Improving integrated health and social care access for children in Canada
June 9, 2023Drs. Justine Cohen-Silver and Andrew Pinto, along with co-investigators Drs. Sloane Freeman and Michael Sgro have been awarded a Planning and Dissemination Grant by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Their project aims to improve access to integrated health and social care for children in Canada.
With support from St. Michael’s Hospital and the Government of Ontario, the research team has examined integrated health and social care models in outpatient medical settings. Additionally, they are in the final stages of asset mapping and focus groups in three Toronto neighbourhoods to understand the experiences of caregivers and service providers in accessing pediatric health and social care.
The main goal is to share the preliminary findings of the scoping review, asset mapping and focus groups with stakeholders in at-risk communities across Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. Moreover, they will foster meaningful discussions and establish partnerships with community members, frontline health and social care providers, policymakers, and community organizations. Overall, this phase will support the development of a national project that supports at-risk families in improving the integration and accessibility of health and social care services.