For the first time, Southwestern Public Health is able to offer a free program for women who have experienced or are experiencing intimate partner violence.
The iHEAL program was developed by researchers at Western University and is grounded in more than 20 years of research.
Mary Van Den Neucker, a program manager at Southwestern Public Health explains how the health unit is able to offer the service.
“Western had approached us if we’re interested in being part of this program. And based fully on the fact if they got the funding, and they got the funding, and so we are going to be partnering with them to deliver this to our residents.”
Van Den Neucker advises additional staff have been hired to administer the program.
Funding is now in place to operate the program until the end of 2026 and she explains how it will operate.
She adds the program focuses on improving health, safety, relationships, connections, personal growth, and access to resources.
And to take advantage of the iHEAL program is a simple process, stresses Van Den Neucker.
“The work being done is actually led by the women themselves and what they feel that they need to achieve to be able to improve their health and well-being as they’re moving forward in their journey,” adds Van Den Neucker.
And she stresses language is not a barrier to accessing the program.
The success of the program is based on trust, she notes adding, “the whole key here is building that therapeutic relationship with our clients and that trusting relationship, which we know does take time.”
Leanne Fields, a public health nurse with the Middlesex London Health-Unit has witnessed the beneficial outcomes through the iHeal program.
“I have seen improvements in women’s safety, their health and well-being, their sense of self, their self-confidence and control. In collaborating with their healthcare provider to address health concerns, I’ve seen women build positive coping skills, improve sleep practices and healthy eating habits.”
The iHEAL program is expected to launch in early September and further information is available at http://www.swpublichealth.ca/iheal
Written by Ian McCallum
