Connected Communities: Building Equitable Integrated Healthcare

Alliance's comprehensive primary health care conference is now over!

Thank you for attending the two-day learning event. Stay tuned for access to plenaries and learning session content.

PLENARIES

LEARNING SESSIONS
The Connected Communities: Building Equitable Integrated Healthcare conference presented a valuable occasion to envision and gain knowledge about an integrated health system constructed around health equity and community, as well as the necessary steps to achieve that goal within the framework of Ontario Health Teams. The two-day event focused on ways to prioritize community voices and needs. We hosted 4 amazing keynotes from Ministry of Health’s Nadia Surani, nurse advocate Birgit Umaigba, gritty nurse podcaster Amie Archibald-Varley, and host of White Coat, Black Art Brian Goldman, a panel on centering equity in health system transformation. We also had over 25 learning sessions and 10 networking sessions. Additionally, the Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones addressed attendees at the event through a video message on Wednesday morning.

Conference Priority Topics

The two-day conference explored various topics including (but not limited to): 

• Ontario Health Teams

• Community-centred governance,
• The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs
• The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs
• Healthcare policy and governance
• Digital equity
• Data sharing and security in an integrated health system
• Innovative solutions to the HHR crisis
• Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities
• Indigenous health in Indigenous hands in integrated health systems

Plenaries

June, 07 - Morning

Description: After an Indigenous opening with Elder Frankly McNaughton, who offered a welcome song and message, we heard from Alliance Board Chair Liben Gebremikael. Following that, we listened to a recorded video message from Ontario's Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones. The opening live plenary keynote speech, delivered by Nadia Surani, Director of Primary Health Care at the Ontario Ministry of Health, kicked off the conference. A live Q&A session followed her remarks. This was a crucial session where attendees brought their pressing questions, ideas, and stories about system change to contribute to the broader conversation about ensuring health equity at the center of health system innovations, policy directions, and program and service development, led by and for communities.

Elder bio: Elder Franklyn McNaughton — an accomplished Haudenosaunee singer and dancer who has presided over hundreds of events and programs spanning several decades — combines a unique blend of good-natured humour with cultural knowledge to educate and entertain audiences. His extensive history extends back more than 35 years to work at the Native American Center for the Living Arts, where he and his expressive arts colleagues performed authentic and traditional songs and dances for visitors and guests from around the world. Frank continues to apply his craft in the service of breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions about Indigenous peoples.

^{The Future of Integrated Healthcare Models in Centering Health Equity}

Speaker bio: Nadia Surani is the Director of the Primary Health Care Branch, Physician, and Provider Services Division at the Ministry of Health.

Her portfolio includes managing funding and accountability for more than 1250 primary care physician contracts such as the Family Health Organization, Family Health Group, and ~300 interprofessional teams. These interprofessional teams include: Family Health Teams, Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics, Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Community Health Centres. 

Nadia also oversees specialized primary care models, such as the Ontario Midwifery Program, and provincial access programs that are designed to meet the unique needs of rural, northern, and Indigenous communities.

In addition, she is responsible for primary care policy initiatives, including efforts to transform the structure of the primary care system to make care more accessible and better integrated across the province.
 
Nadia holds a master’s degree in public health, specializing in health policy and management, and she is a certified project manager.

 ^{On leadership, advocacy, and engaging teams towards retention}

Speaker bio: Birgit Umaigba is an expert Registered Nurse, a change agent, thought leader, public speaker, nurse consultant and health equity activist. She currently teaches Adaptive Leadership at the Graduate Science Education, Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary. Also, she is a Clinical Instructor at Centennial College’ School of Nursing, where she teaches nursing students in both the collaborative and bridging programs.

Birgit is a fierce advocate for social justice, anti-racist healthcare and education, nurse wage increases, improvements to labor conditions and the increased employment of Internationally Educated Health Care Nurses (IENs) across Canada. Her advocacy and scholarship have focused on promoting a healthcare system where Black, Indigenous, and racialized people are represented in leadership positions.

Birgit Umaigba has intriguing commentaries and articles on these and related subjects in media outlets across the country and internationally. Also, her advocacy work has been published on the Toronto Star, Toronto Life, Chatelaine, Al-Jazeera, Forbes Magazine and has appeared on TVO, CTV, CP24, Global news, CBC, and NewsX India.

She is committed to creating an anti-racist healthcare system focused on addressing anti-Black racism in nursing while promoting the health and well-being of Black people. She is a recipient of several awards, among which are, the 2022 Doris Anderson Award for her tireless advocacy work within the nursing community, the Women of Dignity International Award for diversity, equality and inclusion, and the Inclusion Recognition Award.

Birgit is originally from Nigeria and currently lives in Canada with her husband, daughter, sister and nephew.

She enjoys singing.

June, 07 - Afternoon

^{Translating Advocacy into Action for Healthcare}

Description: Our second plenary delivered an afternoon of passion, innovation, and strategy for health equity advocacy, featuring our second keynote speaker, Amie Archibald-Varley.

Speaker bio: Amie Archibald-Varley is a thought leader, speaker, antiracism/anti-Black racism educator, health equity advocate, podcaster, and quality improvement specialist. Amie is an ally in fighting against anti-Indigenous racism. She has advanced education through San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training to enhance the ability to speak out and advocate for social justice for Indigenous people. She inspires others to speak their truths and brings communities together to engage in “courageous conversations”.

Amie is the co-host of the successful “Gritty Nurse Podcast” which discusses hot topics in healthcare. It has hit #2 in Apple Podcasts in Medicine for Canada.  Amie is also the Director of Multimedia at CanadiEM.

Amie has co-moderated and has been a speaker for many anti-racism and health equity discussions. She has facilitated discussions with CBC Radio, McMaster Program Development Faculty/ McMaster DeGroote School of Medicine, Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, The Conference Board, & Philadelphia Inquirer.

