TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click below to navigate through the various sections of the 2024 annual report.
CEO Message &
Board President
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Community
Igniting Strength in our
Community
Igniting Youth to share
their Story
EDITOR'S MESSAGE
This year’s annual report is about how SCHC has taken on initiatives to further our vision of Igniting the Strength in the Community.
It's about building trust with our clients, partners and stakeholders within our community. It's about providing opportunities for our Scarborough community to raise awareness of the health inequities that impact their daily lives. It's about helping our community in various ways to demonstrate its strength and ability to affect change.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse into a few of these initiatives and stories that illuminate this journey,
- Debra McGonegal, Director of Communication & Development
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to start by honouring the land that we are on, which has been the site of human activity since time immemorial. It is the traditional territories of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River First Nations. Ontario is covered by 46 treaties and other agreements and is home to many Indigenous Nations from across Turtle Island, including the Inuit and the Metis. These treaties and other agreements, including the One Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, are agreements to share and care for the land and its resources peaceably. Other Indigenous Nations, Europeans, and newcomers were invited into this covenant in the spirit of respect, peace, and friendship. We are all treaty people. Many of us, have come here as settlers, immigrants, and newcomers in this generation or generations past. We are mindful of broken covenants and strive to make this right with the land and each other. I would also like to acknowledge those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade. And so, I honour and pay tribute to the ancestors of African Origin and Descent.
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MESSAGE FROM CEO & BOARD PRESIDENT
This past year, we focused on implementing our new strategic plan and meeting our vision to Ignite the strength of the community!
Our three Strategic Directions are:
OUTSTANDING SERVICE DELIVERY
Deliver system leadership by being transformative by:
• Growing and strengthening our integrated suite of services
• Igniting a collaborative community health strategy
• Unleashing our Community-Based Research (CBR) potential
ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH
Ensure our people and culture are well-supported by:
• Cultivating the wellbeing of our people
• Fostering a strong values-driven organizational culture
ACTION ON EQUITY
Advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging with an intersectional lens by:
• Advancing our journey towards truth and reconciliation
• Co-creating with the leadership of Black communities to address anti-Black racism
• Ensuring a safer space for 2SLGBTQ+ people
These Strategic Directions reinforce SCHC’s mission to provide accessible, equitable and transformational health and social service choices for the well-being of diverse communities. A few key highlights to demonstrate our work include:
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Our commitment to ensuring the impact of our work is demonstrated by the 88% of clients using SCHC services indicating in our Client Experience Survey that they experience a sense of belonging as a result of accessing SCHC services.
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We actively engaged with our community, staff, and community partners in developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy because we recognize the unfortunate reality of rising poverty rates in Scarborough.
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The Board approved a Community-Based Research Strategy co-designed by the community, staff, and partners from a wide range of partners. This work builds a foundation for SCHC to support the Scarborough community in demonstrating the reality of their unique circumstances to inform change across the health and social systems.
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We continued our work on equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging, building stronger connections with the black community and establishing new collaborations in service provision.
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We look forward to building on our commitment to Action on Equity in the coming year as we develop our roadmaps to truth and reconciliation and ensure a safer space for 2SLGBTQ+ people.
We are also privileged to be a trusted partner of our funders as increased investments in Scarborough are made, and SCHC is granted the steward of these funds. We look forward to implementing many new services, including expanded access to interprofessional primary care teams, services to support Scarborough residents living with and/or at risk of Hepatitis C and HIV, greater access to health and wellness services for pediatric clients, increased case management and navigation supports for residents and funding to work with the community to enhance community safety and wellness projects.
As always, we must acknowledge and thank the commitment and support of our staff, volunteers, board directors, donors, partners, and funders, including Ontario Health Toronto, United Way Toronto, York Region and Peel, the City of Toronto, and The Ontario Trillium Foundation. We extend our sincerest appreciation to them as their generous contributions and support allow us to make health care accessible to Scarborough’s most vulnerable.
Atiqa Mohammad
Board President
Jeanie Argiropoulos
Chief Executive Officer
MISSION
Providing accessible, equitable and transformational health and social service choices, for the well-being of diverse communities.
VISION
Ignite the strength
of community.
