A1 - Chigamik and South Georgian Bay: Pioneers in advancing the CIW as a Tool with the LHIN

Many of the factors that most impact on the demand for formal health care services lie outside the sphere of control of the LHINs. What this, in turn, necessitates is the need for new ways of seeing and new tools, such as the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW) provides, to help identify those things over which the LHIN can gain some traction to effect change. In this workshop, participants will hear about the approach that was taken to "sell" the concept of the CIW to the LHIN with a special focus placed on the importance of leadership and partnership building, primarily at the executive director levels. Participants will also hear about the latest work that is honing in on belonging as an area of focus.

Presented by: Gary Machan, CIW Implementation Specialist, Association of Ontario Health Centres, David Jeffery, Executive Director, Chigamik CHC and Chris Archer, Project Manager, North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN Health Links

Theme: System-Wide Integration

Audience: Senior management|Policy makers|Program management|Board members

A2 - CODE RED: Health, Wealth and Social Determinants in Canada's Steeltown

Code Red is an ongoing project started in 2010 by The Hamilton Spectator newspaper to explore the powerful impacts that the social determinants of health have on people in Hamilton. Using large data sets that measure a wide range of health, social and economic variables, Code Red has been exposing disparities at the neighbourhood level in Hamilton through stories and maps.  The Code Red series has changed the way people in Hamilton think about their city and about poverty, a subject that is often difficult for some to digest.

Presented by: Steve Buist, Investigations Editor, Hamilton Spectator

Theme: System-Wide Integration

Audience: All audiences

A3 - CONNECTIVITY:  A Community Collaborative Strategy to Improving Responsiveness, Supports and Care Transitions for At-Risk Individuals

As the lead for Health Link in Cambridge and North Dumfries and being co-located with 25 health and social service partners, Langs provides the space and opportunity for collaborative mental health initiatives and development of a local community mental health and psychiatry services framework. Langs partners with Waterloo Region Police Service to implement Connectivity, a Saskatchewan-based model to proactively respond to individuals at elevated risk which reduces costly health and social service interventions and incidence of crime. Connectivity mobilizes 14 health and social service agencies to attend a weekly meeting, to collaboratively address situations of elevated risk and support individuals to access the services they need.  Organizations and systems are immediately responsive and begin to make systematic improvements to service delivery, with the long term vision of reducing emergency room admissions, child protection cases, prosecutions, violent crime and youth victimization. Through its collaborative work, Langs provides leadership in changing the provision of front line intervention services.  Learn how to enhance your collaborations and introduce new conversations, strategies and a model of coordinated service response to better serve higher risk patients.

Presented by: Bill Davidson, Executive Director, Langs and Kerry-Lynn Wilkie, Health Link Director, Cambridge and North Dumfries, Langs

Theme: System-Wide Integration

Audience: All audiences

A4 - Improving community health and wellbeing through play — A First Nations perspective

Utilizing experiential learning as the medium for leadership development, Patrick Wilmot will take you through a series of fun activities implemented in the Wabano After School Program. The aim of the session is to highlight the importance of fostering creativity, building leaders of tomorrow, and to remind you that work can be fun. This approach also complements a valuable First Nation teaching about the understanding that our roles have an impact in the interconnectedness of our individual and collective health journeys – from frontline staff to administrators to managers. This approach is applicable to all nations and all settings. You will leave this session feeling energized and inspired to bring the spirit of fun back to your communities and your health promotion initiatives.

Presented by: Patrick Wilmot, Child and Youth Healthy Living Coordinator, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and Phil Commonda, Youth Worker, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health

Theme: Working Upstream

Audience: All audiences

A5 - Diabetes Management: It takes a team!

The Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend that individuals with diabetes be supported by a proactive, interprofessional team specially trained in diabetes. Well-implemented diabetes team care is a key component of today’s health care initiatives in Ontario. Collaborative teams effectively provide continuous, supportive, and effective care for people with diabetes throughout the course of their disease. As we all know, effective collaborative care is easier said than done. Even when an organization has an interdisciplinary team the challenge is often how to work together effectively and collaboratively. The “Making Team Care Work” learning session, offered in partnership by the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Toronto Central LHIN Diabetes Program will allow you to focus on what next steps make sense within your current situation to improve team-based care and thereby better support the individuals you see with diabetes. You will be introduced to techniques and tools to evaluate how you (and other members within your client’s circle of care) are currently functioning as an interprofessional team and to explore creative yet practical and simple solutions to common challenges in the organization of diabetes care.

