Title: Inclusion Health as an intersectoral approach to addressing severe health inequities
Co-authors: Mary Cronin, Angela Flynn, Ciara O’Toole, Margaret Curtin, and Carol Condon
Introduction
Inclusion Health is an internationally emerging approach to addressing severe health inequities experienced by the most marginalised in society, for example people who are homeless, living with addiction and/or mental health issues, sex workers, and minority groups such as the Traveller community and marginalised immigrants. Through intersectoral engagement between those experiencing health inequity, their representative organisations, health and social services staff, and academic researchers, Inclusion Health strives to improve services and health outcomes. This presentation will discuss how this approach is being pioneered in Cork.
Method / Approach
The Inclusion Health Research Group (IHRG) at UCC is leading this development. The IHRG was established in 2020 to promote the concept and practice of Inclusion Health in the university and in UCC’s catchment area. In its initial phase the IHRG focused on developing a strong inter-disciplinary membership across all six schools in the College of Medicine and Health and providing a space for like-minded colleagues interested in addressing health inequities through research, teaching and advocacy, to come together.
As part of its second phase of activities the IHRG proposes to develop an Inclusion Health Network; this work commenced through hosting an inaugural Inclusion Health Forum in March 2023 and inviting a broad range of community representative organisations and statutory and voluntary sector health service providers. The Forum sought (i) to establish the level of interest across different sectors and communities in the development of an Inclusion Health Network, (ii) to provide a platform to publicise work already underway to address health inequities, and (iii) to create an intersectoral networking opportunity. Presentations were made across issues including Traveller mental wellness, the impacts of trauma on health, and the inclusion of people with an intellectual disability and migrants in service development; networking opportunities were available before, during and after presentations.
Findings
The Forum had over 80 people in attendance with representatives from 12 community organisations, seven HSE services, the prison service, HIQA, and 10 UCC disciplines/departments. During and after this vibrant and energetic event we gathered evidence of a strong appetite, across sectors, to learn about the work of others, to identify shared issues, and to make connections and work collaboratively through an Inclusion Health approach. Two concerns common to many community organisations were access to health services which are respectful, and which provide accessible information on health, and on people’s rights to services.
Discussion / Research Implications
As the IHRG we intend to respond effectively to this evidence of interest by establishing an Inclusion Health Network to strengthen the capacity, social capital, and positive impact of the work of representative community organisations, health service providers and academic researchers. We have secured seed funding to develop this network and will hold a World Café event to explore and co-design with intersectoral representatives the types of processes and structures which could deliver impact for them and over time, improve health services and health outcomes for the most marginalised in society.