Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

Our Mission is to reduce barriers to health by working with the people of our diverse urban communities to promote wellness and provide innovative primary health care services.

Our Vision is a healthy urban community in which all individuals are supported by wellness programs and health services including primary health care services that are welcoming, inclusive and accessible.

In fulfilling our mission and vision, we aim to be known for:

• Innovative models of promoting urban health
• Ease of access to primary health care services that meet the needs of the communities we serve
• Integrated, interdisciplinary services that include complimentary and alternative therapies
• Specialized expertise in serving particular communities of focus who are currently under served and face barriers in accessing care, namely Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Transsexual communities; Homeless and Under-housed people; and newcomers to Canada

History of Organization

Sherbourne Health Centre was created in 1998 in response to the directions of the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC), which mandated the closure of the Wellesley Central Hospital, and created healthcare gaps in south east Toronto. The HSRC directed the establishment of the Centre, which included the need to develop services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT), Newcomer, and Homeless and Under Housed communities. In 2002, the Health Bus program, an initiative of the Wellesley Central Health Corporation and the Rotary Club of Toronto and operated in collaboration with many community partners, was transferred to the Centre. In 2004, Supporting Our Youth, which was previously housed at Central Toronto Youth Services, became a program of Sherbourne Health Centre. Three years later the LGBTQ Parenting Network (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer), which was previously a program of Family Service Toronto, joined the LGBT Health Program at Sherbourne Health Centre. In 2007, Sherbourne Health Centre moved into its new building, expanding the facilities to four floors and opening the doors to the 20 bed Infirmary housed on the third floor. Sherbourne Health Centre is proud to provide an ever-increasing number of clients with a wide range of primary healthcare and social support programs.

Accolades and Accomplishments

• Bev Lepischak, Director of LGBT Health, and Anna Travers, Director of Rainbow Health Ontario at Sherbourne Health Centre, receive Distinguished Professional Contribution Award for 2009 by The Society for the Psychological Study of LGBT Issues (American Psychological Association). 
• Rachel Epstein, Coordinator of LGBTQ Parenting Network at Sherbourne Health Centre, receives the 2008 Steinert & Ferreiro Award from Community One Foundation.
• SOY Express (Newcomer/Immigrant youth) project receives LGBT Youthline award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts (2008). 
• SOY Project Coordinator, Suhail AbualSameed, receives Toronto Community Foundation Vital People Award (2007).
• Supporting Our Youth receives Toronto Youth Cabinet Identify ‘N’ Impact Street-Level Activist Award (2006).
• The Ontario College of Family Physicians recognizes the contribution of Sherbourne’s Health Bus (2005).
• Supporting Our Youth receives City of Toronto Human Rights Pride Award (2005).
• Bev Lepischak, Director of LGBT Health, inducted into the Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives National Portrait Gallery (2005).
• SOY Project Coordinator, Elisa Hatton, receives Toronto Community Foundation Vital People Award (2005).
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation Awards of Excellence Honorable Mention ‘Best Practice Model’ for SOY’s Black Queer Youth Initiative (2005).
• SOY Monday Night Drop-In Volunteer Mentors receive Honorable Mention by Toronto Mayor David Miller at City of Toronto Community Service Volunteer of the Year (2005) awards ceremony

Programs

>Supporting Our Youth (SOY)
>LGBTQ Parenting Network
>Health Care Services for People who are Homeless

Sherbourne Health Centre provides innovative primary health care, counselling, support, outreach, health promotion, and education programs to our clients – the many individuals who reflect the diverse and vibrant communities of southeast Toronto. 

Since 2003, we have focused on building connections and building health in the local community – by developing programs and services to fill gaps in service and address unique health care needs and requirements. 

Our goal is to serve our communities to the best of our ability and deliver programs and services that are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible.

Our programs include:

• general primary care for the local community
• specialized primary health care to LGBT Communities, including health promotion initiatives
• specialized primary health care to the homeless and under housed communities
• specialized programs for Hepatitis C, Diabetes, and chiropody
• outreach services to the homeless and under housed communities through the Health Bus, the work of clinicians and counselors, and a 20-bed infirmary
• mental health support and counselling to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and local communities, with a particular focus on making the links between psychiatric diagnosis and trauma
• assistance with aspects of daily living and connection to resources, particularly for vulnerable communities
• outreach to ethno-specific communities, particularly those living in St. Jamestown
• complementary and alternative care (naturopathic services for people living with HIV, and chiropractic care for the local community)
• community development programs for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth (Supporting Our Youth)

Supporting Our Youth (SOY)

SOY is an exciting, dynamic community development program designed to improve the lives of LGBT youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities. We work to create healthy arts, culture and recreational spaces for young people; to provide supportive housing and employment opportunities; and to increase youth access to adult mentoring and support. SOY works within an anti-oppression framework to create opportunities for queer and trans youth and adults to build an inclusive, welcoming community together. We develop initiatives that build skills and capacities, provide mentoring and support, and nurture a sense of identity and belonging. SOY strives to be transparent, proactive, authentic, and open to new learning. We value decision-making processes that are accountable to the communities we serve, and are dedicated to the creation of an environment free from oppression. Guided by these principles, our goal is to support the health and well-being of all LGBT youth. SOY’s programs are geared to establishing a place for LGBT youth in the community, building bridges across generations and communities, and changing the cultural norms of the LGBT community so that youth are increasingly respected and treated as valued citizens for which the community has responsibility.

