What are CHCs?
Ontario’s Community Health Centres
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What are CHCs?
A Community Health Centre (CHC) is one of the best ways to keep individuals, families and communities healthy and strong. When registered as clients, individuals and families can go to CHCs and have their regular health care needs looked after by teams of nurses, doctors, dietitians, chiropodists and other health providers. Clients receive the right care, by the right provider, at the right time.
A CHC is also a place that looks after, and improves, the health of the whole community it serves. Health teams not only address individual issues that affect people’s health; they also create programs and services that reduce social and environmental problems harming health in the communities they serve. Both programs and health care services are carefully tailored to respond to the diverse preferences and needs of the many different communities being served.
In some communities, anybody who registers as a client can access the programs and services of the local CHC. In most cases, Centres identify priority populations – communities who have traditionally faced barriers accessing health services and programs.
Some of the priority populations for CHCs include: seniors, the disabled, youth, Francophones, Aboriginal Ontarians, low-income families, new Canadians, as well as underserved rural and northern populations. Some centres also place an emphasis on serving populations who face discrimination because of race, language, culture and sexual orientation.
Some of the priority populations for CHCs include: seniors, the disabled, youth, Francophones, Aboriginal Ontarians, low-income families, new Canadians, as well as underserved rural and northern populations. Some centres also place an emphasis on serving populations who face discrimination because of race, language, culture and sexual orientation.
How large is Ontario’s network of Community Health Centres?
CHCs are now in the midst of the largest expansion in their thirty year history in Ontario. The expansion was announced by the Ontario Government in November 2005.
As of March 2008, there are 43 urban and 11 rural CHCs. Many operate satellite centres and points of service that allow them to extend the impact of their programs and services. As a result of the expansion now underway, by 2009, a total of 110 Ontario communities and neighborhoods will enjoy the benefits of CHCs. This will be the result of 21 new CHCs and 28 new satellite centres being funded and created.
CHCs are located throughout Ontario but some parts of the province have more than others. The first CHCs were created in Toronto and Ottawa in the 1970s and this is where CHC numbers are still most concentrated.
As a result of the current expansion of CHCs, the Greater Toronto Area is receiving three more CHCs and 12 new satellite centres. Southwestern Ontario is another part of the province where a significant number of new centres are being created.
As a result of the current expansion of CHCs, the Greater Toronto Area is receiving three more CHCs and 12 new satellite centres. Southwestern Ontario is another part of the province where a significant number of new centres are being created.
Despite the recent expansion, there are many parts of Ontario – and many parts of Ontario especially in need - that do not have access to a CHC or enough CHCs.
How do new Community Health Centres get started?
In the past, most centres were created when community members got together and made formal requests to the provincial government. There are still many Ontario communities that have long-standing applications for a CHC in their community. In the recent expansion, the government also announced funding for new CHCs in communities it believed most needed a CHC.
Now with the new Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), we call on the LHINs to develop primary care plans that ensure each Ontarian has access to primary health care – especially those who face barriers to access and need CHCs.
If a local community or neighborhood is interested in starting a new CHC, the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) provides support and guidance to help them get started.
If a local community or neighborhood is interested in starting a new CHC, the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) provides support and guidance to help them get started.
What are the long-term plans for Ontario’s CHCs?
Community Health Centres hold great potential to improve both the health of Ontarians and the communities in which they live. To maximize this potential, CHCs hope there will soon be a completed network of CHCs across the province.
Community Health Centres hold great potential to improve both the health of Ontarians and the communities in which they live. To maximize this potential, CHCs hope there will soon be a completed network of CHCs across the province.
A completed network would mean all Ontarians who need a CHC could access one. This would entail existing centres having the resources to eliminate their waiting lists and increase access to health care services and programs in their catchment areas. A completed network would also mean many more CHCs would be created in communities that currently do not have one.
For many years, a similar, but larger and more complete network has been in place in the province of Quebec. In the 1970s and 1980s, Quebec’s provincial government created a network of Centres Local de Services Communautaires (CLSCs, similar to Ontario’s CHCs). The network ensured almost every resident living in the province could easily access the health care services and programs provided by CLSCs. Today, all Quebecois can easily identify and take local and provincial pride in their network of CLSCs.
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CHC Factsheet: Questions and Answers - English / French- CBC News: More one-stop
health centres coming to Ontario - Ontario's CHCs: Every One Matters. / Chaque personne compte.
- Ontario's CHCs: Who We Are And What We Do / Ce que nous sommes et ce que nous faisons.
- Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care CHC Page
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| Aug. 24, 2010 - More new evidence demonstrating Ontario's Community Health Centres deliver superior care |
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| July 21, 2010 - Chatham-Kent Community Health Centres launches partnership to deliver expanded health services on Walpole Island |
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| July 21, 2010 - AOHC Executive Director, Adrianna Tetley, today sent an open letter to Prime Ministe... |