Amie has been featured on numerous TV, Radio, and News media outlets nationally and internationally. Amie has been a frequent medical contributor on CBC, CTV, Global News, CityNews, The Agenda, CTV W5, and TODAY.  She has written for The Globe and Mail, Chatelaine & Toronto Star.

June, 08 - Morning

^{How to Centre Health Equity in Ontario Health Teams}

Our plenary 1 keynote focused on the future, while this plenary panel discussion was designed to immerse the delegates at Connected Communities firmly into the uncertainty and possibility of the present. The full plenary panel, titled "How to Centre Health Equity in Ontario Health Teams," zeroed in on exactly what you would expect: raising challenging questions about how the transformation of the health system, including governance and funding models, would enhance access to services and improve outcomes for individuals who were already marginalized within a fragmented system. The panel delved into various topics, including the development of clinical pathways, the dissemination of learning health system innovations across sectors, the establishment of health equity indicators for universal adoption, and the collection of socio-demographic and race-based data. All of these crucial matters were discussed at length by our esteemed panelists. Additionally, we focused on examining these issues through the lenses of priority populations, such as Francophone, Indigenous, Black health, and perspectives from rural, remote, and northern regions. The panel included:

• Bryan Michaud, Director of Policy and Government Relations, Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario

  • Bryan Michaud holds a bachelor's degree in public communications from Université Laval and has been working in communications and public policies for over 15 years. Previously, Bryan began his career as a journalist and public relations officer, working over the years for Le Droit, L'Express d'Ottawa and the 45th Finale des Jeux du Québec. 

    Bryan made the leap into politics in 2011 when he became the executive assistant to Royal Galipeau, then MP for Ottawa-Orléans, working with him for four years. In 2016, Bryan accepted a new position as a policy analyst with the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario. In 2022, he became the Director of Policy and Government Relations. 

    Bryan has been involved in a number of projects over the years, including funding for the second phase of the Ottawa LRT project, federal funding for the Ottawa River clean-up, the La Résistance movement, funding for the Université de l’Ontario français and the modernization of the French Language Services Act. 

• Anna Greenberg, Chief Regional Officer, Toronto & East, Ontario Health

  • Anna has been a member of Ontario Health’s senior leadership team since the organization’s beginning. She served as Chief of Strategy and Planning, leading the development of many strategic and corporate initiatives and was instrumental in support of Ontario’s Health’s system response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Her commitment to actively listening, engaging and educating has helped Ontario Health better recognize and address barriers to equity. She spearheaded the development of our comprehensive Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism framework and continues to provide provincial executive leadership for this important work. 

    A former president of Health Quality Ontario, Anna championed improved performance monitoring, public reporting and clinical standards. She was formerly Director, Strategic Policy, at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Before that, she spent over a decade in leadership roles in the cancer system, shaping system performance measurement, planning and policy, as well as knowledge management, at Cancer Care Ontario, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Network, and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. As Chief Regional Officer, Anna is directly responsible for the region’s operational and system planning, supporting the health care system in implementing a pandemic response, advancing health system transformation, improving access to mental health and addictions services, and improving health equity across the region.

• Caroline Lidstone-Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council

  • Caroline Lidstone-Jones (MIR, CHE, BA) is Ojibway and a proud member of Batchewana First Nation. She is an accomplished executive with 17 plus years’ experience in hospital management and administration, and has extensive knowledge in public health, working with First Nations and the northern health care delivery systems in Canada. She is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (IPHCC), a network of 21 Indigenous primary health care organizations across Ontario, serving the needs of First Nation, Metis and Inuit clients.

    She has previously served as the Chief Quality Officer and Chief Operating Officer for the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority and the Provincial lead and Director of the Aboriginal Cancer Care Unit at Cancer Care Ontario (CCO). In both roles, she ensured services were culturally responsive to the unique needs of the communities and worked to advance Indigenous issues and health promotion.

• Moderator: Marlon Cole, MSc, CCISO, Director, IT/IM and Communications, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council

June, 08 - Afternoon

^{The Power of Teamwork: How We Can All Work Better Together}

The closing plenary presentation at Connected Communities came from a familiar voice for those who were fans of CBC Radio's White Coat, Black Art. Dr. Brian Goldman, a veteran emergency department physician, author, and broadcaster, was on hand to deliver his keynote, which focused on "The Power of Teamwork: How We Could All Work Better Together to Enhance Patient Engagement through The Power of Kindness." Driven by his research into kindness and empathy, Dr. Goldman explored new approaches to teamwork that could shift the organizational culture from "me" to "we." His unique perspective offered valuable insights to delegates as we collectively faced unprecedented challenges in recruitment, retention, and team morale. Although it was the final plenary, it was an unmissable opportunity for anyone seeking ways to strengthen their teams and improve working conditions in their organizations.

Speaker bio: Dr. Goldman is one of those rare individuals with great success in not one but several adrenaline-pumping careers. He is a highly regarded emergency physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He is also a medical commentator providing insights throughout COVID.  He’s the host of CBC’s award-winning radio show “White Coat, Black Art”, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of hospitals and doctor’s offices, and host of the podcast “The Dose” on current events in healthcare. He shares the lessons he learns in healthcare to benefit others; both in the healthcare industry and to help corporations & organizations learn from high-stakes environments.

Learning session

June, 07 - Morning Sessions

^{1A. Name of session: Addressing Health Inequities Through Strategic Partnerships}

Short description: Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre, Greater Hamilton Health Network, Black Health Community Leaders Forum, City of Hamilton (GO-VAXX Mobile Vaccine Clinic and Vaccine Ambassadors) and Hamilton Health Sciences (Screen for Life – mobile cancer screening) along with other community partners collaborated to host a series of events that culminated to the final event - Africa Day Health Promotion Fair on May 26 at Hamilton Urban Core CHC. This was aimed at bringing awareness to health issues that are prevalent to the Black community in Hamilton and providing information and direct access to services.  

