Social prescribing, community development, social determinants of health – a showcase of research and impact
On May 14th we collaborated with Holistic Sustainable Development Network International (HSDNI) for their 9th Sustainability Collaborative Conference. The event showcased HSDNI’s commitment to sustainable development through cooperation and practical models that balance economic growth with environmental and cultural preservation. It was also an opportunity for Access Alliance to showcase our research impact and research partnerships.
The conference focused on how to deal with and create inclusion to prevent inequality in public health in cosmopolitan and multicultural societies.
Organized into 4 sub-themes, we facilitated the Public Health session. You can access the full conference program here (PDF). Our session featured several sessions that provided deep insight into research and the impact of collaborative work being done on social prescribing, community development, and social determinants of health.
What does it mean to do research at the intersection of newcomer settlement, health, and equity? We conduct research to better understand root causes and social determinants of systemic health inequities. We do so by engaging communities affected by systemic inequities as co-producers of knowledge and agents of positive change. Our research starts in the community and ends back in the community in terms of advancing social inclusion and health equity. Session presentations embraced this ethos, illustrating the importance of collaboration and community engagement.
Some highlights
Dr. Akm Alamgir, Access Alliance Director of Organizational Knowledge and Learning, welcomed presenters and participants, highlighting the importance of Access Alliance’s social connections, the value of integrating social prescribing with interprofessional medical care, and sharing a new Access Alliance report outlining the impact of our Community-based Research activities at the individual, community, and system levels.
Natasha Beaudin, Social Prescribing Lead for the Alliance for Healthier Communities, presented on Health Equity Focused Social Prescribing. She introduced the concept of health equity focused social prescribing, discussed how the Alliance is championing the social prescribing movement in Ontario, and shared some initial results from the work.
Her keynote was followed up by a panel discussion with Cliff Ledwos, Acting Executive Director at Access Alliance, Dr. Sander Hitzig, who examines issues associated with aging with a disability, Dr. Basak Yanar, who studies the working conditions of newcomers to Canada, and Dr. Rosanra (Rosie) Yoon, who works on health services evaluation with a particular focus in integrated care for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities, substance use and mental health challenges.
Jay Shaw, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at University of Toronto, discussed community development through the lens of social determinants of health and the importance of measuring service impacts and outcomes that ensure patient-centered, equitable, and anti-oppressive service for our clients and communities.
Dr. Mandana Vahabi, Professor and Women’s Health Research Chair, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, provided an overview of a community-based research project that delved into the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrants and refugees living with cancer, and mental health and addiction disorders.
We were joined by other presenters who provided insight on the complexities of health care and well-being in immigrant, refugee and non-status/non-insured communities.
You can watch all 12 sessions videos, including opening and closing remarks, and excellent student research presentations in our conference playlist: