2016-2017 DPNCHC Annual Report (PDF)
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2016-2017 ANNUAL REPORT A message from OUR CATCHMENT COMMUNITY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre Bloor Street, the West Toronto Railpath, Corso Italia, and the Annex serve AND BOARD CHAIR (DPNCHC) is a vibrant multi-service agency in Toronto’s west end. as our catchment borders. This diverse area has experienced dramatic changes in recent years, Persistent and systemic issues such a housing access, food security, and rising property values have benefitted many of our community’s precarious employment, and discrimination negatively affect the health Our sense of belonging is a crucial part of our overall You’ll read about many of these exciting efforts in the homeowners. But not everyone is prospering equally. and wellbeing of many of our community members. wellbeing. Studies have shown the clear connection pages that follow. For example, our new Community between the quality of our relationships and the state of Choice Pharmacy (page 8) is working to “close the our physical and mental health. loop” and provide more comprehensive care to our Kim Fraser Health Centre patients, the DPNCHC Photo Project Executive Director Feelings of belonging can also have an extraordinary (page 11) brought together community members ripple effect: People who are connected to their aged 13-80 to share their perspectives and personal 46% of residents are 21% of our Health Centre communities are far more likely to volunteer their time, narratives, and a new youth-focused edition of our value diversity among their neighbours, and feel that first-generation immigrants clients are uninsured award-winning Surfing Tsunamis (page 7) program Martin Ship their lives have greater purpose. continued to build our reputation as a hub for mental Board President people live in the neighbourhoods 81,000 Since 1984, DPNCHC has worked to strengthen these health support. that make up our catchment 34% of tenant households are paying feelings of belonging in our catchment and beyond. 17% of residents are low-income The Centre is now halfway through our ambitious or more of their income in rent 30% Through our integrated Health and Neighbourhood strategic plan — one that has evolved and expanded Centre programming, we’ve supported our clients over the years in response to changes in our area and to improve their health and wellbeing, forge new its residents. We will soon begin another extensive friendships, connect with local resources, develop their community needs assessment to inform our strategic leadership skills, and work together to improve their priorities moving forward. living conditions and prospects for the future. We are tremendously proud of all that’s been This year, we expanded our reach and welcomed new accomplished over the past year, and grateful to faces into our community. We focused our attention our ever-widening community of volunteers, donors, on underserved populations — such as the trans staff, board, and community members. Together, community, young adults with mental health needs, we’re creating a true community of belonging here in and families with children who are deaf — and used Toronto’s west end. their knowledge and experiences to inform our new programming. Spotlight on DPNCHC’s Ontario 2014-2019 Early Years Centre is a supportive place where STRATEGIC PLAN parents, caregivers, and children aged 0-6 can play and learn together in a bustling drop-in Mental Health environment. Pre-school We will focus on early intervention and support for people aged children benefit experiencing mental health challenges. from interacting with their peers, while parents learn Health Promotion about healthy childhood We will improve the health and well-being of at-risk populations development and expand through targeted health promotion initiatives. their local social networks. Babies respond to tactile signal To encourage participation among Health and Academic Outcomes while still in the womb, and this Deaf families beyond our catchment Children, youth and families will experience improved deep connection to their mother’s % area — primarily in affordable housing touch continues after birth. A gentle 83 jurisdictions in East Toronto — Early YEARS EARLY health and academic outcomes. of participating parents reported massage from a caregiver can Years staff provided families with TTC feeling a greater sense of attachment soothe and comfort infants, help tokens, and would often escort them to their child Youth to regulate their sleeping patterns, from the subway to the Centre We will improve the health and well-being of youth in our and release tension in their muscles. Effective and open communication community, especially those who experience barriers. It can also have significant effects is a critical component of a healthy on the person giving the massage: childhood. In (add month) 2016, regular physical contact can relieve % Seniors DPNCHC launched the Parent parents’ own feelings of stress and 100 We will improve the health and well-being of seniors in our Child Mother Goose Program for strengthen their sense of attachment of parents said the rhymes and community, especially those who experience barriers. Deaf parents and parents with and bonding to their child. songs they learned supported their A VILLAGE IT TAKES Deaf children. It was designed to relationship with their child. Organizational Capacity In (add month and year), DPNCHC strengthen the ASL language skills of hearing parents, and to increase We will build organizational capacity to respond to changing began offering its Infant Massage knowledge and awareness of the stakeholder priorities. Program, where 17 adults and 17 children benefitted from the soothing culture, practices, and abilities of % power of touch. Deaf people. 100 said the group helped to improve communication with their child. DAVENPORT-PERTH NEIGHBOURHOOD AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE 5 Spotlight on Spotlight on At DPNCHC’s Youth Clients of DPNCHC’s department, young people Health Centre are served aged 6-24 build skills, by an integrated team access resources, make of physicians, nurse new friends, and give back practitioners, counselor/ to their community. For therapists, registered many of Toronto’s young nurses, a pharmacist, people, precarious work physical therapist, and is rapidly becoming the YOUTH a community dietician. new normal. Last year, From a case of the flu, DPNCHC aimed to support to the management of youth in navigating this chronic conditions, staff challenging employment members work together to landscape by offering ensure our clients receive educational resources MAKING THE Youth department staff provided DPNCHC staff also joined forces Workshops topics included mental As young people transition into To provide more equitable and comprehensive support for and pre-employment skills CONNECTIONS outreach and support for two with a group of post-secondary health, substance use, healthy adulthood, they often find it difficult comprehensive care to our trans their health and wellness sessions of a Pre-Employment practicum students to launch a new sexuality, homophobia, masculinity, to access the mental health services % and gender-diverse clients, essential training sessions. needs. Skills Training group in partnership series of Life Skills Workshops AIDs, and stigma, and were selected they need. To fill these gaps — 100 clinical staff at DPNCHC are of participants who completed the with St. Stephen’s Community for 54 participating youth. These from the findings of a recent while appropriately addressing the undergoing training through Rainbow program indicated a change in DBT House Employment and Training timely and informative sessions community needs consultation with complexity of their mental health Health. A nurse practitioner and skills, knowledge or behaviour Centre. This comprehensive program were facilitated by staff from partner young people in the area. challenges — DPNCHC launched medical doctor at the EdgeWest provided 126 hours of skills training agencies Planned Parenthood of a youth-specific version of its Youth Clinic recently completed the to 26 at-risk youth. Toronto, Black Coalition for AIDS comprehensive, award-winning program, and a counselor/therapist It a huge relief to know I Prevention, YMCA Youth Substance Surfing Tsunamis Dialectical I think this group would help will follow suit in November 2017. have somewhere to go, Our ambitious targets for the Abuse Program, and St. Stephen’s % Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills anyone going through emotional SERVICES HEALTH especially when I don’t program weren’t fully met, as youth Community House. group. dysregulation. It doesn’t only know what is wrong with participants faced challenges in their 84 of participating youth told us they teach skills, it ultimately gives my body and there’s personal lives that made it difficult for This free, 20-week program was developed or enhanced skills people hope. % nowhere else I can get the them to fully commit to the program. delivered to a group of youth aged PARTICIPANT 96 attention I need. Some participants were forced to 16-25. It equipped participants of EdgeWest clients would EDGEWEST CLIENT quit, while others expressed interest with valuable skills to manage recommend the clinic to a friend or in re-starting the training once their % their emotions, improve distress family member lives are more settled. However, 83 tolerance, develop mindfulness, and a full 50% of the youth who increased their knowledge of communicate more effectively. participated