The Wellesley Urban Health Model simulates alternative scenarios to help explain the impact of interventions on poor health outcomes such as chronic disease rates, disability rates and mortality rates. The model also gives insight into how much and how quickly interventions can reduce mortality and morbidity. The Wellesley Institute’s goal is to provide a tool […]
Health systems and Health equity
PhDs for Fair Taxation? Sign Me Up
A group of leading community medicine and public health doctors have founded Doctors for Fair Taxation. They argue that physicians have become increasingly concerned about growing income inequality after seeing the consequences of poor and inequitable health daily in their practices. The response has been quick: over 200 doctors have already signed their petition calling […]
Wellesley Urban Health Model
Factors that drive health and health disparities are interdependent and constantly changing, especially in urban environments. The Wellesley Urban Health Model (WUHM) captures the dynamic interaction between a number of health and social determinants, and simulates alternative futures over a period of 30 years to help us understand which policy interventions will have the most […]
Listening To Learn: Understanding The Needs Of Adults With Physical Disabilities Living In The Burlington Area Throughout Their Lifespan
The Listening to Learn project was a community-based research project that engaged adults with physical disabilities in Burlington, Ontario in a meaningful conversation about their experiences related to housing, services, and overall quality of life. The project involved four qualitative methods of gathering data: interviews, focus groups, Photovoice, and a community forum and exhibition. The […]
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Freezing welfare: The wrong decision at the wrong time
Yesterday, in advance of the Ontario 2012 Budget, Premier McGuinty announced that social assistance rates will be frozen for a year and that the scheduled $200 increase in the Ontario Child Benefit will be reduced to $100, with the remaining $100 being delayed until July 2014. These choices, which the Premier claims are not aimed […]
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Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Equity
Chronic disease prevention and management is a key health priority for the Ontario government, as evidenced by a chronic disease framework and disease-specific strategies. And as the government looks to reign in health spending, we can expect an even greater focus on health promotion initiatives that reduce health care costs. A new report released yesterday […]
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Wellesley Institute and York U looking for research participants for St. James Town study of immigrant women’s pathways to health care services
Wellesley Institute and York University’s Faculty of Health are partnering in a study of the health care needs (physical and emotional) of immigrant women living in low-income neighbourhoods and the pathways they pursue for accessing formal and informal health care services. The goal of the study is to gain in-depth information on the pathways to accessing health […]
Health care for the uninsured: why it’s important and next steps
Recently, the Wellesley Institute participated in the Seeking Solutions Symposium, a conference that addressed access to health care for people living in Canada without health insurance. Even though we in Canada like to think that everyone has access to free health care, this is not the case. The fact is, people who lack documentation do […]
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Review of Social Assistance in Ontario: Health & Health Equity Overview
In 2010, the province of Ontario established the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, led by Commissioners Francis Lankin and Munir A. Sheikh. The Commission’s Terms of Reference are to: Establish an appropriate benefit structure that reduces barriers and supports people’s transition into, and attachment within, the labour market. Place reasonable expectations on, and provide […]
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Building a health-enabling social assistance system: Our latest submission to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance
Over the last year, the Wellesley Institute has been working with community and health sector partners to provide expert advice on how to build a health-enabling social assistance system to inform the work of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. On Friday, we made our second formal submission to the Commission: […]