Local Health Integration Networks are crucial mechanisms for building equity into planning and service delivery.  In late 2009, as the LHINs were releasing their Integrated Health Service Plans, websites were reviewed to identify strategies, priorities, vision or mission statements that reference equity, and programs designed to address barriers or enhance health equity. This should be seen as a quick snapshot only; it was based on documents available on the LHIN sites and would need to be supplemented with discussions with LHIN officials to give a comprehensive picture of equity initiatives.

Equity is on LHINs’ agendas to varying degrees; with several developing explicit equity visions, commitments or strategies, and others incorporating equity priorities into their updated Integrated Health Service Plans

There are two components to this snapshot, organized by the fourteen LHINs.

Equity in 2010-13 Integrated Health Service Plans (IHSPs)

Most IHSPs include commitments to ensuring equitable access to health care services, and several have focused on the needs of specific disadvantaged populations or addressing access barriers.

Equity Program or Organizational Initiatives

For each LHIN, as of December 17, 2009, there is:

• a link to their home page and specific equity documents;
• references to equity in the current IHSP, as well as the first IHSP;
• examples of equity or diversity-focused program initiatives;
• descriptions of equity-focused planning groups or processes.

Central LHIN
Central East LHIN
Central West LHIN
Champlain LHIN
Erie St. Clair LHIN
Hamilton Niagara Hadimand Brant LHIN
Mississauga Halton LHIN

North East LHIN
North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN
North West LHIN
South East LHIN
South West LHIN
Toronto Central LHIN
Waterloo Wellington LHIN