Presenter information: Nhlaloenhle 'Nala' Ndawana, Executive Director, Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre; Melissa McCallum, Executive Director, Greater Hamilton Health Network; Comfort Afari , Lead Person –In- Charge, Hamilton Black Health Community Leaders Forum, Nadine Favics, Consumption and Treatment Services Manager; and Thandiwe Nkomo, Black Health Manager

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: Front line/clinical and/or program staff, Senior management, Policy makers

Conference priority topics: Ontario Health Teams, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

^{2A. Name of session: Governance: Succession Planning for Senior Leadership}

Short description: Succession planning is a critical aspect of organizational management. Being proactive helps increase the availability of experienced and capable employees who are prepared to assume leadership roles when they become available. The session explored the key steps in succession planning, including identifying and retaining employees to fill leadership roles; developing their skills, abilities, and knowledge; and preparing them for promotion or advancement. The session also examined the Board’s role in preparing for change in leadership and successfully recruiting a new organizational leader.  

Presenter Information: Kim Fraser, Executive Director, Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre; Paulysha De Gannes, President, Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre               

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)      

Audience: Boards, Senior Management                                                     

^{3A. Name of session: Improving Indigenous Health Outcomes through a Model of Culture as Healing}             

Short description: The learning session focused on addressing the limitations of Western-based primary health care for Indigenous peoples. It emphasized the importance of Culture as Healing and incorporating the Model of Wholistic Health and Wellbeing. Through active participation and discussions, attendees understood the root causes of poor Indigenous health outcomes, explored opportunities to integrate Traditional Healing practices into primary care, and identify and plan approaches to overcome barriers to cultural safety. The workshop aimed to equip attendees with the knowledge and strategies needed to provide culturally sensitive and inclusive care for Indigenous populations.   

Presenter information: Nicole Blackman, Director of Integrated Care and Clinical Services, IPHCC; Alexandra Barlow, Policy & Program Analyst, IPHCC                           

Session format: Skill building workshop (60 mins)

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: Indigenous health in Indigenous hands in integrated health systems              

^{4A. Name of session: Rural partnerships to build infrastructure}

Short description: Overview of the process to create effective rural partnerships to create a health clinic attached to the rural Waterloo Township of Wellesley recreation complex.                      

Presenter information: Rosslyn Bentley, Executive Director, Woolwich Community Health Centre; Wendy Lebold, Nurse Practitioner, Wellesley Township Community Health Center & Linwood Nurse Practitioner Office; Lauren Kells, Community Health Worker, Woolwich Community Health Centre

Session format: Skill Building Workshops (60 min)              

Audience: Senior management, Policy makers, Board members                                                 

Conference priority topics: Ontario Health Teams, Community-centred governance, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs         

^{5A. Name of session: Serving Invisible Needs: Primary Care and Community Support for Black Francophone Newcomers}

Short description: There is a great need for Black Francophone services in the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario.    

At TAIBU, 17 % of our clients are Black Francophones, and over 70% of that population are newcomers. The existing infrastructure and support services in Toronto and Ontario are not sufficient to meet the needs of this growing population group. We propose to build on TAIBUs model for delivering services to this population and develop a specialized Black Francophone social support hub in the GTA that will provide direct support for newcomer families and young people, as well as capacity building training for service providers. These changes need to be prioritized by OHTs that are responsible for facilitating and delivering a full and coordinated continuum of care to a defined population. At present, the francophone population of Ontario is considered secondary to the anglophone population. Francophones that are Black and in addition newcomers are invisible when it comes to service delivery and social policies. Only those organizations who choose to recognize this population and choose to prioritize them are currently addressing their needs. OHTs need to actively acknowledge this population and begin to strategically serve them at a higher level in order to ensure the success of these communities in this province.

Presenter information: Francine Charpentier, Nurse Practitioner, TAIBU CHC ; Liben Gebremikael, CEO, TAIBUCHC     

Session format: Skill Building Workshops (60 min)              

Audience: All audiences                                                            

Conference priority topics: The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs

^{6A. Name of session: Spotlights on Health Equity in Primary Care in Action (Team-Based Care Utilization across Community Health Centres in Ontario; Health equity frameworks as a tool for integrated, equity-driven care systems across Canada; The Social Prescribing Journey; Health Economics - The evidence is in!)}

Team-Based Care Utilization across Community Health Centres in Ontario  

Short description: Community health centres (CHCs) provide team-based care in addition to clinician and nurse practitioner care (e.g., nurses, social / outreach workers, dietitians / nutritionists, physical therapists, chiropodists); however, there is some evidence that team-based supports may be underutilized at CHCs. More efficient use of team-based care may lead to better, more targeted client care and free up clinicians’ and nurse practitioners’ time to see clients who need them most. However, there is a paucity of evidence on this. The purpose of this study is to determine if the utilization of team-based care is associated with better outcomes among vulnerable clients receiving care at a CHC, including clients with diabetes and those with mental health or addiction issues.  Objectives  1). To identify unique patterns for team-based care among two priority client groups receiving care within the CHCs (diabetes and mental health / addiction).

Presenter information: Danielle Nash, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Western University

Health equity frameworks as a tool for integrated, equity-driven care systems across Canada

Short description: The National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health conducted a literature review of health equity frameworks that can be used to advance health equity action in primary health care, public health, and integrated care contexts, including Ontario Health Teams. During the session, presenters shared the results of the review and walked attendees through a brief interactive exercise to simulate the application of a health equity framework. Attendees learned about health equity frameworks as a strategic approach to action equity that can contribute to integrated, equity-driven, and community-focused care systems across Canada.

Presenter information: Nandini Saxena, Knowledge Translation Specialist, National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health; Kristia (Tia) Maatta, Knowledge Translation Specialist , National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health    

The Social Prescribing Journey

Short description: An overview of some of the successes of social prescribing for Alliance members.

Presenter information: Natasha Beaudin, Lead, Social Prescribing, Alliance for Healthier Communities

Health Economics - The evidence is in!

Short description: This presentation reviewed recent research that demonstrated CHCs' value to the health system. 

