Certification in Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases among the Aboriginal populations in Canada. While diabetes was not observed in the Aboriginal populations until the second half of the 1900s, today most Aboriginal populations report prevalence rates that exceed or are comparable to the prevalence rates seen in the non-Aboriginal population[1].
In Canada, the prevalence rate in Indigenous adults younger than age 35 is over 50.0%, and the lifetime risk of diabetes at age 20 is estimated at 75.6% in men and 87.3% in women. It is predicted that one in two Indigenous people in their 20s will develop diabetes at some point in life. The social determinants of health play a major role in the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Colonization is recognized worldwide as the most significant social determinant of health [2].
Some studies about Indigenous health in Canada have found a connection to culture, including Indigenous languages, helps create resilience to health problems that disproportionately affect Indigenous people, like HIV, diabetes and suicide[3].
DIABETES AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND
ICBOC subscribes and practices the belief that culture is the foundation of healing and that workers in the health and social fields are the most efficient agents for the healing of their own people. That is why ICBOC is committed to provide opportunities for workers in diabetes to be recognized for their professional competence, cultural expertise and commitment to heal their own people.
Two diabetes certification options are available, please choose the certification that best fits your current situation by clicking on the links below
1. Certifications for Community-Based Diabetes Support Workers
2. Certifications for Program-Based Diabetes Service Workers
Know Our 2 Certification in Diabetes Processes
Get more details of each process on the tabs below
Each tab contains details on the entire process you want to follow. If you need more clarification, contact us.
Unregulated Diabetes Community-Based Support workers are valuable resource people who live in the community. They promote diabetes awareness, implement prevention strategies and assist individuals and families affected with diabetes to manage the disease. They support the patient care delivery, coordination and education work provided by other health professionals.
ICBOC offers two levels of certifications to diabetes community support workers employed by Indigenous community-based organizations and/or programs that deliver prevention, awareness/education and care services to individuals and families affected by diabetes.
The Diabetes Community-Based Support worker’s and Diabetes Community-Based Support Coordinator certifications are also offered as a specialization to workers known under various other titles (community health workers (CHW), community health representatives (CHRs), cultural resource facilitators, community health brokers, multicultural health navigators, community navigators, cross-cultural health promoters, community outreach workers, peer educators, personal support workers, youth workers or peer support workers, multicultural health brokers, lay health educators, and more.
All these workers are grounded in the communities they serve and responsive to the many challenges they face. The credential that is granted when an applicant has met the expected certification standards and requirements, can be used as an attestation of a worker’s competencies in providing diabetes support at community level, in addition to others responsibilities to be carried out as part of his/her job description.
2024 Community Support Certificate Fees [74][70]2024 Community Support Certificate Fees [74][70]2024 Community Support Certificate Fees [74][70]
1. Certified Indigenous Community-Based Diabetes Support Worker (CICB-DSW)
2. Certified Indigenous Community-Based Diabetes Support Coordinator (CICB-DSC)
Many Indigenous communities throughout Canada are affected by a rising rate of diabetes, while dealing with a lack of access to health care and the impact of colonization. Many Indigenous health centres, organizations and programs throughout Canada provide a range of diabetes support services to individuals, families and communities with affected by diabetes.
These services offer culturally-focused education services and programs for the prevention, management and treatment of diabetes. The unregulated workers who deliver these services and programs are committed to promote diabetes awareness, to implement prevention strategies and to assist individuals and families affected with diabetes to manage the disease. They collaborate with other health professionals to ensure a continuum of diabetes care for Indigenous individuals and their families.
ICBOC offers a certification to program-based workers involved in all aspects of the administration and delivery of diabetes program, providing support in diabetes care management, prevention and education. ICBOC also offers a professional certification as Team Leaders in Diabetes Program Services.
To know more about the certification that you are interested in, please click on the one of the links below:
