Research Activities

Access Alliance works from a social determinants of health perspective, which looks at health very broadly. We believe that promoting health and wellbeing cannot be limited to just providing medical services for people who are ill. Rather it needs to include practices and strategies that address the full range of modifiable, socio-economic determinants of health such as employment, income security, housing, discrimination, social support, immigration status, and access to services. Our research projects are focused on investigating and addressing key determinants of health for newcomers and racialized groups.

Our research activities/projects fall under three broad research agendas:

1. Determinants of Newcomer Health

   • Exploring mental health issues faced by Government Assisted Refugees
   • Mental Health Services for Newcomer Youth: Exploring the Needs and Enhancing Access
   • Refugee Youth Health Project
   • Initial Health Assessment for Newcomers (Chart review study)
   • Best Practices in Inter-professional Models of Care for Newly Arrived Government Assisted Refugees
   • Diabetes and Migration

2. Racialized Groups and Health Status

   • Income Security, Race and Health Research Working Group
   • eXposed Photovoice Project
   • Racialized Groups and Access to Healthcare Research Working Group
   • Discrimination and Mental Health Research Working Group (currently inactive)

3. Health of Non-Status Immigrants

   • Negotiating Access to Public Goods: Education and Healthcare for Toronto Immigrants with Precarious Status
   • Immigration Status and Health Security of Non-Status Immigrants in Toronto
   • Improving Access to Community Services for Non-Status Immigrants

4. Neighborhood Health Research

   • Neighbourhood Profiles
   • Building Community Mapping Capacity Project

5. Program Evaluation and Needs Assessment

   • Toronto Central LHIN Planning Process
   • Seniors connecting seniors

6. Other Projects

   • Best Practices for Working with Homeless Immigrants and Refugees
   • Examining Systemic & Individual Barriers of Ethno-Racial Minority Social Workers
   • Health Care Interpreter Services: Strengthening Access to Primary Health Care

We also conduct program evaluations and needs assessments, which provide valuable evidence for planning and prioritizing our programs and services.

To learn more about our research activities, click here to download our Research Annual Report for 2008-09.