan, which was being formulated as a result of the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on Early Learning and Childcare. Using questions developed by DCS, we collected the responses, analyzed the information, and prepared a final report with emergent themes for DCS to consider in the development of the Nova Scotia Child Care Plan.

Horizons worked with Primary Care Services of the Nova Scotia Department of Health to facilitate the launch of its Health Literacy Awareness resources. We assisted in the planning of the day, facilitated the session, and developed follow-up packages for participants.

In the fall of 2004, we conducted consultation sessions with primary health care team members across the province to gather input about priority learning needs to assist primary care teams in improving their effectiveness. We also managed the distribution of a written survey for input from a wider range of primary health care stakeholders.

As part of its planning for sustainability, the NS Canadian Volunteerism Initiative (CVI) Network contracted us to design and facilitate a day of strategic planning for its Coordinating Committee. Using the Network's existing strategic directions, we devised and led the Coordinating Committee through a process to help them develop action plans and determine their next steps.

In the spring of 2004, Horizons facilitated the Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) provincial strategic planning session. The planning session was conducted with the provincial board of directors and included: reviewing the history and highlights of the CMHA in Nova Scotia, reviewing the current strategic plan and achievements, building skills for the planning process, identifying priorities for the next three to five, developing objectives for priority areas, identifying challenges and opportunities given the current Nova Scotia context, identifying facilitating factors for implementing the strategic plan, and building skills for tracking progress.

In the winter of 2004, we designed and delivered a series of workshops on the topics of community capacity building, measuring community capacity, community development, program evaluation, community health planning, and using research information in planning for community health.

In 2005, we also offered a fall workshop series on the topics of health promotion, population health, influencing public policy, focus group research, and survey research.

As part of the Atlantic Summer Institute on Healthy and Safe Communities hosted at the University of Prince Edward Island, Horizons developed and facilitated an interactive workshop on building community capacity for participants from across Atlantic Canada.

In March 2005, Horizons delivered a pre-conference workshop on the steps to influence public policy development, as part of the Nova Scotia Safety Council's annual conference. The workshop focused on strategies for influencing public policy as it relates to injury prevention.

We worked with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia's Leaders Among Us program to revise their Physical Activity Basics Program Manual and develop a train-the-trainer manual for leaders in Family Resource Centres (FRCs) to deliver the program. We later developed a version of the manual suitable for use beyond FRCs, and developed and delivered an orientation to Physical Activity Basics to recreation leaders from across Nova Scotia.

Horizons developed and facilitated a series of evening workshops for Community Health Board members to build their skills and understanding of using a community development approach in their work.

One of our Horizons Directors gave the opening plenary address at a provincial gathering of the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion (Physical Activity, Sport, & Recreation) staff and Active School Community project members. The plenary address focused on building sustainable partnerships for promoting physical activity.

Based on input from primary health care team members, Horizons developed a day-long workshop (including a facilitator's manual; a participants' manual; and all workshop materials) to build the capacity of primary health care teams to work with their communities. The workshop was pilot-tested with primary health care teams from across Atlantic Canada, and revised for implementation across the Atlantic Provinces.

In early 2005, Horizons facilitated a series of health promotion workshops for nurses working within Capital Health's Mental Health Program and the Health Unit serving the Central Nova Correctional Facility. Based on an internal learning needs assessment, we designed and delivered an introduction to health promotion, and sessions on building health promotion practice into daily work. We also facilitated and evaluated the day-long workshops (which included guest speakers addressing specific priority learning needs of nurses) and prepared a follow-up package for participants.

Horizons worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association: Nova Scotia Division to review best practices for training community support workers to promote mental health and support people experiencing mental health challenges. After conducting a review of best practices in training community support worked, we prepared a research-based training outline for the CMHA to use to prepare staff for the Community Support Program, identified potential resource people and organizations to implement the training for these support workers, and prepared a report for the project.

In September 2004, we conducted a series of workshops on building community capacity and measuring community capacity in Fredericton and Miramichi, New Brunswick. We designed, facilitated, and evaluated the workshops, which focused on building knowledge and skills for capacity building, and for moving services from a deficit orientation to a capacity orientation. We also reviewed the Measuring Community Capacity Kit, and trained facilitators to use it with their community groups.

Horizons coordinated the provincial Primary Health Care Conference for the NS College of Registered Nurses, the Nova Scotia Department of Health, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The conference was designed to provide participants with practical information, tools, and strategies to incorporate into their work. Participants learned about initiatives from across Canada, throughout Nova Scotia, and internationally to move primary health care forward in their work and communities.

We were responsible for all aspects of planning the conference, including theme and program development and design (in conjunction with the Conference Committee), registration, promotion, program design and production, venue coordination (including menus and audio-visual materials), and the conference evaluation.

The Annual General Meeting for the Community Links Board of Directors and members was held in May 2003 in Halifax. Horizons planned the meeting, arranged all meeting space, accommodation, and menu logistics, organized registration, and prepared and distributed the follow-up materials to participants.

We worked with the Health Promotion Clearinghouse Steering Committee to plan and facilitate its 2003 Partners' Meeting. The Partners' Meeting had three purposes: 1) to share information about Health Promotion Clearinghouse activities and status with partners; 2) to reflect on and celebrate accomplishments; and 3) to draw on the knowledge, connections, experiences, and resources of the partners to address the sustainability of the Health Promotion Clearinghouse.

Thirty-one people from a range of organizations participated in the day-long meeting, which was held in Halifax in April 2003. In addition to the meeting facilitation, we prepared a meeting summary report, which was circulated to all stakeholders.

The mission of ACORN is to consolidate all resources and stakeholders in the organic food industry in Atlantic Canada, to build a comprehensive organic food infrastructure and to increase the viability of Atlantic Canadian family farms and their communities.

Horizons worked with ACORN to plan and coordinate their annual conference. The theme of the conference, which was held in Halifax in March 2003, was Atlantic Successes and Innovations. Two hundred delegates from Atlantic Canada participated in the conference. For the first time, ACORN members were invited to lead conference sessions to share what they have learned from their experiences.

Our role included planning and implementing media, sponsorship, and promotional strategies; organizing a participatory process for session leadership; planning and organizing the trade show, socials, and food for the conference; coordinating registration; and planning the Children's Program and the Chef's Demonstration lunch.

We worked with recreation leaders and Community Health Boards in Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, and Yarmouth Counties to develop and deliver a workshop focused on improving community health through physical activity. Participants, (including Community Health Board members; recreation staff; early childhood educators; and representatives of community workplaces) learned about the best ways to promote and support physical activity in their communities and settings, as well as a step-by-step approach to advocating for physical activity. Horizons designed the workshop format, developed a workbook that provided practical tools and exercises for participants to develop an advocacy strategy, facilitated the workshop, and delivered the advocacy component of the workshop.

In early 2005, Horizons worked with the Atlantic Thoracic Society (ATS) to develop an advocacy strategy for medication and treatment for respiratory patients in Atlantic Canada. Our work included designing and conducting a survey with ATS members, designing, facilitating, and evaluating an advocacy planning session to build skills for advocacy work among members, and developing a synthesized advocacy plan for Atlantic Canada.