Presenter information: Jennifer Rayner, Director of Research and Policy, Alliance for Healthier Communities

Session format: Practice spotlights (10 min) X 4               

Audience: All audiences 

^{7A. Name of session: Peers use Lifeguard Connect in Response to Managing the Opioid Crisis}

Short description: Northwestern Ontario has one of the highest rates of opioid related deaths in a  region that is geographical vast  and  diverse. In response to this opioid crisis, NorWest Community Health Centres engaged with Lifeguard Connect  and over  twenty five community partners and peer networks across northwestern Ontario to implement the LifeGuard Connect pilot project. 

The app provides safety for individuals using substances alone, and will immediately activate Emergency Medical Services if the individuals becomes unresponsive allowing for immediate and timely support to reduce overdose-related deaths.  

Peers, as valued members of this project were engaged to share the App with individuals using substances,  demonstrating how to use the app the features to address literacy or digital equity concerns. To date over 3000 users have engaged with the App, engaging with the features 10,000 times. This presentation shared some of the successes and challenges of implementing a tool that can be a harm-reduction strategy that saves lives.  

Presenter information: Juanita Lawson, CEO, NorWest Community Health Centres, Kyle Arnold, Harm Reduction Support Worker, Safer Supply                           

Session format: Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: Front line/clinical and/or program staff, Senior management

Conference priority topics: The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

June, 07 - Afternoon Sessions

^{1B. Name of session: A Comprehensive Overdose Response Plan to Address the Overdose Mortality Rate in Shelters and Respites}

Short description: This session delved into two vital topics related to public health and overdose response in shelter settings. The first presentation focused on the Urgent Public Health Needs Site (UPHNS) implemented within a respite setting in downtown Toronto. Nils Blondon and Devin Lennox highlighted their collaboration between the LAUNCH harm reduction program and the St Felix Centre, sharing insights into the unique approach of operating the UPHNS primarily with front-line shelter staff. Attendees gained a comprehensive understanding of the development process, successes, challenges, and tools for quality improvement for this integrated approach to addressing urgent public health needs.

The second presentation centered around comprehensive overdose response in city-run shelters. Kate Hayman and Matt Johnson discussed their collaborative efforts with Homes First Society shelter operators to establish a medical directive for the provision of oxygen in suspected opioid overdose situations. The presentation showcased the training program designed to ensure staff competency in overdose response and oxygen administration. Attendees learned about the successful completion of the training by Homes First staff, the feedback received, and the potential for scaling and implementation in other shelter settings. This session offered valuable insights into an integrated approach to addressing the overdose crisis and the challenges and benefits of operationalizing overdose prevention services within shelter environments.

Presenter information: Kate Hayman, Emergency Physician and Profressor, University Health Network and University of Toronto School of Medicine; Matt Johnson, Health Promoter, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre; Nils Blondon (Harm Reduction Coordinator, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre) 
Devin Lennox (Manager, Case Work and Social Supports, St Felix Centre)

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)   

Audience: Front line/clinical and/or program staff, Senior management

Conference priority topics: The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Innovative solutions to the HHR crisis, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

^{2B. Name of session: Black Social Prescribing for Black Health (Rexdale, TAIBU, Black Creek, Somerset West)}

Short description: A panel presentation featuring clients, implementers, and evaluators.

Presenter information: Sabrina Morrison, Black-focused Social Prescribing Navigator; Renika Hall – Navigator – Black-focused Social Prescribing; Albesa Aliu – Health Promoter, Rexdale CHC; Victoria, Client, Mary Nduati – Navigator (Somerset West CHC), Tiffanie Francis – Navigator (Rexdale CHC), Tameika Shaw - Manager/ Leader

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)   

Audience: Front line/clinical and/or program staff, Senior management

^{3B. Name of session: Digital Equity is a fundamental component of connected communities}

Short description: Members of the Guelph Wellington Digital Equity Coalition include a diverse group of stakeholders with a shared goal of bridging the digital divide. Using a collective impact approach members formulated a strategic framework and began working together to address digital equity. This workshop highlighted the experiences and challenges of the relatively urban Guelph to the more rural Wellington County. GWDEC has an excellent cross-section of agencies with representation from urban and rural organizations, non-profit, health, social services, education, and community members. It is one of the first digital equity coalitions in the province and offers a scalable model that can be replicated in other areas. GWDEC is a template for other communities and can share examples of foundational documents (ToR, coalition backbone structure) processes (member orientation, priority setting), and tools.

Presenter information: Brian Sankarsingh, IMS Communications, Alliance for Healthier Communities; Jen Lisso, Digital Services Librarian, Guelph Public Library; Karrie Cumming, Health Promoter, Guelph Community Health Centre

Session format: Skill Building Workshops (60 min)   

Audience: Policy makers, Program management, Board members

Conference priority topics: The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Digital equity

^{4B. Name of session: Governance: Ontario Health Teams Governance Models}

Short description: In November 2022, the Ministry of Health released new guidance for Ontario Health Teams. One of the principles outlined “a new not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing and coordinating OHT activities.”  During this session, we explored the Ontario Health Teams governance models and the important considerations to ensure that health equity and community are drivers of the OHT design and delivery. The Greater Hamilton Health Network shared their journey, decision-making process, and lessons learned, as well as experience centering health equity in their OHT. We also heard from an Indigenous-led Ontario Health Team and their experience with governance. We also heard from an Indigenous-led Ontario Health Team, Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services, about incorporating Indigenous perspectives into the governance structure. 

Presenter information: Carol Eshkakogan, ED, Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services; Melissa McCallum, ED, Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN), John Fleming, GHHN Board member and Chair of GHHN Partnership Council; Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities (moderator)            

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: Boards, Senior Management 

^{5B. Name of session: Northern Feathers: love, culture, harm reduction}

Short description: Led by South Riverdale CHC's Indigenous Health Promoter, this presentation described an innovative regalia-making group for Indigenous women who use SRCHC’s harm reduction services. The presentation included a short documentary that was made about the project, as well as the perspectives of project participants who joined project staff to discuss its impact and how a truly collaborative and community-led space was created.                  

