Partners & Funders
The Centertown Community Health Centre leads the Champlain Chronic Disease Risk Assessment Program program. It works with health centers in Ottawa, including Somerset West Community Health Centre, South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre, Living Healthy Champlain, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Community Diabetes Education Program of Ottawa, Canadian Diabetes Association, Catholic Centre for Immigrants (IMG program), Arabic Health Coalition, Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre, and Conseil économique et social d’Ottawa Carleton.
Goals and Collaboration Approach
The Credential Recognition Program helps skilled newcomers get Canadian recognition for their foreign credentials. It brings together five partners to offer full support for newcomers to access employment in their fields. This collaboration helps improve the economic integration of newcomers.
Activities
The Champlain Chronic Disease Risk Assessment Program continued the work of the Immigrant Diabetes Project (ran from 2011 to 2012) and the Champlain Diabetes SCREEN Project (ran from 2012 to 2013). In 2014, it became a permanent Centertown Community Health Centre program funded by Ontario Health. The program is now known as SCREEN. SCREEN offers annual cultural competency training for healthcare providers and works with community and faith-based organizations to organize screening events in the community.
Link to the Ottawa Immigration Strategy
The program addresses the health needs of Ottawa’s immigrant community, which faces a high risk of chronic illnesses like diabetes. It supports priority number two of the Health and Wellbeing sector table data strategy, which centers on enhancing newcomers’ access to mental health care. This includes preventive services, mental health awareness, counsellor training, and trauma counselling. The program endeavours to foster a healthier and more resilient immigrant population by addressing chronic disease risk factors and mental health aspects.
Timelines and Milestones
SCREEN is growing and adapting to new health needs. In 2023, SCREEN worked with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute to add Diabetic Retinopathy screening to the Diabetes Eye Screening Ottawa program. The program is also working to build strong relationships with diverse communities and improve access to primary care for diabetes management.
SCREEN is now exploring opportunities to work closely with the Prevention Care Programs at Centretown Community Health Centre and South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre. This partnership will focus on offering breast cancer awareness and screening and education, and other screenings.
Impact Areas and Client Outcomes
In 2013-14, the Champlain Chronic Disease Risk Assessment Program built upon the Immigrant Diabetes Project and Champlain Diabetes SCREEN Project. It became a permanent Centertown Community Health Centre program, which is funded by Ontario Health. It is now called SCREEN. SCREEN provides annual cultural competency training for healthcare providers, arranges screening events, and collaborates with community and faith-based organizations.
Conclusion
The former Champlain Chronic Disease Risk Assessment Program, now called SCREEN, shows how collaboration and community work can improve healthcare access and awareness. The program’s success is due to strong partnerships, engaged volunteers, and essential training for healthcare providers. It will continue to adapt and grow to meet new health challenges and serve Ottawa’s diverse immigrant communities.