VALUES
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Inclusive
Innovation
Collaboration
Accessibility
Respect
Equity
Igniting Belonging in our Community
EarlyON builds Belonging through Unity and Trust
Reflecting on our innovative journey, I feel great joy and pride in our stories of positivity, unity, and change as a direct result of the Innovation Grants awarded by the City of Toronto, Children’s Services. Impactful imprints remain on our hearts as we continue to uplift our intentions to learn and unlearn with one another and ignite equitable, accessible, inclusive change, and approaches for black families and children in our community.
The Innovation Grants provided valuable funding to hire Black-identifying staff to lead noteworthy initiatives igniting culturally responsive and safe spaces. Additional highlights to the grant work include culturally relevant food, transportation supports, and powerful platforms for guest speakers highlighting peer-support models and knowledge sharing.
Co-designing meaningful programs and services worthwhile to families of East Scarborough resonated with many parents, such as this mother insightful sharing, “Seeing black faces among our educators is important for our children who learn a lot by mirroring and encouraging academic endeavors in our community.” A sense of belonging and trust magnifies throughout our relationships and work to provide validating experiences.
As we flow through Phase 2, excitement is evident as we continue to offer The Reading Partnership Parents Program, a Family Literacy program for Black families and children, 4 to 6 years of age. Our project team of Registered Early Childhood Educators, students, and volunteers receive ongoing support and training to deliver the program in-person and online to about 56 families. The program equips families with learning tools, such as a literacy kit with diverse books, additional supports to online learning modules and child relief for siblings attending in-person. A space of joy where families feel comfortable to share their challenges or insecurities and laugh with ease is a testimony to crucial groundwork in the making! We end with a phrase from a grandmother “a transformative force has been created for my family, leaving an indelible mark on our lives. As a result of this grant accessible resources and trustworthy relationships have helped improve their interpersonal skills.” The EarlyON Child and Family Centre is appreciative of the immense opportunity to capture the essence of our community spirit and collaborate wholeheartedly.
- Jennifer Bothelo, Coordinator of EarlyON Child & Family Centre
Igniting Belonging Through Creativity
A Client Story
With an apprenticeship about to start, Stephan was on his way to becoming a carpenter when a simple fall changed the course of his life. Despite rehabilitation, returning to “normal” was difficult as Stephan had an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). He describes socializing as hard, and sticking to tasks and routines proved difficult. This made him feel isolated and different from the rest of the world. When the Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Team connected with Stephan, he hesitated and thought, “Oh great, more service providers.” Yet, as Stephan shares, the ABI outreach team was “able to see beyond my brain injury and what my passion and capabilities entailed.” The team was able to ignite his passion and create a connection. With the help of our Behavioral Therapist and Independent Support Worker, Stephan started his own e-commerce business to showcase his jewelry and crafts.
The ABI Outreach Team reached out to SCHC’s “Creative Space” program—which is an art group for seniors within the Active Living Centre that get together to learn and experience new ways of being creative—and they thought that Stephan’s resin moulds were the perfect fit for this program. So, with the team's support on a rainy day in April, Stephan hosted a workshop in front of 17 seniors. One participant stated, “I enjoyed Stephan’s class. He went all out to show us what the craft entailed. I was amazed by the range of moulds and decorative items he brought and how organized he was. I would love to have another session.” Another participant stated, “Our resin jewellery workshop with Stephan was excellent, and our best attended. He was a great instructor and gave us lots of ideas and materials to work with. The workshop was well organized; everyone enjoyed it and was thrilled with their final pieces.”
Thank you, Stephan, for showcasing your talents and igniting creativity and connection.
Etsy shop: @StephansWoodshop
Instagram: @StephansWoodshop
- Megan Davies, Community Health and Support Services Manager
Igniting Inclusivity in our Community
Call it a Spade Ignites Inclusivity in a Safe Space
In our bustling communities, finding a place of genuine acceptance and support can feel like a rare treasure. Yet, amidst this challenge, the Call it a SPADE (Safer Positive Accepted Drop-In Environment) project has emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a sanctuary where individuals can find solace, camaraderie, and empowerment.
At the heart of the Call it a SPADE project lies its mission to cultivate a safer, supportive, and judgement-aware environment. Here, participants are not just aid recipients; they are embraced as valued community members. Through fellowship, hot meals, and access to vital resources, the Call it a SPADE project extends a support system to those navigating the complexities of life's journey.
