A program design to build our collective capabilities: Reorienting our focus on communities as the foundation to advance integrated care and population health

A rare opportunity

A customized design for Health Teams, Networks, and Regional Health Authorities

Asset based community development (ABCD) is an approach that focuses on identifying and mobilizing the existing strengths and resources within a community to promote positive change and enhance overall well-being. ABCD leads to sustainable improvements in population health and creates a holistic and inclusive approach.

This was a unique opportunity to spend time with Cormac Russell, Founding Director or Nurture Development and a member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, at DePaul University, Chicago. Over the last 25 years, Cormac’s work has demonstrated an enduring impact in 35 countries around the world. He has trained communities, agencies, NGOs and governments in ABCD and other community-based approaches in Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe and North America.

His most recent books are The Connected Community- Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods (Coauthor John McKnight); Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2022, and Rekindling Democracy – A Professional’s Guide to Working in Citizen Space; Cascade Books, 2020.

Cormac’s TEDx talk can be viewed here

This session was co-facilitated by Jodeme Goldhar and Walter Wodchis, IFIC Canada.

Speaker

Speaker

Cormac Russell

Founding Director of Nurture Development

Member of the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Institute, at DePaul University, Chicago.

Facilitators

Facilitators

Jodeme Goldhar

Vice Chair and Secretary, International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC)

Co-Director, IFIC Canada

Walter Wodchis

Professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto

Co-Director, IFIC Canada