Health promotion and community capacity building are important parts of the CHC model of care.
At Parkdale CHC we recognize that the health of individuals and communities are impacted by what we call "the social determinants of health", for example poverty, social and geographic isolation, racism, sexism, heterosexism, transphobia, ageism, ableism, immigration status, language discrimination, mental illness, and other harmful forms of social exclusion and discrimination.
We also recognize that a high performing health system should not just treat people when they are sick or injured, but rather, it should work to prevent sickness, promote health and improve health for all. That is why we strive to play a role in completing Tommy Douglas' (the father of Canada's stem of universal health care) vision of the Second Stage of Medicare - "not just patching people up when they get sick, but keeping them well in the first place."
Our many health promotion and community support programs are designed to address these factors.
