Alliance for Healthier Communities

And that's a wrap! The Alliance's 2024 conference, Co-Designing the Future of Primary Health Care, is finished. Today, we were called to consider how oppressive policies and structures have harmed - and continue to harm - communities through ecological violence and social isolation. But we were also reminded that the solution is not to "fix" damaged communities but to nourish and support them so they can tap into their own power to heal. In the morning, Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali detailed how historical policies designed to marginalize and oppress have become systems and structures, still marginalizing and oppressing, still harming the health and wellbeing of people and communities. This is often done through acts of ecological violence - displacing people, poisoning the air and water, harvesting resources, and pushing vulnerable people into areas where the burdens of climate change and pollution are heaviest. Yet hope remains. Grass-roots activism and "artivism" have begun to result in policy change in the US. These new policies are seeing neighbourhoods and health centres rebuilt, and they're helping communities move "from surviving to thriving." In the afternoon, Cormac Russell picked up this thread of community healthmaking. He outlined two competing narratives in health care: The first is a model of institutionalization. It looks for deficit and tries to repair it. Ultimately, this model fails. While it is essential, it is not sufficient. The second model is one of community animation, in which people are recognized and empowered as healthmakers, and each person can contribute to their own health and the health of others. This does not simply mean implementing social activities and referring people to them, which is simply another form of institutionalization; rather, it means finding strengths and building on them. It means resourcing and empowering people and communities to form their own rich associational networks, then stepping back to let them lead. We are grateful to all of our plenary speakers and learning-session presenters, our engaging and entertaining (and sometimes rebellious) MCs, Michelle Hurtubise and Liben Gebremikael as well as all the volunteers, sponsors, and exhibitors who made the past two days possible. And thank you to everyone who came to work, play, learn, eat, dance, and build community together. As you return to your communities, we hope that these experiences will embolden you in your advocacy and empower you in your work.

There's still time to register for the 2nd national conference on Black mental health in Canada, held in Ottawa on October 16-18, 2024! The conference will highlight the latest research and explore new programs for mental health promotion, prevention, and culturally adapted, anti-racist interventions. It's a unique opportunity to discuss the progress made across the country and to share vital knowledge. Don’t miss out on this critical conversation and the chance to contribute to the future of Black mental health in Canada. Register now using this link: https://lnkd.in/e26MEybN #BlackMentalHealth #HealthEquity

À l'occasion de la Journée de sensibilisation aux surdoses (#OverdoseAwarenessDay), nous soutenons nos membres et leur continuum de soins fondé sur des données probantes, y compris la réduction des méfaits (#HarmReduction), qui a prouvé son efficacité pour sauver des vies et aider les personnes à accéder aux traitements et aux soutiens. Nous sommes impatients de contribuer à la construction d'un système de soins en santé mentale plus équitable en Ontario.

On #OverdoseAwarenessDay, we stand w/ our members and their evidence-informed continuum of care, including #HarmReduction, that's proven to save lives, and help people connect to treatment and supports. We look forward to helping build more equitable #MentalHealth care in Ontario.

Harm reduction and supervised consumption are proven, evidence-informed approaches to mental health and addictions care, and part of the continuum of comprehensive primary health care. Our statement on closures of CTS sites across Ontario: https://lnkd.in/gQNtXJTP #HarmReduction #HealthEquity

Harm reduction and supervised consumption are proven, evidence-informed approaches to mental health and addictions care, and part of the continuum of comprehensive primary health care. Our statement on closures of CTS sites across Ontario: https://lnkd.in/gQNtXJTP #HarmReduction #HealthEquity

Despite the rising cost of living, Ontario's community health sector saw only a 1.53% average salary increase in 2023, while their peers in other sectors received increases up to 11%. Let's work together to close this wage gap. #ForUsForYou #ONhealth #ONpoli #CDNhealth #CDNpoli Malgré la hausse du coût de la vie, le secteur de la santé communautaire de l’Ontario n’a connu qu’une augmentation salariale moyenne de 1,53 % en 2023, alors que ses homologues d’autres secteurs ont bénéficié d’augmentations allant jusqu’à 11 %. Travaillons ensemble à combler cet écart salarial. #PourVousPourNous

💸 Despite the rising cost of living, Ontario's community health sector saw only a 1.53% average salary increase in 2023, while their peers in other sectors received increases up to 11%. Let's work together to close this wage gap. #ForUsForYou

💸 Despite the rising cost of living, Ontario's community health sector saw only a 1.53% average salary increase in 2023, while their peers in other sectors received increases up to 11%. Let's work together to close this wage gap. #ForUsForYou

We are excited to announce that The Alliance was present today at TAIBU Community Health Centre’s event where Hon. Sylvia Jones, Ontario Minister of Health, revealed a $14 million investment to connect up to 49,000 people in Toronto to primary care teams. This initiative is part of a larger $110 million investment aimed at connecting 328,000 Ontarians to primary care providers. Also in attendance were Hon. Raymond Sung Joon Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, Hon. Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Housing, David Smith, MPP of Scarborough Centre, and Aris Babikian, MPP of Scarborough. At The Alliance, we are dedicated to supporting investments in interprofessional primary care teams (IPCTs) as they play a crucial role in providing accessible, comprehensive healthcare. This significant funding will enhance healthcare access, ensuring more people receive the care they need in their communities. Sarah Hobbs CEO of The Alliance, declared, “We congratulate the Ontario Government on its continued investments in the expansion of inter-professional primary care teams across Ontario. We are very pleased with the investments announced today in local communities such as the Afrocentric Inter-professional Primary Care Teams at TAIBU CHC with Rexdale and Black Creek CHC. Fully resourced inter-professional primary health care teams at community health organizations can keep people connected to primary care, social and community supports and divert away from emergency care. Investing in the expansion of IPCTs is a good step towards connecting people in Ontario to primary health care.” We applaud this initiative and we are looking forward to seeing the positive impact of these investments on our communities. 🌟 #PrimaryCare #HealthcareAccess #ONHealth