Our Mission

The AOHC provides leadership for the promotion of non-profit, community-governed, interdisciplinary primary health care.

Vision
All Ontarians have access to non-profit, community-governed, interdisciplinary primary health care.

Beliefs
We accept the definition of health adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO):

“Health is the extent to which an individual or group is able, on one hand, to realize aspirations and satisfy needs; and, on the other hand, to change or cope with the environment. Health is therefore seen as a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living; it is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacity.”

We believe that:

• Effective primary health care must address the determinants of health, including shelter, education, food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, social justice, equity and peace. It therefore encompasses primary care, illness prevention, health promotion, health education, community development, social action, building healthy public policy, and creating supportive environments.

• Community governance ensures that the health of a community is enhanced by providing leadership through effective partnerships of individuals and community and the staff of health centres. Community governance allows the skills, expertise, knowledge, and life experience of all partners to be shared to contribute to the health of their community.

• Interdisciplinary teams of health professionals are the most effective and efficient means for providing quality services in an appropriate manner. These multidisciplinary teams include physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dieticians, health promoters, counsellors and other staff and volunteers who contribute to the health of the community.

Values
As an association dedicated to its mission and vision, our actions are driven by these key values:

Advocacy
The AOHC actively promotes community-governed interdisciplinary primary health care.

Accountability
The AOHC is open, transparent and responsible to its members.

Equity
The AOHC ensures that each member has the opportunity for equitable participation in the association.

Anti-discrimination (including anti-racism)
The AOHC strives to identify and remove systemic barriers to full and equal participation in the association for the staff and volunteers of member centres and the staff of AOHC.

Diversity
The AOHC engages the widest possible variety of views, backgrounds and abilities of its members to promote creative and effective programs, policy positions and decision-making.

French Language Services
The AOHC values Canada 's francophone heritage and fully supports the efforts of francophone member-centres and emerging groups to protect and improve access to French language health and social services as guaranteed in Ontario's French Language Services Act.

Collaboration
The AOHC's work is carried out in a spirit of cooperation and shared leadership among members and others who share the association's vision.

Mentorship
AOHC staff and members support the association's mission by providing counsel and assistance to other members, groups emerging as potential future members, and others who share the association's vision.