Presented by: Dr. Nicole Nitti, MD, CCFP (EM), FCFP, Primary Care Advisor, Toronto Central LHIN Diabetes Program and Joanne Lewis, RD CDE, Manager, Diabetes Education, Canadian Diabetes Association

Theme: Quality Improvement and Clinical Leadership

Audience: Front line/program staff

A6 - The Role of Boards in Supporting Health Links: Collaborative Governance Experience at the Rideau Tay Health Link

Collaborative governance between the boards of organizations involved in Health Links is an area that is evolving. Community Health Centres take a holistic approach to health care that fits easily into the Health Link model of delivery. But for Health Links to succeed, it is important to get the support and encouragement of the boards of all the organizations involved: primary health care providers, hospitals, CCAC, mental health and addiction services, public health, social services, etc.  Collaboration amongst boards of these organizations is essential for successfully implementing transformative change.

Presented by: Graeme Bonham-Carter, Board Member, Rideau Community Health Services

Theme: Maximizing Community Governance

Audience: Board members

A7 -Improving Data Quality for Better Funding, Planning, Evidence Based Decision Making in CHC Sector

CHC data submitted in OHRS is being transformed into valuable information to be used by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, the LHINS, the CHCs and other stakeholders. This is a key component and a determining factor in improving data quality in the CHC sector. This demonstration workshop will stress the importance of having data that is of high quality for better funding, planning and evidence-based decision-making and will help you navigate the Health Data Branch Web Portal to access various CHC comparative reports.  The presenter will share the most recent CHC reports providing an overview of the OHRS Reporting Profiles, Financial, Statistical and Key Indicator Reports and will identify areas of data quality issue concerns. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and or obtain clarification on various issues present in the CHC comparative reports.

Presented by: Maria Marin, CPA, CGA, Business Advisor, CCAC, CTC & CHC, Data Standards Unit, Health Data Branch, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and Cindy Sabo, CPA, CGA, MHA, Manager of Finance, South East Grey Community Health Centre

Theme: Quality Improvement and Clinical Leadership

Audience: All audiences

A8 - CHC Board Goverance: The Legal Basics

This session surveys the legal context that underpins good governance of community health centres and other not-for-profit corporations.  By the end of this session, participants will have a strong understanding of the elements of good governance, directors’ roles and responsibilities, the rules of fiduciary conduct, and the legal consequences for individual directors who breach these rules.  Participants will also receive valuable insights into industry best practices in board governance (and tried and true tools and tips), such as the effective use of consent agendas, how strong chairs use consensus decision making effectively, optimizing board committee work, and more!

Presented by: Nick Pasquino, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Theme: Maximizing Community Governance

Audience: Senior management|Board members

A9 - Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Vulnerable People: An update on current programs, advocacy work and steps you can take in your community

AOHC champions an affordable, accessible oral healthcare program for all low-income children and adults in Ontario and is actively involved in advocacy work with partners. At this workshop you will get an update on changes to the Healthy Smiles Ontario program for children that take effect in August, and learn about the Ontario Oral Health Alliance campaign urging Minister Hoskins to move faster on the promise to extend the program to low income adults. We’ll also discuss how AOHC members can follow up on a recent report from the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario which says LHINs could include oral health in their planning. One LHIN is now doing this — how did local CHCs accomplish this and what can others do to move their LHIN in this direction?

Presented by: Jacquie Maund, Policy & Government Relations Lead, Association of Ontario Health Centres

Theme: Working Upstream

Audience: Front line/program staff|Senior management|Policy makers|Program management|Board members

A10 - Souper Sisters:  Impacting the community one bowl of soup at a time

This project will provide participants with a snapshot of how a small practical initiative can blossom into a project that has had a significant impact on building a culture of community and wellbeing.  An abundance of fresh produce at the Port Hope Community Health Centre led to the recruitment of a small team of volunteers who offered to break down the produce by transforming it into vegetable based soups. These soups were frozen into single portions and offered to food cupboard clients each week. The soups were met with great enthusiasm and quickly became one of the most requested items. What started off as an excess of fresh vegetables, has now turned into a program that is making an impact at various levels of community health. A culture of wellbeing has been created for both the volunteers and clients. Volunteers are brought together in a social environment, creating friendships and feelings of empowerment. Meanwhile, clients are being offered choice, with options for homemade quality food that is higher in nutrient value. Through stories from clients and volunteers, this presentation will provide participants with an overview of the logistics needed to initiate this project, barriers faced, and how this project has impacted Northumberland County over a two year period.

