RBD Santé :The Health Promotion Documentation Network in Brussels

Authors: 
Cueppens, Claudine
Dombret, Danielle
Piret, Samuel
Abstract: 

Formed on the basis of voluntary cooperation and close coordination between partners, RBD Santé has existed for over ten years and currently holds twenty-one specialized documentation centers. In fact, the network rallies forces to facilitate access to relevant information, and promotes quality training for network members.

The information in the field of health is sizeable and applicants come from different professional backgrounds (schools, colleges, universities, social workers, medical and paramedical, government, etc.). Unfortunately the public does not know where to send its requests and questions in the field of health promotion. The idea of a Health Promotion Documentation Network in Brussels was born from the will to bring together documentation centers of the Brussels Region and to set up a system of information sharing, dissemination of knowledge and exchange of documentation. Beyond simple a place of exchange between professionals, the network's purpose is to improve the provision of information and offer users the necessary guidance and support in their searches. Network members meet to develop projects, share information, exchange experiences and improve the quality of information retrieval service.

Exploring different professional backgrounds and comparing methods of work can stimulate critical thinking and progress to independent reasoning and reinforce collaborative relationships. This collaboration is valuable in several ways: it allows members to perform their duties with maximum efficiency, it enables direct access to information from other associated resource centers and helps to avoid duplicates. Over the years, the network acquired experience and technical know-how, and searched for ways to restructure itself. It is now managed by a coordinating committee, composed of three volunteer members, and has adopted a charter which confirms the rules of operation and participation for members. The charter ensures membership and participation in the network activities and the respect of the principles behind it. It should also allow new members to gradually enter as actors in an open-remaining process of thought and work. For the sake of sharing and exchanging information, the network organizes for its members information sessions and trainings related to document management in the broad sense (copyrights, creation and management of a website, introduction to various information library systems, etc..

The RBD Santé also maintains a directory providing information about the resource center partners. It presents each center, the range of services, document types available, opening hours and terms of use. This directory is free to the public and people working in the field of health. It is also possible to contact specific network partners, for requests for documentation. An updated edition of the directory has just been published in September 2011 and is available, in paper or digital format. The network has platform on a website that supports the exchange of information which is also accessible to the public. This opening allows everyone to get to know the members, to visit their websites, to be aware of the network activities and to take part in it (http://www.rbdsante.be, website in French language).

The proliferation of digital resources and the need to ensure, for all, better access to reliable background information and personal assistance, will prompt the network to further diversify its activities to meet the needs of its members and users, whose professional activities are related to different evolving areas of health. The future developments of the network will largely depend on the real cooperation of its members and the financial means to carry out some projects.

Current Members List

  • ANAHM/AFrAHM (Maximilien Lejeune, Michel Joris)
  • APEDAF (Michel Joris)
  • CDCS-CMDC (Stephanie Wolbeek)
  • CEDIF-FLCPF (Claudine Cueppens)
  • CDSB / CLPS Bruxelles (Mourad Benmerzouk)
  • Centre Info-Démences IDEM (Lydia Lassaux)
  • CPMS / PSE – COCOF (Michèle Philipp)
  • CRIOC – OIVO (Réjane Dethise)
  • Cultures&Santé (Xhemile Buzaku)
  • Entr’Âges (Pascale Reman)
  • Euridis / Parthages (Anne Denhaene)
  • FARES / Prévention des Allergies (Samuel Piret)
  • Fil d’Ariane (Jean Houyoux)
  • Infor-Drogues (Caroline Godet, Joëlle Roelandts)
  • La Médiathèque (Christel Depierreux)
  • Ligue Francophone Belge contre l’Epilepsie (Gisèle Motheu)
  • Observatoire du sida et des sexualités (Delphine Metten)
  • PIPSa (Maria Sugero)
  • Prospective Jeunesse (Danielle Dombret)
  • Psycendoc (Ariane Coppens)
  • RESOdoc (Yvette Gossiaux)
Keywords: 
Health promotion, Network, Brussels
Category: 
Free communications
Type of presentation: 
Poster