(From the ISHN Member information service) One of the major challenges in sustaining and integrating health and social programs within education systems is the tendency in government to create and maintain "silos" of programs, often delivered in isolation or even competition with each other. Most governments create committees to encourage coordination but they often fail, or they focus on only one problem at a time. The Manitoba Healthy Child Agency, a strategy established in law in 2007, is an exception to this rule. The slogan on Manitoba license plates tells the world about "Friendly Manitoba". More than just words, this slogan actually reflects a culture and customs in the province, one which was born in Canada's harshest winters and bred by generations of immigrants who had to rely on each other. So, perhaps, it is this culture of cooperation that enables Healthy Child Manitoba (HCM) to be as effective as an inter-ministry agency, coordinating several ministers and ministries, in a "whole of government" strategy. Other factors could include their requirement to report results every five years, its research, innovation and knowledge development capacity, and its combination of programs (as opposed to framework documents) that are delivered hands-on and delegated ways. As well, the Healthy Child inter-ministry program has its own legislation, entitled the Healthy Child Manitoba Act, thereby giving its coordination work legal authority and requirements to report every five years on progress.
The HCM web site describes its work as follows: " in 2000, the provincial government implemented the Healthy Child Manitoba (HCM) Strategy – a network of programs and supports for children, youth and families. This nationally recognized strategy was set in legislation under The Healthy Child Manitoba Act in 2007.Led by the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, Healthy Child Manitoba bridges departments and governments and, together with the community, works to improve the well-being of Manitoba's children and youth. HCM focuses on child-centred public policy through the integration of financial and community-based family supports.In addition to these cross-sectoral government structures, The HCM Act also continues the work of cross-sectoral community structures, including Parent-Child Coalitions and the Provincial Healthy Child Advisory Committee (PHCAC). HCM researches best practices and models and adapts these to Manitoba's unique situation. It strengthens provincial policies and programs for healthy child and adolescent development, from the prenatal period to adulthood. HCM then evaluates programs and services to find the most effective ways to achieve the best possible outcomes for Manitoba children, families, and communities."
The HCM web site describes its work as follows: " in 2000, the provincial government implemented the Healthy Child Manitoba (HCM) Strategy – a network of programs and supports for children, youth and families. This nationally recognized strategy was set in legislation under The Healthy Child Manitoba Act in 2007.Led by the Healthy Child Committee of Cabinet, Healthy Child Manitoba bridges departments and governments and, together with the community, works to improve the well-being of Manitoba's children and youth. HCM focuses on child-centred public policy through the integration of financial and community-based family supports.In addition to these cross-sectoral government structures, The HCM Act also continues the work of cross-sectoral community structures, including Parent-Child Coalitions and the Provincial Healthy Child Advisory Committee (PHCAC). HCM researches best practices and models and adapts these to Manitoba's unique situation. It strengthens provincial policies and programs for healthy child and adolescent development, from the prenatal period to adulthood. HCM then evaluates programs and services to find the most effective ways to achieve the best possible outcomes for Manitoba children, families, and communities."
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