Community Engagement Strategy for the GTA

Some communities experience unique barriers in accessing mental health and addictions services. CAMH is working to address these concerns by collaborating with our community partners to create equal opportunities for good health and to reduce avoidable and unjust differences.

An important part of this work is CAMH Provincial Services’ Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Community Engagement Strategy, which will help address the mental health and addictions needs of:

African and Caribbean,
South Asian, and
Spanish-speaking communities

These communities were selected for initial focus because they are three of the largest ethno-racial groups in the GTA that face a number of health inequities leading to increased risk for mental health problems and addictions.

This will build on existing CAMH programs, for example the Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth and the African Canadian residential addiction treatment cycle and on organizational initiatives such as the Office of International Health and the Office of Health Equity.

The GTA Community Engagement Strategy will:

build relationships with specific communities through local networks and organizations;
collaborate with community leaders, service providers and organizations to address mental health and addiction gaps, key issues and opportunities which are identified by the local community; and,
share research and evidence-based practices and programs.

A separate community engagement strategy that reflects the unique status, history and needs of urban Aboriginal communities is also currently in development.

The GTA Community Engagement strategy will be carried out by program consultants from the GTA Area of Provincial Services. Community Engagement activities will be aligned with work being done across CAMH and program consultants will collaborate with clinical and research programs.

Networks

Program consultants continuously work with health and social sector organizations and consumer groups through participating on networks to address the needs of people living with mental health and addictions. For example, program consultants work with the following networks:

Hospital Collaborative on Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations

The Hospital Collaborative was established in an effort to increase system integration, avoid costly duplication and share promising practices. Members are representatives, from hospitals within the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) who are working to reduce health inequities for vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Peel Regional Diversity Roundtable

The Regional Diversity Roundtable (RDR) was formed in 2005 to provide a mechanism for individuals from organizations and institutions to share information, resources, experiences and successes at one table. Recognizing the unique challenges in Peel region the RDR provides a forum to identify common needs and create resources and educational opportunities in response to those needs.

Peel Homelessness and Health Network Steering Committee

The Peel Homelessness and Health Network Steering Committee was established in November 2010, to improve the equity of access to health services for Peel’s homeless or at risk population through the development of cross sectoral collaborations and partnerships, and knowledge exchange and capacity building.

Supportive Housing and Diversity Group

The Supportive Housing and Diversity Group (SHAD) is a Toronto-based multi-agency partnership that was established in 2002 to improve housing stability and reduce homelessness for radicalized and minority ethnic clients with mental health and addictions issues.

West Downtown Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)

The West Downtown LIP is one of many such community partnerships throughout the province, focused on developing and implementing local settlement strategies that coordinate and enhance service delivery to newcomers. Addressing the need for culturally competent mental health and addiction supports is one of the strategies of the West Downtown LIP.

Northwest Community Mental Health Network

This network focuses on identifying community mental health priorities and issues and collaborating and sharing resources to meet the needs of the local community. Current projects of the Network include research that focuses on determining mental health programs and services that would be helpful to individuals and families in the Jane and Finch area. Focus groups are currently underway with the Spanish-speaking, Vietnamese, Afro-Caribbean, Somali and Tamil communities as well as front line community service providers.

Central West LHIN Diversity Core Action Group

The Central West LHIN Diversity Core Action Group has been mandated to assist and ensure the Central West LHIN is adequately engaging the many individuals and ethno-cultural organizations within the Central West LHIN that reflect / represent the LHIN’s diverse communities.

French Language Services Mental Health and Addiction Network of Toronto Committee

The French Language Services Mental Health and Addiction Network of Toronto (FLSMHANT) Planning Committee was established in October 2000 to advise project staff on the development of the Health Promotion and Prevention Action Plan for Ethnoracial Francophone Communities project.

Health Equity and Race Ontario (H.E.R.O.)

Health Equity and Race Ontario (working title) is a coalition of organizations across Ontario working collaboratively to promote the health and well-being of communities facing systemic racism by addressing barriers to achieving optimal health.

If you are interested in collaborating with CAMH Provincial Services in this initiative or are interested in learning more, please contact:

Nina Acco Weston
Manager, GTA West Area
Provincial Services
nina_accoweston@camh.net