Presenter information: Les Harper, Indigenous Health Promoter, South Riverdale CHC; Amanda Leo, Women's Harm Reduction Health Promoter, South Riverdale CHC; Nichole Levack, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations                            

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: All audiences                                             

Conference priority topics: The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Indigenous health in Indigenous hands in integrated health systems

^{6B. Name of session: Addressing health inequity through community led response to COVID-19 in a marginalized Toronto neighbourhood: The Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) Approach}

Short description: Addressing health inequities in Black communities requires trusting relationships with healthcare providers and effective community engagement. Responses to COVID-19 and other health challenges in Black communities should employ culturally appropriate approaches and pay attention to the social determinants of health, which lies at the core of the disproportionate disease burden in Black communities. Toronto’s Northwest corner – an area with a high proportion of newcomers to Canada and a high population of Blacks relative to the city - was identified as a COVID-19 hotspot due to high COVID-19 cases. Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC)’s reaction was to mount a community-led response.  This included high-level advocacy on the need to address health inequity, including advocating for the collection of race-based data by public health units; Community ambassadors were recruited to help with community engagement, working alongside BCCHC leadership and healthcare workers to engender confidence within a vaccine hesitant community.                   

Presenter information: Michelle Westin, Senior Analyst, Planning, Quality and Risk, Black Creek CHC; Joesi Nelson, Senior manager, Health Promotion & Community Programs, Black Creek CHC; Martin lyn, Manager, High Priorities Community Strategy, Black Creek Community Health Centre                            

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: All audiences                                             

Conference priority topics: The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Innovative solutions to the HHR crisis, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

June, 08 - Morning Sessions

^{1C. Name of session: "Come see us right outside on the bus" - Addressing health disparities through mobile health intervention in Toronto}

Short description: The central goal of the mobile health team is to deliver primary health care and harm reduction services to vulnerable populations where they live.  In 2018-2019, 234 patients made up to 15281 ED visits and of this group 88 patients experienced over 7700 visits.  In 2022, a postal code remains a better predictor of health outcomes than a genetic code.  The mobile health team helps to address this inequality through a partnership between PQWCHC – a community-based healthcare organization, UHN Social Medicine – a hospital-based program and Telus Health – a private corporation.  The team collaborates with community-based organizations such as shelters, supportive housing, and apartment buildings. The P3 collaboration (private/public/partnership) is integral to addressing the determinants of health to improve the lives of the hard-to-reach populations that we service.            

Presenter information: Raymond Macaraeg, Nurse Practitioner, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre; Maeve Freeman-McIntyre, Nurse Practitioner, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre; Gemma Georgina Bisessar, Nurse Practitioner, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre       

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: Ontario Health Teams, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

^{2C. Name of session: A Quality Standard for Eating Disorders: Caring for Underserved Populations}

Short description: This presentation outlined the nine key opportunities for improving care for people with eating disorders and their caregivers, as described in Ontario Health’s Eating Disorder Quality Standard. Highlighting how equity impacts access to care, panelists also shared resources to help clinicians implement these improvements in their own practice.

Presenter Information: Sarah McTavish, Lead, Clinical & Quality Standard, Ontario Health; Dr. Amy Gajaria,Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Centre for Addiction Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry at University of Toronto 

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: Ontario Health Teams, The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs

^{3C. Name of session: Governance: Risk Tolerance, Advocacy and Government Relations}

Short description: Boards of community-governed primary health care organizations have an important role to play in influencing decision-makers and advancing change at the local and provincial levels. This interactive session focused on developing an effective advocacy strategy and building strong relations with elected government officials as well as explored the different ways Boards can get involved. It also looked at the risks involved and how to asses and manage them in an ever-changing health system environment. The session offered practical tips and resources as well as opportunities for sharing experiences and learnings. 

Presenter information: Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, Director, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, Alliance for Healthier Communities       

Audience: Boards, Senior Management

^{5C. Name of session: Spotlights Block Two (Equity in Action: Strategies on how to successfully implement integrated, equity-driven care systems across Canada; Improving Women's Heart Health One Step at a Time; The Biindigen Well-Being Centre: Innovative, Indigenous Healthcare; Preliminary findings from the REAC! project - a community-based, participatory study in Ontario and Québec; TAKE'N5: A Collegial Peer Support Model to Mitigate Psychological Stress Injury in the Workplace)}

Equity in Action: Strategies on how to successfully implement integrated, equity-driven care systems across Canada  

Short description: While advancing equity represents an urgent priority for health and public health, there remains a gap between knowledge and practice. The “Equity in Action” project aims to bridge this gap by profiling equity-driven initiatives – I.e., by sharing equity success stories. In this session, you will hear more about storytelling as a knowledge translation method and reflect on facilitators and barriers to advancing equity in practice. Participants learned about how health and public health professionals joined together to address inequitable pandemic response outcomes in the Toronto and Peel regions and reflect on implications for primary health care in Ontario.

Presenter information: Kristia Maatta, Knowledge Translation Specialist, National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health; Sabina Vohra-Miller, Co-Founder, South Asian Health Network; Caralyn Vossen, Knowledge Translation Specialist, National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health    

Improving Women's Heart Health One Step at a Time

Short description: Heart disease is the #1 killer of women worldwide, and it kills 5 times as many women as breast cancer. Sadly, Only 13% of only 13% of Canadian women identify heart disease as their greatest health threat. One in 3 females die of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) worldwide but 80% of CVDs are preventable. Women face unique range of risk factors compared to men. Symptoms and outcomes of heart disease are different in women, which can make their evaluation and management challenging. Despite the knowledge of the importance of staff education on women’s heart health, there is still a deficit of educational material regarding cardiovascular disease prevention, diagnosis, and management as well as institutional training programs for nurses and allied health professionals. This lack of education is the largest among nurses and allied health professionals in our Canadian health care system and this undoubtedly may be a factor in the causing disparities in clinical care in Canada.

