Contributing to Ontario’s Health System Transformation

A wind of change has been blowing over Ontario ever since enactment of the Patients First Act. Throughout this past year, Entité 4 has remained closely involved with its partners, through various consultations, to ensure that the needs of Francophones within its catchment area are taken into consideration as this law is implemented. We were therefore pleased to see that the importance of equitable access to French language health services is stated in the Act. We will continue to work collaboratively with our three partner LHINs during the implementation phase.

Recently, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care published mandate letters for each LHIN: these letters speak of collective priorities for all stakeholders and outline the Ministry’s expectations regarding new LHIN roles and responsibilities. Entité 4 appreciates the repeated mention of French language services in these documents.

2016 also marks the renewal of the French Language Health Planning Entities’ mandate for a further five years. This confirms the importance of our work and allows us to continue working for Francophone communities along with our partner LHINs, as well as support the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as it proceeds with its transformation of the health system.

With our partner LHINs, we developed a joint three-year strategy document (2016-2019) entitled "Toward Equitable Access to French Language Services". Four priority sectors are at the forefront of our strategy: mental health, primary care, home and community care, and palliative care. As well, one of the strategic actions at the heart of this strategy is accompanying and guiding health service providers in their active offer of French language services, so that this principle becomes embedded in their daily practices.

We are proud to present our achievements this year. We thank everyone involved for their hard work, the quality of their collaboration and their belief in our mandate. We could not have achieved this alone. We remain confident for the future of French language health services.

Yves Lévesque Chairman of the Board

Estelle Duchon Executive Director

"It is rare to have an opportunity, in life but even more so at work, to work with a partner such as Entité 4 who provides this level of support to the community. My role as Navigator through the health system represents only a portion of activities taking place within the community which are aimed at improving access to health services in French and well-being in the North Simcoe Muskoka Region. [...] I am sure that support, cultural and linguistic awareness, as well as self-identification of individuals who speak French in the workplace, at school or at home will raise hopes that Francophones can live in French in Ontario, in a healthy way, and that it is not a matter of one or the other."

Céleste Lalonde

Francophone Health System Navigator, CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre

Entité 4 works in close collaboration with Central, Central East and North Simcoe Muskoka LHINs, who are responsible for planning, coordinating and funding the local health system. We advise them on the health needs expressed by Francophone communities in our territory by making recommendations to our partner LHINs to improve quality of services for Francophones.

To coordinate work and increase equitable access to French Language services, Entité 4 and its partner LHINs decided to synchronize their respective planning cycles. A joint three-year strategy (2016-2019) was developed to align with LHIN Integrated Health Service Plans (IHSP), with an annual update which coincides with LHIN Annual Business Plans. This joint strategy was also aligned with the transformation of Ontario’s health care system under "Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care".

Our three-year strategy is based on two types of actions:

• Systemic actions which create the right conditions for developing equitable access to French language health services.
• Sectoral initiatives to continue improving access to, navigation and coordination of health services for Francophones.

Number of recommendations being implemented in collaboration with LHINs, which were made over the past few years:

In North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN

Thanks to a successful pilot project and following a recommendation from Entité 4, North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN funded a French Language System Navigator position at CHIGAMIK CHC to help Francophones navigate the system. Since this project began, more than 40 Francophone patients were helped with accessing health services in French in Simcoe and Muskoka.

In Central LHIN

Following a needs assessment project coupled with an outreach program and several community engagement sessions, Central LHIN funded a Bilingual Health Navigator position at BLACK CREEK CHC. The main objective is to implement referral and navigation processes. The Navigator also promotes a healthy lifestyle in communities largely constituted of newcomers who encounter many challenges. There have been close to 150 participants in workshops offered in French and 53 patients used the navigation services.

In Central East LHIN

TAIBU CHC continues to be successful in engaging the Francophone community, offering health promotion and outreach activities. Over 355 Francophones participated in these activities this year. Central East LHIN also offered funding to TAIBU CHC to hire a Bilingual Nurse Practitioner who now serves 148 Francophone patients.

"As a newcomer to Toronto about one year ago, it was very good news when I met with the TAIBU CHC health promoter and to find out that I could be served in French for my health issues because I had difficulty communicating in English. Ever since my wife, my two children and myself have become clients, we have participated in many activities, such as Christmas celebrations. This was our first Christmas away from home. As well, we received invaluable support from the nurse practitioner during my wife’s pregnancy and after our daughter was born."

A Francophone Resident of Scarborough

Central LHIN provided funding for a pilot project led by Toronto North Support Services: Mental Health and Addictions Outreach aimed at Francophones, with a focus on French-speaking immigrants and newcomers. There were close to 300 Francophone participants in outreach activities, which generated referrals to mental health case management through the Access Point.

Mental Health First Aid training was offered in French throughout our territory by some of our partners such as CHIGAMIK CHC, Canadian Mental Health Association - Durham, TAIBU CHC and Toronto North Support Services, with the support of Réseau Franco-santé du Sud de l'Ontario. A total of 103 participants received their certification this year.

"I think that all adults should take this workshop, particularly Francophones living in Toronto. Because it is offered in French, it allows those who are not comfortable in English to learn on the subject and benefit from this valuable training. Truly, it if had not been offered in French, I would never have participated and I would have remained ignorant, consequently there would have been one less person able to intervene if needed and even perhaps save a life."

A Francophone Resident of Scarborough

The Adult Day Program, operated by Centres d’Accueil Héritage, has seen an increase in participation this year. This group of seniors also had the opportunity to attend a Fall Prevention Program offered through a partnership between Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre and Centres d’Accueil Héritage.

A Steering Committee at Bendale Acres Long Term Care Home has been working to build French language services capacity and to promote services offered to increase bed occupancy. As of March 31st, there were 22 Francophone residents at Pavillon Omer Deslauriers of Bendale Acres Long-Term Care Home where services are offered in French.

"The support provided by Entité 4, whether technical, political, or practical when implementing activities, greatly contributed to the success of our Francophone Navigation Service at Black Creek which benefits Francophones throughout North York. We wish to thank Entité 4 with whom we hope to continue our collaboration as long as possible."

Stanislas Etiegne
Francophone Health System Navigator, BLACK CREEK CHC

The Statement of Operations on the right is an excerpt from Entité 4’s 2016-2017 audited Financial Statements. A copy of these financial statements in their entirety, as well as the opinion letter prepared by Marcil Lavallée for fiscal year 2016-2017, are available upon demand.