New mobile health van will pave health pathways
to meet people where they are at.
MEDIA EVENT/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: To support its ongoing work connecting vulnerable populations in Halton to critical primary care services, Support House is unveiling a new mobile health van at a community event on June 12.
This van was made possible thanks to the support of the generous friends, colleagues, and clients of Alex Irish & Associates, the Burlington Ontario Health Team, Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team, CMHA Halton, and Ontario Health.
Media are invited to a mobile health van tour, featuring photo opportunities and interviews with key stakeholders, on Thursday, June 12, at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot of Support House, located at 165 Cross Street. The agenda will include:
- 9:00 am Arrivals
- 9:15 am Opening Remarks
- 9:25 am Brief Speaking Remarks from Funders and Community Partners
- 9:40 am Photo Opportunity / Group Photo
- 9:50 am Van Tours
Support House’s Community Health Centre’s Mobile Health Team was developed in collaboration with Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team (CCH OHT), Halton Physicians Association, Oak Park/Churchill Neighbourhood Centre, the Mental Health + Addictions Alliance, and people with lived experience, including family and caregivers.
Funding has been provided through the province’s Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IPCT) to expand and enhance vulnerable populations' access to primary care across Halton. That funding was recently extended through April 2027.
The CHC breaks down barriers to healthcare through a comprehensive team that includes 0.5 FTE Physician, 3 Nurse Practitioners, 2 Registered Nurses, 1 Social Worker, 1 Peer Support Worker, 1 Clinic Coordinator, and 1 Manager. Services include primary care, preventative care, harm reduction, chronic disease management, peer support, mental health care, addictions medicine, and addressing social determinants of health needs.
The mobile health van allows the Support House team to reach clients at encampments, local shelters, the Churchill Neighbourhood Centre, the Acton Youth Hub and other community partner sites across north and south Halton Region.
"This van allows us to continue to expand and enhance access to primary care," says Christina Jabalee, Senior Director of Community Health at Support House. "This includes offering primary care in non-traditional forms to create alternate care pathways for people who face multiple barriers in accessing care including those that are unhoused, lack a current health card, and have multiple health concerns including mental illness and substance use. We know this mobile team can improve people's health outcomes and our overall community wellness."
Community Health: Meeting People Where They're At
Improving primary care services to vulnerable populations was identified as a community need and is community-driven. Halton Public Health reports that one in 10 Halton adults (18-64) have been diagnosed with a mood and/or anxiety disorder, and from 2006 to 2015, the rate of ER visits for mental illness increased by 24%, with the rate of hospitalizations increased by 36%.
The CHC provides mobile care for life transitions and urgent needs, same-day service for primary care and mental health, and clinician connection within 2-3 days. Since launching in September, the program has served over 500 clients.
"The CHC is a great example of people coming together as one team to ensure the quality of care and quality of life for those often most at risk," says Paul Gregory, Executive Director of Support House. "For those who are vulnerable and underserved, whose issues are often not given the attention needed, the CHC is helping to remove the barriers to accessing care by meeting people where they are in the community."
The CHC is working closely with Support House's Response Team, which has successfully addressed many social determinants of health and successfully housed people living in encampments and shelters who also face concerns with their mental health and substance use. The Response Team obtains referrals through the Region of Halton's By-Name database, which prioritizes services for the unhoused/homeless population based on the highest acuity/need.
A local strategy for more connected health
The CHC aligns with the Ontario Government's Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care strategy, which includes a commitment to connect more people to primary care by creating interprofessional primary care teams to make access to care more convenient for those with the greatest need. These interprofessional primary care teams will provide direct care to vulnerable and marginalized people who struggle to access or lack a family doctor. This will help connect people to care without having to visit emergency rooms and experience long wait times.
This approach includes identifying barriers to people accessing their primary care provider, attending appointments with the client and primary care provider, and facilitating virtual appointments, among other strategies.
The Primary Care EOI submission was embraced by the CCH OHT and worked on through a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary group, including the Halton Physicians Association, The Mental Health + Addictions Alliance, Oak Park/Churchill Neighbourhood Centre, Halton Region and people with lived and living experience including family and caregivers. The proposal was supported by many physicians, specialists and Family Health Teams across the Region of Halton.
"The CHC program is a true expression of a community coming together to identify a need and working collaboratively to address it," Gregory added. "This interprofessional project brings together health professionals who have not traditionally worked together, enhances care for an underserved population, and builds strong relationships."
Referrals are accepted from community partners, primary care providers, specialists, ERs, and other acute care services. The referral process emphasizes a "no wrong door" approach and does not require a physician's referral.
About Support House
Support House (supporthouse.ca) has provided support services and housing for people with mental health, substance use and addiction concerns in Halton since 1984. Support House provides low-barrier, harm-reduction approaches to providing accommodation and support to people with multiple needs to address housing stability issues.
Everyone deserves and has a right to housing.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Paul Gregory, Executive Director, Support House
1-833-845-9355 ext 134
paulg@supporthouse.ca