Presenter information: Nazli Parast, Registered Nurse, Ottawa Heart Institute/Canadian Women's Heart Health Alliance

The Biindigen Well-Being Centre: Innovative, Indigenous Healthcare

Short description: While it is critically important to talk about the discrimination and challenges the Indigenous community faces, there are exciting projects underway that are incorporating innovative solutions to successfully provide accessible, culturally relevant, wrap-around health, social, and housing services. During this session, audience members heard the journey of the Biindigen Well-Being Centre, a client-centered project which blends traditional and Western ideals for a wholistic and culturally safe model of care. 

Presenter information: Jo Ann Mattina, Chief Operating Officer, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre; Alex Jacobs-Bloom, Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ and German visual artist and curator

Preliminary findings from the REAC! project - a community-based, participatory study in Ontario and Québec

Short description: In Canada, the COVID-19 crisis spurred the development of collaborative efforts between community and public organizations, to ensure a continuous access to services for vulnerable newcomers. Our REAC! project uses a unique partner-led and migrant-led participatory approach to analyse these intersectoral initiatives in Ontario and Québec. REAC! aims to understand how these collaborations emerged; how they were governed, and to what extent they were community-centered and responsive to the needs and expectations of refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented migrants. The Alliance for Healthier Communities is a key partner of the study.  The presentation focused on preliminary findings from Ontario. Based on interviews with 24 service providers and focus group discussions with 25 migrant service users. As part of our participatory approach, the presenters used the platform to seek inputs and suggestions from diverse audiences, which are to be integrated into their final analysis.

Presenter information: Lara Gautier, Assistant Professor, Université de Montréal's School of Public Health; Shinjini Mondal, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Toronto & Ecole nationale d'administration publique; Erica Di Ruggiero, Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto

TAKE'N5: A Collegial Peer Support Model to Mitigate Psychological Stress Injury in the Workplace

Short description: NorWest Community Health Centres (NWCHCs) is one of over 100 community health centres across Ontario that aim to provide health and health promotion services for those who face the greatest barriers to accessing health care, engaging those most at risk of developing health problems. Aside from the everyday chronic stressors, the current COVID-19 pandemic has exposed frontline personnel to unprecedented critical incident stress. Traumatic and unexpected death, client emergencies, diminished allied support and supplies, staffing shortage, illness among colleagues, and concerns about one's safety while providing service to others have significantly strained the organization's health and human resources. The "TAKE'N5: A Collegial Peer Support Model to Mitigate Psychological Stress Injury in the Workplace" involved a research partnership between Lakehead University and NWCHC to address employee wellness. The TAKE'N5 is a peer support model that combines technology (PeerConnect App), sector-specific education and self-help strategies, including a peer support guide to assist employees in supporting another who may be struggling with the effects of work-related critical incident exposure. NWCHC TAKE'N5 peer support program aims to address psychological stress injury in the workplace while positively influencing employee morale, wellness and retention.  Outcomes: Findings from this Participatory Action Research (PAR) method will be presented to highlight NWCHC's establishment of a peer support program as a sustainable tool for addressing psychological stress injury in the workplace. Based on findings from the survey and focus group results, recommendations for an accessible and effective collegial peer support model will be presented as an option to address the HHR crisis. Further, the partnership developed in this study will provide a valuable framework and strong collaboration for future initiatives across frontline sectors at the provincial levels.

Presenter information: Jo-Ann Vis, Associate Professor, Lakehead University; Juanita Lawson, CEO, NorWest Community Health Centres; Georgia Kellos, Research Assistant, Lakehead University

Session format: Practice spotlights (10 min) X 5               

Audience: All audiences

^{6C. Name of session: We are not hesitant; we need to Trust: An examination of COVID-19 vaccination engagement and uptake among Black and Racialized populations in the GTA}

Short description: TAIBUCHC has put together a report on COVID Vaccine Mistrust as part of a grant we received through the Alliance for Healthier Communities and PHAC. Throughout the pandemic/vaccine roll-out we made a concentrated effort to collect race-based data and engage with community stakeholders through surveys, interviews and focus groups and have compiled our findings, along with a brief literature review and policy recommendations. 

Presenter information: Amna Iqbal, Research and Policy Analyst, TAIBU CHC                        

Session format: Presentations (60 min)       

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: Community-centred governance, The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, Healthcare policy and governance

^{7C. Name of session:  Ensuring Patient Trust: The Vital Link Between Healthcare Policy and Governance in Protecting Against Cyber Attacks}

Short description: Delve into the crucial link between healthcare policy and governance and protecting against cyber attacks to ensure patient trust. Attendees gained insight into current healthcare policy and governance trends, the impact of cyber attacks on the healthcare industry, and practical strategies for implementing effective cybersecurity measures. By the end of this seminar, participants had a deeper understanding of the importance of healthcare policy and governance in safeguarding patient data and maintaining trust in the healthcare system. 

Presenter information: Paul Zhao, President, and Chief Technology Officer - Interware Systems Inc.

Session format: Presentation (60 min)

Audience: Senior management, Policy makers, Board members

Conference priority topics: Healthcare Policy and Governance, Data sharing and security in an integrated health system

June, 08 - Afternoon Sessions

^{1D. Name of session: A collaborative approach to improving health and well-being for people with sickle cell disease and the Black community}

Short description: This presentation highlighted a collaboration between the Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) and the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO). The purpose of the session was to explore the barriers and gaps in practice related to sickle cell disease care in the community setting, discuss how the recently published Ontario Health Sickle Cell Disease Quality Standard supported this collaboration, and draw attention to a new model of psychosocial care at the BCCHC that supported priority populations, including individuals with sickle cell disease, as part of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response and recovery strategy. The session included a summary of the psychosocial services provided and the outcomes achieved in improving the mental health and well-being of individuals with sickle cell disease, their caregivers, and the larger Black community within the BCCHC catchment area. Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions and consider how they could address the current gaps in practice for individuals with sickle cell disease in their own communities, while striving to deliver high-quality care as described in the quality standard and demonstrated through the new models of psychosocial care offered through the collaboration between BCCHC and SCAGO.

