Making the Shift to the Making the Shift to the Determinants of HealthDeterminants of Health

The Experiences of the Peterborough County-City

Health Unit

Community ProfileCommunity Profile

County and City Population: 133,080

City Population: 74,898

1.5 hrs northeast of Toronto

Employment: retail, manufacturing, health, food services, education

Few visible minorities (2.7%)

Median age higher than Ontario (44 yrs)

Poverty in our CommunityPoverty in our Community

Median household income $9,000 below Ontario level 13% of all households, 37% of single adults below the poverty line Child poverty: 1 in 5 childrenAffordable housing waiting list: 1,469 people Social assistance: 9,039 people52% of tenant households spending more than 30% of income on housing

Local StrategiesLocal Strategies

Targeted services to high needs groups

Board and staff education and support

Community media campaigns and resources

Advocacy for social policy change

Active partnerships with community groups and agencies

1) Targeted Services1) Targeted Services

Areas of parenting support, teen pre-natal classes, school for young moms, dental treatment for adults and children, food security, street nursing.

Address client needs and barriers

Build partnerships

Learning opportunities

2) Board and Staff2) Board and Staff

Education and awareness-raising

Social Determinants of Health Committee

Training series on social determinants

Poverty and Health program staff

New Ontario Public Health Standards opportunities

3) Community Campaigns and 3) Community Campaigns and ResourcesResources

Child poverty television ad and booklet

Local high school poverty ads

Social Policy CampaignSocial Policy Campaign

Television ads

Displays

Web site

2007 Campaign“Income, housing and access to food

affect health”

Social Policy Campaign - 2008Social Policy Campaign - 2008

Peterborough County-City Health Unit web site expansion

Poster

Newspaper insert

Resource DevelopmentResource Development“Peterborough Health Services Directory”Free or low cost health and mental health services

4) Advocacy for Policy Change4) Advocacy for Policy Change

Meetings with MP, MPP, election candidates

Provincial All-Candidates positions on poverty

5) Community Partnerships5) Community Partnerships

Strengthened community partnerships (Mayor’s Action Committee on Poverty Reduction, Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice, Poverty Action Network, Peterborough Health Coalition, Food Action Network)

The Mayor’s Action CommitteeThe Mayor’s Action Committee

Community Consultations and ReportCommunity Consultations and Report

Committee and WorkgroupsCommittee and Workgroups Short Term Action Short Term Action Root Causes of PovertyRoot Causes of Poverty AdvocacyAdvocacy CommunicationCommunication

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Involve all levels of staff in the health unit, Involve all levels of staff in the health unit, include the Board and MOH wherever possible.include the Board and MOH wherever possible.

Involve all programs – start where staff are at. Involve all programs – start where staff are at. Build on their existing community relationships.Build on their existing community relationships.

Partner with the social justice sector – open your Partner with the social justice sector – open your doors and listen, go out and visit.doors and listen, go out and visit.

Don’t be overwhelmed. Small local actions can Don’t be overwhelmed. Small local actions can build.build.

On-going ChallengesOn-going Challenges

Meeting immediate needs for services while Meeting immediate needs for services while addressing long term policy issues (especially in addressing long term policy issues (especially in structured programs like HBHC, inspection, structured programs like HBHC, inspection, sexual health).sexual health).Integrating social determinants with other Integrating social determinants with other planning frameworks.planning frameworks.Constant change, need for communication and Constant change, need for communication and feedback over a long period.feedback over a long period.Defining a clear health unit role and setting limits Defining a clear health unit role and setting limits when needs appear unlimited.when needs appear unlimited.

Contact:Contact:

Christine Post

Health Promoter, Poverty and Health Program

Peterborough County-City Health Unit

cpost@pcchu.ca

Positioning for the Future – Principles of the New Positioning for the Future – Principles of the New Ontario Public Health StandardsOntario Public Health Standards

Impact: “Public Health…strives to influence broader societal changes that reduce health disparities and inequities. …Boards of health shall not only examine the accessibility of programs and services to address barriers…but also assess, plan, deliver, manage and evaluate programs to reduce inequities in health, while at the same time maximizing the health gain for the whole population.” (Draft April, 2008)

1) Targeted Services1) Targeted Services

Healthy Babies/Healthy ChildrenNobody’s Perfect Parenting ProgramSchool for Young MomsTeen Pre-natal Supper ClubDental Treatment Assistance FundChildren in Need of Treatment Dental ProgramFood Security Health Promotion ProjectCollective Kitchens and YWCA food partnershipsFood for Kids School Nutrition ProgramStreet Nurse Project