The Huron Perth & Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT)’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EID-AR) Working Group was established in spring 2021 as part of the Accountability and Implementation Structure for HPA-OHT. Secretariat staff and member organization representatives comprise the Working Group undertake this important work.
To maintain focus on HPA-OHT’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitment, it is important to understand the work specifically within the health care sector. The Alliance for Healthier Communities Health Equity Charter 2020 is an excellent example of boldly addressing the needs of communities in relation to the best possible health for everyone.
Key Information
The purpose of the HPA-OHT Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Guide is to share information
with members and, together, take action. The Guide serves as one source for members to
integrate into their own organization’s DEI work and as the foundation for the future action by
the HPA-OHT DEI Working Group.
Last Updated: September 2021
This statement can be used by member organizations of the HPA-OHT as a “foundational
statement” to reflect their own and the HPA-OHT’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion
in health system design and service delivery. This statement is designed to evolve as the HPA-OHT work progresses:
"Huron Perth and Area Ontario Health Team (HPA-OHT) works to create a healthcare system that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and provides equitable and inclusive care.
The Ontario Health Team commits to create and maintain a health system that is diverse, inclusive, equitable and welcoming."
Last Updated: September 2022
We acknowledge and give thanks for the land on which we gather as being the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee/People of the Long House and the Anishinaabe.
We recognize the First Peoples’ continued stewardship of the land and water, and that this territory is subject to the Dish with One Spoon Wampum under which multiple nations agreed to care for the land and resources by the Great Lakes in peace.
We also acknowledge and recognize the treaties signed in regard to this land including Treaty #29 and Treaty #45 ½. Our roles and shared responsibilities as treaty people mean we are committed to moving forward in reconciliation with gratitude and respect with all First Nations, Métis, Inuit and Indigenous Peoples. We commit to the following action:
- <list current action(s)>
READ the 94 Calls to Action - especially 18 to 24 as they are related to health.
READ A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from TRC.
READ Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
READ The Advocate online magazine at the Chiefs of Ontario web site.
BUY the Orange Shirt Day and WEAR it often.
LISTEN to All Our Relations: 2018 Massey Lectures by Tanya Talaga
LISTEN / WATCH / READ The Secret Path by Gord Downie & Jeff Lemire
DONATE to Downie & Wenjack Fund
EXPLORE a map of territories, languages, and treaties
Bringing reconciliation to healthcare means:
- Promoting Policy and Systems Change.
- Engaging Communities.
- Recruiting and Retaining Indigenous Staff and Health Care Providers.
- Engaging Anti-Racism and Cultural Safety Education.
- Improving Indigenous Client Care and Outcomes.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Resources
Frameworks
Ontario Health developed an Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism Framework with a focus on addressing anti-Indigenous and anti-Racism work through eleven areas of action.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario released an Action Framework: Advancing Equity in Mental Health with ideas for integrating at service delivery, organizational and regional
levels.
Cancer Care Ontario has an Equity in Engagement Framework; the framework promotes equitable engagement and tools to assist efforts to engage and connect with diverse
marginalized populations
CAMH released a framework for Dismantling Anti-Black Racism; the framework outlines goals and specific actions to dismantle anti-Black racism within CAMH.
Ontario Trillium Foundation released a Framework for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that outlines specific actions for staff, communities and volunteers.
DEI Statement Samples
The Canadian Chiropractic Association released a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement.
Lakeridge Health released a commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement.
Markham Stouffville Hospital endorsed its own version of the York Region Inclusion Charter.
Dates of Significance
Refer to Government of Canada and Province of Ontario Important and Commemorative Days
sites for complete listing
Created and maintained by the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI), the Diversity and Inclusion Calendar keeps track of days that may have special meaning for LTC residents, families and team members in Ontario all in one online space: religious and spiritual days of significance, cultural celebrations, awareness days and health promotion days.
Assessment/Evaluation
Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health has an Evaluation Toolkit; primarily directed towards mental health, well-being and addiction services evaluation.
Education
Call it out: Racism, Racial Discrimination and Human Rights from the Ontario Human Rights Commission; a 30-minute interactive e-course that offers a foundation for learning about race, racial discrimination and human rights protections under Ontario Human Rights Code.
Learn more here.
94 Calls to Action by The Truth and Reconciliation Commission; actions to advance Canada through the process of reconciliation with First Nation, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous Peoples—includes a “health” section (actions 18-24).
Learn more here.
Ontario Health’s (Cancer Care Ontario) Indigenous Relationship and Cultural Safety Course; a series of 13 Free online courses to provide knowledge about the history and culture of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people and communities.
Learn more here.
University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada Course; a free 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada.
Learn more here.
Some HPA OHT members have received San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety training from the Provincial Health Services Authority in BC. This training was provided up to ten members from each OHT in 2020-2021. There is an OHT goal to have all members trained in Indigenous Cultural Safety. It is an eight week, work-at-your-own pace course that requires 8 to 11 hour per week. Cost is approximately $300 per person. The training is accredited by the Ontario College of Family Physicians, Canadian College of Health Leaders and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Learn more here.
2SLGBTQ communities face specific health challenges and barriers to accessing care. RHO offers training for healthcare and social service providers to increase their clinical and cultural competency in caring for their LGBT2SQ service users.
Learn more here.
Tools and Toolkits
Health Equity Impact Assessment Tool; decision support tool that walks individuals through the steps of identifying how a program, policy or similar initiative will impact population groups in different ways.
D.I.Y Health Equity Toolkit produced by Canadian Association of Mental Health; a guide for those interested in working towards equity within Ontario’s Mental Health System and beyond.
Advancing the Mission: Tools for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; toolkit contains 11 tools that organization can use to achieve change—divided into two categories: Cross-Cutting Tools and Hard-Wire Group (see page 28).
Navigating Race in Canadian Workplaces; a toolkit for diversity and inclusion practitioners to provide them with relevant resources to talk about race and racism in the workplace.
The Embracing Diversity: A Toolkit for Supporting Inclusion in Long-Term Care Homes is an interactive resource with print and online components that gives LTC homes practical steps to nurture diverse and welcoming communities. The toolkit was created by the Ontario CLRI and was informed by the Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in Long-Term Care Advisory Committee and other experts, including persons with lived experience.
Health Equity Toolkit by EQUIP Health Care; specifically, Trauma and Violence Informed Practice Tool.
Grey Bruce Public Health created a Health Equity Tool and corresponding online training videos along with instructions for use.
National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health produced Let’s Talk Health Equity.
Guides, Tips and Policy Documents
The Registered Nurses Association of Ontario released the Embracing Cultural Diversity in Health Care: Developing Cultural Competence – a best practices guide for embracing diversity within health care organizations.
City of Ottawa created an Equity and Inclusion Lens Handbook.
Rainbow Health Ontario, a program of Sherbourne Health, wrote this brief guide in response to the many requests they receive for guidance on incorporating sexual orientation and gender identity into intake forms and EHRs. They understand that making changes to software can be difficult and the ability to make changes depends both on the flexibility of the software program and access to funds.
In this brief, the Fenway Institute discuss two methods for gathering sexual orientation and gender identity from patients, by asking questions on the patient registration (intake) form, and by requiring that providers gather this information directly from patients during medical visits, recording responses in the electronic medical record.
View the policy brief here.
Action Plans
The Canadian Chiropractic Association released an Action Plan for 2020-2025.
Markham Stouffville Hospital developed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan for 2020-
2022.
Health Quality Ontario produced a Health Equity Plan.