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Health Care Reform Presentations

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On: Jan. 24, 2012 Drawing Out Links: Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, and Social Policy

The Wellesley Institute engages in policy development and advocacy to advance population health. Our work also sees us working with researchers and community groups to help develop policy capacity, and we often speak on how to maximize the policy influence of research and knowledge exchange.

Earlier this week, we spoke to a graduate-level social work class at the University of Toronto about why policy matters to the social problems they address. We highlighted parallels between the kinds of policy changes needed to address social determinants of health and health equity and those needed to address the structural foundations of social inequality and exclusion. We set out some key ways to develop effective policy recommendations. The slides from Bob’s presentation are below.

We also often speak on knowledge exchange with policy impact: including recently to a major national KE conference and a CIHR research conference (here is the audio of that speech).

Social policy grad class jan 2012

 

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On: Jan. 3, 2012 Building Health Equity In: Drawing on Community Innovation

One of the critical problems facing the health system is inequitable access to health promotion, treatment and other services; especially for those facing language and other systemic barriers. A very promising innovation developed in recent years by Community Health Centres, public health and other community-based providers is the idea of peer health ambassadors. These are people from particular communities — whether a neighbourhood, cultural community, drug users or others often marginalized by mainstream services — who are trained and supported to provide services and support to their peers. These models have proven effective in helping people navigate the complex healthcare maze, in increasing access to screening and other preventative services, in well-baby care and in many other areas. These are notes from a talk we gave at the Canadian Public Health Association annual meeting.

Enhancing Health Equity: The Potential of Peer Health Ambassadors

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On: Oct. 27, 2011 Addressing Systemic Access Barriers: the Potential of Peer Health Ambassadors and other Community-Based Innovation

Addressing systemic barriers in access to care is one of the crucial challenges facing the Ontario health system. One such area is inequitable access to screening and preventative care, inequities that can have devastating outcomes. Some very promising collaborations are underway in Peel Region to improve access to cancer screening for South Asian populations. I spoke to a recent knowledge exchange forum there on the potential of peer health ambassadors and community involvement in service planning.

Peel cancer screening ke forum oct 2011
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On: Oct. 27, 2011 Local Collaborations to Advance Health Equity

Building broad local partnerships and collaborations among service providers, community agencies and residents is one vital part of driving health equity into action on the ground. I spoke to a tremendously interesting group coming together in the Jane-Humber area of north-west Toronto. I highlighted the experience and impact of the South East Toronto Organization, a community-based collaboration that has been working for over twenty years in south-east Toronto to address equity barriers, connect providers working in marginalized communities and address challenges such as access to dental service, non-insured people, homeless young moms, harm reduction and other fundamental equity issues (see an overview of South East Toronto Organization’s development and our review of comprehensive community initiatives). I also spoke to the overall potential of community level multi-sectoral collaboration and networks as one crucial ingredient in acting on health inequities.

Jane humber – potential of local networks advancing health equity

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On: Oct. 27, 2011 Public Health, Priority Populations and Driving Health Equity Into Action

Public health have long been leaders in health equity strategy (see Sudbury’s Ten Promising Practices). One key direction has been working with local communities and those marginalized and vulnerable populations facing the most inequitable health outcomes or barriers to services and support. I spoke at an Ontario Public Health Association forum on how to engage with priority populations to identify key service gaps, population needs and levers for change, and to design and deliver the best mixes of programs and resources to enhance the opportunities for good health for all. We spoke of a number of key challenges: how to frame the need to act on underlying social determinants of health in understandable and energizing ways; how to balance coherent overall equity strategies that can connect many specific initiatives with focused programs and investments to improve the health of the worst off fastest; and how to stay grounded in and responsive to diverse community needs and perspectives.

Health equity and priority pop’n opha hpo forum oct 2011

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On: May. 11, 2011 Complex social and policy problems require sophisticated planning tools and strategy

This is a presentation to the policy and management staff at the Canadian Mental Health Association — Ontario on how Health Equity Impact Assessment, Mental Health Wellbeing Assessment and others tools can be used to ensure mental health is embedded in health equity strategy — and equally important, that equity is embedded in mental health strategy.
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On: Mar. 18, 2011 Implementing Mental Health Equity in Hospitals

Mental health is a crucial part of health and health equity.  I presented to Grand Rounds Psychiatry at a Toronto academic hospital on how to build equity into planning and delivering high-quality psychiatric treatment. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Mar. 18, 2011 Building Equity and Social Determinants of Health Into ‘Healthy Communities’ Planning

View more presentations from Wellesley Institute.
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On: Mar. 17, 2011 Equity-Focused Planning: Drilling Down in Psychiatry and Clarifying Our Conceptual Framework

One crucial component of ensuring more equitable health care is good planning, and one effective tool is Health Equity Impact Assessment.  We just published two new primers on HEIA and Mental Well-being Impact Assessment and we have been presenting a number of workshops to providers and planners. Read the rest of this entry »

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On: Feb. 15, 2011 Driving health equity into action: Bob Gardner at Ryerson Conference

Policy makers, community partners, scholars, and students explored the challenges and issues surrounding a more equitable Canada last Saturday. The Wellesley Institute’s Bob Gardner gave a keynote speech arguing that health equity can be realized, and outlined a roadmap with the strategies, tools, policy changes and community mobilization needed to make it happen. Read the rest of this entry »

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