Research Publications

Over the past several years our research team has been involved in a large number of projects both as principle investigator and as a collaborating organization. This is a comprehensive list of all our publications.

Research Department Annual Report 2008-09  1.7MB

• This report gives an overview of Access Alliance's  research activities and accomplishments for the period of April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

Determinants of Newcomer Health

Best Practices for Working with Homeless Immigrants and Refugees, Phase One (2003) 760kb, 64 pgs

• The first phase report for this project documents the experiences of adult immigrants and refugees who have used single men’s or women’s shelters or drop-ins in Toronto and develops best practices among shelter and drop-in staff for working with immigrants and refugees.

Best Practices for Working with Homeless Immigrants and Refugees: A Community-Based Action-Research Project: Phase Two (2003) 322 KB, 44 pgs

• This second phase report discusses how the recommendations were turned into advocacy points by the steering committee of the project.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (2006) 1.02MB, 87pgs

• This report provides systematic, documented evidence of key barriers and opportunities faced by visible minority social workers, and how these learnings can contribute to organizational change. It provides a direct comparison of Canadian and internationally educated social workers’ experiences in the workplace and how individual and systemic racism are underlying factors that impact the access to employment, promotion and retention of visible minority social workers in the workplace.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (Quantitative Report) (2006) 725kb, 29pgs

• Presents the quantitative results of a survey done with visible minority social workers and employers, including demographics, employment patterns and barriers to employment.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (Literature Review) (2006) 793kb, 29pgs

• The experiences of internationally educated social workers in the workplace in Canada are the focus of this literature review. It looks at barriers faced by visible minority social workers in Canadian organizations, the impact of discrimination, and the need for an integrated anti-racism approach.

Racialized Groups and Health Status

eXposed: Using photography to expose the social impacts of poverty and racism in Black Creek (Part 1) (2009) 1.3MB, 12pgs

eXposed photobook (Part 2) (2009) 1.7MB, 14pgs

eXposed photobook (Part 3) (2009) 1.6MB, 14pgs

• The ‘exposed’ Photovoice project is a community based, arts-informed research project conducted in 2008 by the Income Security, Race and Health (ISRH) research working group. This photobook is a compilation of some of the key photos and narratives produced by 14 photoresearchers who live in Toronto's Black Creek community. The photos and narratives produced by the photo-researchers offer a nuanced, multilayered and rich picture of the everyday realities of living in a low-income neighborhood in Toronto.

Racialized Groups and Health Status: A Literature Review Exploring Poverty, Housing, Race-Based Discrimination and Access to Health Care as Determinants of Health for Racialized Groups (2005) 690kb, 16pgs

• This literature review looks at the significance of income as a determinant of health, focuses on the barriers that racialised groups face in the labour market and on the health effects of precarious employment.

Striving for Best Practices and Equitable Mental Health Care Access for Racialized Communities in Toronto (2006) 436kb, 62pgs

• This research report looks at how race-based discrimination and racism impacts the mental health and overall well-being of consumer survivors from racialized communities. The report is based on a series of stakeholder consultations with consumer survivors and service providers.

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Neighbourhoods Research

Neighbourhood Profiles

These neighbourhood proflies are based on data from the 2001 census as well as other sources. We are in the process of updating the profiles with data from the 2006 census.

Crescent Town
Profile (1173 KB, 8 pages)
Services (69 KB, 1 page) 

Oakridge/Teesdale
Profile (1103 KB, 8 pages)
Services (69 KB, 1 page)

Flemingdon Park
Profile (659 KB, 8 pages)
Services (70 KB, 1 page)

Rockcliffe-Smythe/Syme-Woolner
Profile (584 KB, 8 pages)
Services (67 KB, 1 page)

Thorncliffe Park
Profile (1121 KB, 8 pages)
Services (69 KB, 1 page)

Findings of the neighbourhoods research project:

Racialization of Health Inequalities: Focus on Children. City of Toronto and Neighbourhood Highlights (117 KB, 7 pgs)

• This report presents an analysis of data related to immigration and health inequalities at the City and neighborhood levels (based on information from the 2001 census). Indicators related to income, racialization and time of immigration are highlighted.

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Non-Status Immigrants

The Regularization of Non-Status Immigrants in Canada 1960-2004 (2004) 571kb, 50pgs

• This report is based on historical research, key informant interviews and focus groups which document how the Canadian state has dealt with the issue of regularization, how the efforts of community groups and pro-immigrant organizations affected policy changes in regularization procedures, and about the contemporary needs of persons without status in Canada concerning regularization.

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Other Publications

• 130 individuals attended this forum on community based researchⁱ in 2005. This report summarizes the discussion of central issues to the community based research process, and of racialization and health status.

Count me in! - Workbook (PDF, 337KB, 57 pgs)

• The Count me in! workbook was designed to promote understanding and action around social inclusion, recognizing that social inclusion is a key determinant of health. The workbook can be used by community members to identify factors that influence belonging and create indicators, strategies, and targets to build more inclusive organizations, schools, and communities.

Immigrant and Refugees Engagement Summary – Report on consultations for Toronto Central LHIN (2006) 120KB, 18 pgs

Families Get Together Project – Report on Community Consultations (2007) 270KB, 21 pgs

• Families Get Together’ is a one-year pilot program of the West End Urban Health Alliance Nutrition Affiliate. The program approaches include involving families in series of interactive sessions and building skills related to physical activity, healthy eating and developing positive self esteem