Wellesley Institute

Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

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Publications

Building Capacity For CBR With Racialized Groups: Towards A Richer Understanding Of Health Disparities

Helene Gregoire |

Principal Organization: Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Centre Partner Organizations: Toronto Public Health and Black Creek Community Health Centre Principal Investigator: Helene Gregoire Researchers identified the fact that while there are many studies on the impact of socioeconomic factors on racialized minority groups in Canada, there is little community based research in this area. The […]

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Building School Inclusiveness

David Rayside |

Principal Organization: University of Toronto, Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies Partner Organization: University of Toronto, Centre for Urban Health Initiatives Principal Investigator: David Rayside Researchers held focus groups with Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) youth aged 16 – 25 years over a 4 month period to learn about the issues facing LGBT youth in […]

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Toronto Crack Users Perspectives: Inside, Outside, Upside Down

Deborah Goodman |

Principal Organization: The South Riverdale Community Health Centre Principal Investigator: Raffi Balian This study was Toronto’s first ever project focused entirely on crack use. Researchers conducted 17 focus groups and handed out surveys to 108 users to learn why they used crack and how they felt about treatment services. Users most often turned to crack […]

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Queer Youth Speak

Shout Clinic |

Principal Organization: Shout Clinic Partner Organization: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Principal Investigator: Christine O’Rourke Interviews were conducted with over 40 youth in the LGBTTTIQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Transsexual Two-spirit Intersex and Queer) community who were either homeless or street involved. Participants also identified as dealing with mental health or substance use […]

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The Struggle To Eat Well: The Report Of The Concurrent Disorder Nutrition Project

Toronto Western Hopsital |

Principal Organization: Toronto Western Hopsital Partner Organization: St. Stephen’s Community House Principal Investigator: Berit Dellerud Researchers interviewed 29 people living with concurrent mental health and substance use issues to identify what obstacles they faced in accessing food. Over one-third of respondents were homeless or staying with family. Common barriers to access included lack of income, […]

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Building Healthier Urban Communities: National Research Conference On Homelessness

Stephen Gaetz |

Principal Organization: York University Partner Organizations: University of Guelph, Sherbourne Health Centre and the City of Toronto Principal Investigator: Stephen Gaetz This study used two indigenous methods to explore how culture and recreation programs at the Native Canadian Centre affected the well-being of Aboriginal adults living in Toronto. Using sharing circles, researchers asked participants about […]

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A Case Management Approach To Support Services For People Living With HIV/AIDS (PHAs)

AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and McMaster University (CLEAR Unit) |

Principal Organization: AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) Partner Organization: McMaster University (CLEAR Unit) Principal Investigator: Winston Husbands People living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) access practical assistance from the AIDS Committee of Toronto’s (ACT) support program either on their own initiative or through referral from another program or agency. ACT staff began considering whether a case management […]

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Effecting Policy Change In The Fight Against HIV/AIDS Among African Communities Living In Toronto

Africans in Partnership Against AIDS |

Principal Organization: Africans in Partnership Against AIDS Principal Investigator: Edith Jacobet Wambayi This project was designed to inform people about AIDS/HIV in African communities in Toronto. The researchers focused on the barriers people face when accessing information and treatment for HIV/AIDS. A workshop brought 34 participants together, including representatives from government funding agencies, and the […]

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Cultural Mapping Of Regent Park

Dixon Hall |

Principal Organization: Dixon Hall Partner Organization: Regent Park Resident Council Principal Investigator: Kate Stark Dixon Hall provides social housing services to residents in Regent Park. With a revitalization project planned for the area, Dixon Hall recruited researchers to assess how they could improve community cultural services through the rejuvenation process. Researchers used a cultural mapping approach […]

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The Pathways To Education Program

Norman Rowen and Kevin Gosine |

Principal Organization: Regent Park Partner Organization: Toronto District School Board Principal Investigator: Norman Rowen The Pathways to Education Program is a unique initiative of the Regent Park Community Health Centre. It’s goal is to realize the vision of the Health Centre; namely, that “The children of the community will become the doctors, nurses, social workers, […]

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Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.