Funding and Program Partners

Supporting Our Youth (SOY) was initially sponsored by Central Toronto Youth Services and was established with seed funding kindly provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Express, SOY's Newcomer Program, was created with seed funding from the United Way of Greater Toronto. Since its inception, SOY has received generous support from the Toronto Community Foundation Vital People Award, the City of Toronto Access and Equity, Community Festivals & Special Events, and Homelessness Partnership Initiative grants, the Community One Foundation's Rainbow Grants, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, the National Crime Prevention Strategy, The Counselling Foundation and the Laidlaw Foundation.

SOY works in partnership with many organizations and agencies including Access Alliance, Asian Community AIDS Service, Fred Victor Centre, St. Clare's Multifaith Housing Society, Hugh Garner Cooperative Homes, Griffin Centre, SKETCH, BlackCAP, Regent Park Focus, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Inside-Out Film Festival, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Xtra! Magazine, O'Connor Gallery,TEACH/Planned Parenthood of Toronto, The Triangle Program at the Toronto District School Board, Trans Programs at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, Central Toronto Youth Services, Children's Aid Society, Pride Toronto, and the Church & Wellesley BIA.

Program Impact

In 2009/2010, SOY received 12,627 visits from youth clients and counted 8,641 volunteer hours. Since 1998, our programs have expanded to include weekly groups; special events; arts programming; counselling, housing, employment and medical referrals; and community meals for youth who are newcomers, racialized, homeless/underhoused, trans-identified, socially isolated and/or marginalized due to homophobia and transphobia.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

• “Torontonians report good mental health…but a significant number experience high levels of stress.”
• “Gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered youth are disproportionately represented in the homeless population across Canada, and face higher risks of violence, health challenges, and hunger.”
• “Most Torontonians feel they belong to their local community, but discrimination erodes a sense of identification to Canada.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

“When I think about SOY, many words come to my mind: Effort. Hope. Life. And love. I came to this country, with no word of English, no family. All I had was a head full of questions about who I was, and nowhere to go but an empty room. As an immigrant, I thought no one would ever help me. As a gay man, I thought my life was screwed. One day, I found an address for an organization that said it would be able to help me. I decided to give it a try. I never thought that simple email would introduce me to those whose duty ever since has been to make my life better. Today, they are my friends, and maybe the closest thing I have to a family. Thanks to all their programs, I have now a place to express myself. I have met a person whose most sincere intention is to be my friend – he’s my mentor now. A place to live, thanks to the housing program. And even more important, today I feel I am ready to fight on my own, and this would never have been possible if it hadn’t been for SOY”. (Javier, SOY Express group member)

LGBTQ Parenting Network

The LGBTQ Parenting Network is a Toronto-based program that promotes the rights and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) parents, prospective parents and their families through education, advocacy, research, social networking and community organizing. Founded in 2001 at Family Service Toronto, Network initiatives have included the popular courses for prospective LGBTQ parents - Dykes Planning Tykes (since 1997) and Daddies and Papas 2B (since 2003), (in conjunction with The 519 Community Centre); social, recreational and discussion forums for LGBTQ families; and wide-ranging educational and training programs for those seeking to provide greater accessibility to LGBTQ families. The Network has also developed a number of community-based research projects focusing on LBQ mothers, GBQ fathers, LGBTQ adoption and Culturally Queer Kids (CQK - youth/children with LGBTQ parents/families). This research has informed the development of resources including a Queer Parenting Info Brochure Series, the highly popular Queering the Family Tree poster, the “I Heart My LGBTQ Family” cards, and the LGBTQ Parenting Connection website, a one-stop source of information for LGBTQ families (www.lgbtqparentingconnection.ca). In 2007, the Network moved to the Sherbourne Health Centre, becoming part of its LGBT Program. The Parenting Network currently connects to a community of over 1,500 individuals and families.

Funding and Program Partners

The LGBTQ Parenting Network was originally based (2001-2005) at the Family Service Association of Toronto (now Family Service Toronto) with funding from The Counselling Foundation of Canada. Since 2006 the Parenting Network has been housed at the Sherbourne Health Centre with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.  Additional grants from the Community One Foundation, Wellesley Central Health Corporation and the Father Involvement Research Alliance have augmented funding from the Ministry.  Partnerships include the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, The 519 Community Centre, Toronto Children's Aid Society and the Father Involvement Research Alliance.