Presented by: Pam MacDougall, Health Promoter, Port Hope Community Health Centre and Adam Hudson, Community Dietitian, Port Hope Community Health Centre

Theme: Working Upstream

Audience: Front line/program staff

A11 - HNHB Caring for My COPD Program- an innovative and patient- centred program to Live Life Inspired with COPD

In response to the increasing number of residents hospitalized for an acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) the Hamilton-Norfolk-Haldiman-Brant (HNHB) LHIN Board of Directors approved funding to develop a community based program to improve the management of patients with COPD.   The HNHB Caring for My COPD program is a ten week community based program for patients who suffer from acute exacerbations of their COPD or are at risk of an acute exacerbation. Patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team who provide a range of services using principles of Chronic Disease Management, including enhanced case management and strengthened self-management. The program is currently offered in four HNHB Community Health Centres (Hamilton, Brantford, Welland and Niagara Falls).   The session will provide an overview of the development and implementation of this community based program. The presenters will highlight the innovative and effective approach to caring for COPD in the community to provide high quality, patient centred services, not only improving quality of life for patients but also contributing to health system sustainability by reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

Presented by: Keira Rainville, Community Health Counsellor/Health Promoter, Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton-Niagara and Patrick Martin, Registered Kinesiologist, Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton-Niagara

Theme: System-Wide Integration

Audience: All audiences

A12 - Increasing Access to Primary Care for Seasonal Agricultural Workers: Lessons Learned from 2 CHC Case Studies

Is your CHC, CFHT or NPC interested in exploring how to provide health care to seasonal agricultural workers in your area? Learn from the successful experiences of two CHCs who have received funding from their respective LHINs to serve this population: Grand River CHC who is running part time summer clinics in Simcoe in partnership with community organizations, and Quest CHC who has been able expand the services that they had already been providing for four years, in collaboration with community partners, through their Migrant Agricultural Workers’ Program.

Presented by: Tricia Gutierrez, Primary Care Assistant, Simcoe Clinic, Grand River Community Health Centre and Stefanie Ralph, Director, Primary Care and Community Health,Grand River Community Health Centre

Theme: Breaking Down Barriers

Audience: Front line/program staff|Senior management|Policy makers|Program management|Board members

A13 - Improving Services for Trans People in Ontario: Building Access to Health Care and Networks of Support

Trans people are one of the least understood and most marginalized communities. Research conducted in Ontario in 2009 -10 showed that over 40% of trans people experienced discriminatory treatment by a family physician. At the same time, the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) recommends that gender transition services (other than surgery) be delivered in primary care settings. This session describes the remarkable transformation taking place to create appropriate, welcoming services for trans people in Ontario.

Presented by: Jordan Zaitzow, Trans Health Connection Coordinator, Rainbow Health Ontario, Dr. Sarah Eckler, Primary Care Physician, Central Toronto Community Health Centres, Dr. Joshua Wales, Primary Care Physician, Central Toronto Community Health Centres, Maxwell Ducsharm, Hepatitis C Program Coordinator/Harm Reduction Worker, Central Toronto Community Health Centres

Theme: Breaking Down Barriers

Audience: All audiences

A14 - Healthy Families, Healthy Communities:  A Culturally Competent Approach to Addressing Violence Against Women Prevention in Immigrant and Refugee Communities in Hamilton

From the lens of cultural competence, Hamilton Urban Core developed an approach to addressing woman abuse in immigrant and refugee communities in Hamilton.  The Project, "Healthy Families, Healthy Communities" is part of the Neighbours, Friends and Families Immigrant and Refugee Communities Campaign, funded by the Ontario Women's Directorate. In this workshop participants will learn about the tools developed and implemented to raise awareness about woman abuse.

Presented by: Alison Mackenzie, Cultural Facilitator, Neighbours, Friends and Families (NFF) Project and Floydeen Charles-Fridal, Health and Wellness Counsellor/ Coordinator, Neighbours, Friends and Families Project

Theme: Breaking Down Barriers

Audience: All audiences