Homeless people in York Region, north of Toronto, are suffering both physically and mentally. Those are the findings of a new needs assessment of homeless people from the York Region Alliance to End Homelessness. In addition to setting out details of the health needs of homeless people, the YRAEH assessment sets out ten practical recommendations. Three years ago, the Wellesley Institute supported Street Health in its assessment of the health status of homeless people in Toronto called The Street Health Report 2007.
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Jul. 29, 2010
York Region’s homeless are suffering mentally and physically: Needs assessment
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Jul. 29, 2010
Reinstate long-form census for 2011, urges National Statistical Council
Canada’s National Statistical Council, the official advisory body on statistical issues, is calling for the long-form census to be reinstated for the 2011 census. The Wellesley Institute has joined with a long list of business, academic, research, policy and governmental groups that have expressed concern that the federal plan to cancel the mandatory long-form census will deprive Canadians of vital evidence that is needed for good public policy. In order to address some of the critical concerns raised during the ongoing national debate about the census, the National Statistical Council is recommending a detailed review and public consultation leading up to the 2016 census. Here is the full text of the National Statistical Council’s statement: Read the rest of this entry »
By: Nimira Lalani
On: Jul. 28, 2010
Who cares for the undocumented and uninsured?
Canada’s health care system is based on the principles of comprehensiveness, universality, portability, public administration and accessibility. But, many people are excluded from access to the healthcare they need because they are not eligible for provincial health insurance. Every year, thousands of people come to Canada, in particular to Ontario, Canada’s economic hub. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Michael Shapcott
On: Jul. 26, 2010
New housing blueprint for UK released by Chartered Institute of Housing
The UK Chartered Institute of Housing has released Housing Pact: Making the Case for Housing - a blueprint for Britain. The pact sets out a series of key priorities, including investing in hew affordable homes; preserving and improving existing homes; supporting the housing needs of seniors; building housing solutions from the community up (“localism”); breaking down silos among governmental housing and community initiatives; protecting the environment; and tackling poverty. Canadian housing and homelessness advocates have been pressing for similar priorities in a new national housing strategy for this country.
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 23, 2010
Primary Care as A Key Driver of Health Equity
Evidence from around the world shows that enhancing access to high quality comprehensive primary care for disadvantaged people and communities is one of them most important directions for addressing health inequalities. Community health centres are a vital part of this direction in Canada and many other countries, and the recent AOHC conference on Health Equity: Pushing the Boundaries highlighted how to drive this into action on the ground (I spoke on how do this). Read the rest of this entry »
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 23, 2010
Health Equity: Pushing the Boundaries
The theme of the Association of Ontario Health Centre’s annual conference was building equity and diversity into the core of community-based primary care and health promotion. I set out a broad framework on how to drive health equity into action through comprehensive strategies and clear priorities, putting these goals into practice through good planning and resource allocation, Read the rest of this entry »
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 22, 2010
Driving Health Equity Into Action
I spoke at the Changing Face of Ontario conference organized by Across Boundaries, the Canadian Mental Health Association and other mental health organizations and networks. My workshop focused on developing comprehensive health equity strategies and priorities, putting them into practice through good planning and resource allocation, Read the rest of this entry »
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 20, 2010
Health Equity Roadmap
There is always a huge amount to be learnt from equity strategy and interventions in other countries. I presented a lecture on health equity strategy in Ontario and Canada to a seminar of public health professors and other leaders in Berlin. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 20, 2010
Health Equity Strategy Into Action for Public Health
The Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion has a vital role in supporting an innovative and effective public health system. The Agency has highlighted equity in its strategic priorities. I presented a workshop there on how to build equity into practice through planning, priority setting, resource allocation and performance management, and how health promotion can be approached through an equity lens. Read the rest of this entry »
By: Bob Gardner
On: Jul. 20, 2010
Using Health Equity Impact Assessment Creatively: Local Mental Health Strategy
To drive health equity into practice we need to be able to identify the specific needs of health disadvantaged populations, key access barriers, and gaps in available services for these communities. Health Equity Impact Assessment is an effective planning tool that is increasingly being used within LHINs and in many other jurisdictions to build equity into service provision I recently presented a workshop to the Mental Health and Addictions Decision Support Working Group of the Toronto Central LHIN on how HEIA could be applied to developing quality improvement plans and indicators. Read the rest of this entry »