Program Impact

The LGBTQ Parenting Network currently communicates directly with over 1,500 individuals and families. Through events, courses, trainings, support groups and outreach activities we contact approximately 18,000 individuals and families annually. The Network distributes resources to schools, community groups, and individuals across Canada and in the US.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community was the victim of the majority of violent hate/bias crimes (and 22% of the total), most commonly assaults and threats;

• Reporting of hate/bias by the LGBT community doubled in 2008 (over 2007). The Toronto Police Service is crediting the rise in the number of reports to a new campaign, Reduce Homophobic Violence Period (RHVP), launched in partnership with community groups and community service providers, to raise public awareness and provide educational resources.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Research has shown that a hostile school climate can have many negative impacts on students, including increased absenteeism and lowered educational aspirations for students who are being harassed.  The objectives of the Network include a focus on the empowerment of children and youth who live in LGBTQ families, who are often not considered in analysis of homophobia/transphobia, even though they may encounter discrimination and violence at a very young age.

Participant Vignette

The LGBTQ Parenting Network supports a diversity of programs and initiatives, offering courses, events and resources both for prospective parents and growing families. Jake Payne, Parent: “As a trans parent, I am always amazed at how the LGBTQ Parenting Network welcomes the uniqueness of each new family that emerges in this community. Supporting new trans parenting groups and research, the Parenting Network is helping to create a community in which our families will not be alone when we celebrate or when we struggle.” Omo Atkin and Jean Carter, Parents: “Dykes Planning Tykes [facilitated by the LGBTQ Parenting Network] was the single most informative resource we encountered in our family planning, and it connected us with an incredible network of women on the same path. Two years later, we’ve supported each other through inseminations, fertility treatments, pregnancies, miscarriages, adoption and four adorable spawn, with more on the way.” Peter Yu, Parent, Educator: “The Parenting Network’s ‘Queering the Family Tree’ Poster [a bilingual poster celebrating the diversity of families] is an invaluable teaching tool. It provides visibility and sparks discussion about the diverse families in our communities in a fun and colourful way.”

Health Care Services for People who are Homeless

The Sherbourne Health Centre has a grouping of services that focus on care delivery to people who are homeless. Through a collaborative approach, the programs strive to provide seamless care across the continuum. The Infirmary is a short term health care program where people of all genders who are homeless can stay while recovering from an acute medical condition, illness or injury. The Infirmary program provides a safe space where clients are able to rest and recover in a comfortable environment. The Health Bus is a mobile service that brings nursing care directly to the client in the community. By partnering with several agencies serving people who are homeless we help to reduce barriers to accessing care. Our unscheduled care clinics provide access to many clients who are unable to access care in the more traditional appointment based model. New clients and existing registered clients can access our interdisciplinary team members at any time during our drop-in times. Much of our work to clients who are homeless involves outreach. Through innovative partnerships with local shelters, agencies providing housing, health care and other services we are able to work collaboratively to ensure timely access to resources.

Funding and Program Partners

Health care services at Sherbourne Health Centre for people who are homeless are funded on an ongoing basis by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The City of Toronto's Supporting Community Partnership Initiative generously supported a portion of the start up costs for the Infirmary Program (2006).  This generous support helped to pay for the beds the clients use during their admission.  The Infirmary was developed using an intensive community consultation process. The Health Bus Program was founded by  Wellesley Central Hospital with funding received  from Rotary Club of Toronto. The Health Bus Program was transferred to Sherbourne Health Centre when the Wellesley Central Hospital was closed down.  The Rotary Club of Toronto's generosity has  enabled Sherbourne to purchase a new vehicle to continue its services with staffing funds coming from the Toronto Central LHIN. This Mobile Outreach Clinic works in partnership with over 20 Homeless Shelters and Community Drop-in Programs, mostly in the core of downtown Toronto.

Program Impact

Our services for people who are homeless provide many access points for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. The Infirmary augments the already existing health care available through hospital and community sites. The program focuses on short term stays that fill the gap when someone has no safe place to go to recuperate. The Health Bus brings health care directly to clients located in the community. Many of these people do not have medical coverage and are therefore not able to easily access care. The Unscheduled care clinic provides an alternative to the traditional appointment based system. These programs increase access to our most vulnerable citizens.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Toronto had the highest percentage of people living with low incomes. As income is directly associated with health, Torontonians, and particularly residents in the City’s poorest areas, were proportionately less healthier than their wealthy neighbours… Social assistance recipients in Ontario are particularly vulnerable to ill health.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Participant Vignette

Traci, 26, had a short stay in the Infirmary after giving birth. The child’s father, whom she hoped to marry, had abandoned her, and she knew she would not be able to keep her child. A nurse at Women’s Residence, a shelter where Traci was living, told her about Sherbourne’s new infirmary and arranged for her to go there after the delivery. “I needed time to heal,” Traci says. While at Sherbourne, Traci took advantage of counseling services as well as receiving medical treatment. “It’s just awesome here,” she says. “The staff is so understanding, so caring. They helped me to get back on my feet again.” Another client of the Homeless Program states, “I felt so lonely before, I thought I was going to die on the street,” says Carl. “But here, they really looked after me. They even got me an electric scooter.”