Presenter information: Ms. Fitz-Ann Howell, person with lived experience of sickle cell disease from BCCHC and Vice-chair of SCAGO’s Patient Advisory and Advocacy Council; Ms. Cheryl Prescod, Executive Director at Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) ; Ms. Lanre Tunji-Ajayi, President and CEO, Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO); Gracia Mabaya, Lead, Clinical and Quality Standards Program, Clinical and Quality Standards Program

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities, Innovative programs or initiatives being offered by OHTs addressing health inequities

^{2D. Name of session: A Learning Health System in Action: Learnings and Next Steps}

Short description: In the shifting healthcare landscape, many changes have transpired over the past three years and more change is on the horizon. However, while all improvement requires change, not all change leads to improvement. In a resource-constrained system, we must therefore ensure that the change we make is strategic and set up to lead to improvement. In 2019, with the view of enhancing the community health sector’s delivery model and associated outcomes, the Alliance for Healthier Communities commenced work to shift the sector to a Learning Health System (LHS). As part of its LHS, the Alliance offers topic-specific learning collaborative opportunities to all member organizations. By June 2023, the Alliance will have delivered two learning collaboratives. The aim of this session was to discuss our progress to date, including team results that demonstrated improvement in outcome measures and increased capability to undertake future improvement work.

Presenter information: Lauren Tessier, Quality Improvement & Performance Lead, S. Riverdale Community Health Centre, Dr. Jennifer Rayner, Director, Research & Evaluation, Alliance for Healthier Comm., Lorri Zagar, Quality Improvement Advisor, Alliance for Healthier Communities

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)

Audience: Senior management, Policy makers

Conference priority topics: Ontario Health Teams, Healthcare policy and governance

^{3D. Name of session: Francophone health, French language services, and Active Offer}

Short description: Do you want to be part of a culture of respect and a culture of equity? Do you want to help make a difference? Do you want to offer quality services to your Francophone clients? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, this session is for you.

In this session, participants had the opportunity to learn more about the Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l'Ontario's training: The Active Offer of French Language Health Services: Why it mattered and How to put it into practice. They also had the chance to learn how many providers had adopted the training and how one could have done so in their workplace.

Presenter information: Diane Quintas,Executive Director, Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l'Ontario  

Session format: Presentation 

Audience: Senior management  

^{4D. Name of session: Governance: Governing for Health Equity: Building Anti-Oppressive Organizations and Boards}

Short description: Achieving health equity requires transformation on the individual, institutional, and system levels. When approaching this work, organizations often focus on the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion. True transformation, however, needs to be rooted in the intersectional anti-oppression approach that requires for people to examine their own experiences and actions, and critically analyze social structures of power and privilege. What does it look like in the context of an organization? The session will asked participants to assess their organizational practices and policies and identify ways to use their position as board members and leaders to build environments where anti-oppression practice is the norm.  

Presenter Information: Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities; Oleksandra Budna, Communications and Member Relations Lead, Alliance for Healthier Communities

Session format: Presentation

Audience: Boards, Senior Management

^{5D. Name of session: Health Coaching narrows the gaps of equity and access in healthcare, improves the health outcome of marginalized communities and reduced the financial burden of healthcare}

Short description: Health Coaching supports the client during the health service journey by setting some physical and/or mental health goals and by addressing all the barriers to achieving those goals. Health coaching also trains the client on adopting helpful thinking styles to build strength and resilience that last.  Tailored health coaching according to clients needs and barriers ensures equitable healthcare access and services. This will eventually result in improving the health outcome in an equitable way and reducing the burden of the healthcare cost.

Presenter information: Hossam Bakir, Health Coach, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services

Session format: Skill building workshop (60 mins)

Audience: Senior management, Policy makers

Conference priority topics: The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs, Healthcare policy and governance

^{6D. Name of session: The Ontario Model of Prescribed Safer Supply}

Short description: This session brought together a roundtable of people involved in prescribed safer supply programs to discuss the unique attributes of Prescribed Safer Supply programs in Ontario. The Discussants included a health care provider, a social care provider, and a person with lived/living experience with safer supply. The discussion demonstrated how Ontario Prescribed Safer Supply programs provide integrated, comprehensive care within community health settings to a segment of the population with complex health and social care needs who have been repeatedly failed by addiction medicine (e.g., RAAM clinics), primary health care, and social services. The capacity of programs did not meet the demand. Programs must be scaled up to address the substance use, health, and social care needs within the community that are not met by traditional models. Failure to do so will result in continued harm – including deaths – and inequities among people who use drugs.   

Presenter information: Robyn Kalda, Knowledge Mobilization Specialist, National Safer Supply Community of Practice; Greg Nash, LIHC; Mish Waraksa, PQWCHC; Franky Morris, Street Health 

Session format: Panel Presentations (60 min)

Audience: All audiences

Conference priority topics: The Role of Interprofessional Primary Health Care Teams in OHTs, The role of health promotion and community development (mental health, harm reduction, community programming, etc.) in OHTs