However, the Call it a SPADE project is more than just a provider of material support. It catalyzes profound transformation, aiming to nurture a greater sense of belonging and connection among its members. Through weekly group sessions, individuals come together to share their stories, their struggles, and their triumphs. In doing so, they forge bonds that transcend circumstance, ethnicity, and background barriers. It is a testament to the power of compassion, resilience, and collective action. By fostering a culture of inclusivity and understanding, the SPADE project not only enriches the lives of its participants but also strengthens the fabric of our community.
As we reflect on the strides made by the SPADE project, let us reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Together, we can continue to build upon the foundation of empathy and solidarity laid by the SPADE project, ensuring that no one is left to navigate life's challenges alone.
- Charanjit Singh, Community Wellness & Engagement Manager
Building Inclusivity to Strengthen Our Community
Honouring the different cultures and races that call Scarborough home helps ignite strength by building inclusivity, understanding, and compassion among us.
Honouring the different cultures and races that call Scarborough home helps ignite strength by building inclusivity, understanding, and compassion among us.
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Black History Month and Black Innovation Grant Reading Partnership: Empowering Through Education and Inclusion
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Celebrating Tamil Heritage Month January 2024: Honoring Cultural Diversity and Unity
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Cooking with a Budget Workshop: Promoting Health and Inclusivity in Our Community
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Red Dress Day Walk: Raising Awareness and Building Community Solidarity
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Standing Together for Understanding and Healing
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Standing Together for Understanding and Healing
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Seniors Trip Summer 2023: Fostering Connection and Inclusivity Across Generations
Igniting Strength Through
Collaboration & Research
As part of our reflection on having achieved zero unmet criteria from our last Accreditation in 2022, a key feedback item was that our well-established ethics framework was truly integrated into our organization’s practices, which we continue to lean on to guide us from the front line to organizational ethics. As such, we focused on conducting a visioning retreat with feedback from staff, clients and community partners on our evolving role in research. Through consultation, analysis and response to our new strategic priorities, we committed to further adapting the Community Based Research methodology to how we uplift the community's voice equitably and inclusively, which results in actionable support. We recruited the support of the Centre for Community-Based Research to guide us as a whole organization and ensure we are on the right path, not just in building our capacity but also in understanding our role in bridging capacity in the community more deeply. Our journey will land us on research priorities and effective initiatives that ensure our
improvement projects are community-centred, participatory, action-oriented, and sustainable. Furthermore, we have an established hub of academia, private and public partners, entrepreneurs and other community leaders and agencies bringing innovative solutions to further propel new opportunities to long-standing and already well-researched issues with our community. We have the only community member seat on the SHN Research Ethics Board and are the community partner for the SHN Research Institute. We look forward to igniting the voice of our community at all tables.
One of the major complaints from clients and providers when coordinating care amongst different organizations or physician groups is how to share information with client consent. SCHC’s Health Information Network Provider Status (HINP) designation has helped to address this!
Different healthcare and community support organizations have systems with important health information about their clients. These systems do not interact with each other. Those clients often access many different services and support from our partners and us. Not having access to those different systems is a long-standing barrier to optimizing care coordination, communication and timely person-centred care. In response, SCHC became the host of common data, particularly personal health information, for clients accessing multiple agencies. We did this by developing a platform leveraging cloud-based technology, strictly adhering to the laws of privacy to keep critical personal health information safe and secure while unifying partners to work collaboratively on one platform. One particular area was centralized palliative access where we could receive all referrals for Scarborough palliative care across the region for multiple care teams including the hospital, home and community care and of course SCHC’s palliative care services. The outcomes revealed previously hidden insights into where clients had been falling through the cracks and why, and expedited service delivery higher quality care. The co-designed development of this particular platform pushed us to achieve what is called a Health Information Network Provider status, whereby an agency holds data for two or more other agencies. SCHC is the first organization in the Scarborough-OHT to achieve this status, opening up the doors for so many different areas of care requiring integrated coordination across multiple partners in a much more seamless fashion.
- Callum Tyrrell, VP of Innovation, Improvement and Engagement