Posters

Name	Description	Organization
Association of Chiropractic Integration in a Canadian Community Health Centre with Prescription of Opioids for Non-Cancer Spinal Pain: A Mixed Methods Analysis	We undertook a mixed methods analysis to examine the association between receipt of chiropractic services in the Langs Community Health Centre and opioid prescriptions among adult patients with non-cancer spinal pain.	In Partnership with Langs Community Health Centre
Developing data-driven decision support tools with the Alliance Practice Based Learning Network	Our proposed research poster will present an ongoing project done in collaboration with the Alliance Practice Based Learning Network. This project is focused on harnessing value from electronic health records through the development of a decision support tool around diabetes and mental health care and complications. This is an ongoing project that builds off previous research that described ongoing primary care clients being served by Community Health Centres across Ontario for the purpose of identifying potential areas where decision support tools could have positive impact on care. The Practice Based Learning Network selected diabetes and mental health care to focus on first due to prevalence, potential impact, and feasibility. Throughout planning, development, and tool evaluation we invite new team members and are carefully considering how the tool can best support equity, care provision, and client-centred health outcomes.	Western University
Health Promotion in Community Health Centres:  A Summary of Programs and Supports	The Alliance has embarked on a research project to describe what health promotion looks like in Community Health Centres as well as to measure and demonstrate the impact of health promotion across our sector. There are two components of this project, the first being to develop an inventory of our sector’s personal development groups (PDGs). The second component is to co-design a research project with health promotion staff and clients that demonstrates the impact of this work on client's health outcomes. This poster will describe the results of the first part of the study.	Alliance for Healthier Communities
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Opioid Use for Non-Cancer Spinal Pain: Protocol for a Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial	In this session, we will present background context and plans for a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of adding chiropractic care to usual medical care, versus usual medical care alone, for patients with chronic non-cancer spinal pain at four Ontario community health centres (CHCs).  Interested centres will be provided with further details on opportunities for involvement.	McMaster University
Ontario Prescribed Safer Supply - Emerging Evidence	This presentation highlights the emerging evidence on prescribed safer supply programs, with a focus on what we are learning from programs in Ontario. Over the past year, findings from multiple Ontario safer supply program evaluations and from scientific research studies have been released in reports and scientific, peer-reviewed journals. These findings provide strong signals that safer supply programs are key to addressing the substance use, health, and social care needs of people how use drug who experience complex health and social care problems and barriers to care, and who are at high risk of harms related to the drug toxicity overdose crisis. We will also address the limitations of prescribed safer supply programs and what evidence is still needed.	National Safer Supply CoP (LIHC, CAPUD, Alliance for Healthier Communities)
Peer wisdom: policy and program recommendations responsive to Substance Use Health goals.	CAPSA’s research team of experts with lived/living experience conducted a community-based participatory action research project with 102 experts with peer wisdom (i.e., lived/living experience of mental/Substance Use Health needs/goals). As members of the Alliance’s priority groups, these experts shared intersectional perspectives to addressing disproportional population health outcomes and building equitable integrated healthcare. The proposed presentation will summarize the research process and the transformative policy and program recommendations responsive to Substance Use Health goals that were generated from peer wisdom as well as an environmental scan of peer-reviewed and grey literature.	CAPSA
Project HOLISTIQUE: Developing and Pilot-testing an Online Stigma Reduction Education Program to Improve Access to Skin and Soft Tissue Infections Support and Treatment for People Who Inject Drugs	Based on these, Project HOLISTIQUE aims to develop and pilot-test an online stigma reduction education program for healthcare providers working with PWID.     Two studies will be conducted to meet the project’s objectives. The first study will be focused on the prototype development of an online stigma reduction education program for healthcare providers who work with PWID. This study will comprise an iterative expert consultation process using individual interviews (for PWID participants), and three focus group sessions (for healthcare worker participants) in-order to develop the prototype. The second study will consist of a pilot feasibility test of the developed prototype with a cohort of healthcare providers using a one-group pretest-posttest design to assess the feasibility of the prototype as well as changes in primary outcome of attitude.     The session will present the research proposal of Project Holistique in a poster format. The poster presentation will provide a description of the two studies that will be conducted, including; key terminology, background and rationale, purpose and objectives,  research design, participants, data collection tools, data analysis, and the implications for applied practice. The poster presentation will educate conference attendees on this important public health issue and the benefit of Project Holistique in addressing it.	Queens University
The Role of Collaborative Care in Opioid Use Reduction	This presentation will provide an evidence-based overview of managing non-cancer musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions with manual therapy. It will introduce the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP)-developed Manual Therapy as an Evidence-Based Referral for Musculoskeletal Pain Clinical Tool, which supports collaborative care. It will also review the current literature that supports the use of manual therapy to help manage MSK conditions and how this care affects prescription opioid use. Participants will learn about approaches for referring patients to chiropractors or other manual therapists to coordinate a plan of care to manage a patient’s MSK pain and potentially reduce their opioid use. They will also leave with an understanding of the various models of chiropractors working in a variety of settings to support treatment of MSK conditions, while managing use of opioids. They will also gain an increased awareness of the research opportunities emerging in this area and opportunities for involvement.	Ontario Chiropractic Association
Embedding equity-oriented approaches to delivering safe, high-quality care: The ongoing journey of Healthcare Excellence Canada	Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) is a pan-Canadian health organization helping shape a future where everyone in Canada has safe and high-quality care. HEC is guided by our commitment to promoting culturally safe and equitable care, patient and caregiver lived experiences, and supporting the health priorities of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Our poster describes HEC’s organizational journey towards embedding equity-oriented approaches to delivering safe, high-quality care in our work, and the programs that bring these approaches to life.	Healthcare Excellence Canada
The Magic of Social Prescribing: Connection	The Alliance for Healthier Communities is the voice of a vibrant network of community-governed primary health care organizations that serve diverse communities across the province. They share a commitment to advancing health equity through the delivery of comprehensive primary health care. Social Prescribing supports health and wellbeing by connecting people with non-clinical programs and services. These programs can include social connection, arts, culture, nature, food security, and more. Generally, Social Prescribing is grounded in the role of link worker, navigator or health promoter.	Alliance for Healthier Communities

Sessions Format

Program and Practice Spotlights (10 min): 10-minute story presentation about an effective approach, applied research initiative or an innovative practice or program.

Panel Presentations (60 min): A coordinated presentation by up to three panelists, and possibly a discussant, providing an in-depth, theme-based exploration of a current issue facing community-centred primary health care.

Skill Building Workshops (60 min): The presenter teaches or demonstrates a specific skill or practice required in a primary health care setting. These sessions will include an engaging interactive component that enables participants to explore how they might apply such skill or practices in their setting.

Practice and Research Posters: Present the work your team is doing, research or other innovation in a poster format.

Questions?

For questions related to the terms, conditions and logistics, please email conference@allianceON.org.

Sponsors 

Exhibitors

Learn more about the Transformative Change Awards here!

Learn more about last year's Conference here!