“How do We Create Healthy Francophone Communities in Ontario?” presented by Jocelyne Blais-Breton at the “French Connection” conference An Ontario Health Promotion Resource System (OHPRS) Event Hosted by: The French Language Services Committee of OHPRS Toronto, September 26, 2008

Objectives of today’s event Build effective “Connections” Network Understand our respective roles Share success stories and best practices

My role Plan and coordinate services in French within the health sector as well as outreach into the community for the last 18 years In Niagara from 1990 – 2006 Across CSW Ontario from 2006 to present

Success Story Demonstrate strength of networking and building “connections” in the development of services in French to improve health of Francophones in their respective communities through local, regional and provincial partnerships.

Smoke-free Home and Asthma Pilot Project (Maisons sans fumée et asthme) April 2004 Funding granted for pilot project in Niagara by the Program Training and Consultation Centre (one among your 21 members) - One of 4 pilots in Ontario Objective: a targeted campaign to create awareness regarding the dangers of second-hand smoke to children Principal partners: Niagara Public Health Department and the Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton Niagara Target population: Welland, including Francophone population Why? 23% of Welland population were smokers, high % blue collar workers; 12% asthma rate in children under 12; 13% Francophone population (designated area under the French Language Services Act)

Process Public Health Department asked for assistance from my office in establishing a working group to plan and implement the project. Working group membership: French-speaking staff from Public Health Francophone Community Health Centre (CHC) staff Education sector (French language schools) Child Care Sector (Francophone daycare)

Strategies Information sent in French to schools, daycares, faith communities and workplaces Media: Newspaper and radio ads in French COGECO community bulletin board Television interviews in French (a first!) Displays in French at daycares, schools, the CHC and the public library.

Success Factors On-going support from the Program Training and Consultation Centre in terms of existing resources in French In-kind contributions from local community partners A local approach building on local partnerships and networks

…further outcomes resulting from the pilot project Fall 2005 – invitation from the Program Training and Consultation Centre (PTCC) (Centre de formation et de consultation) to hold an event focusing on services provided in French by the various resource centers. Dialogue related to planning for our first ‘Tournée francophone’ (Francophone Community Health Promotion Outreach) event in CSW Ontario was initiated In Niagara, a Working Group was formed with partners: PTCC French Language Services Office for Niagara Francophone Community Health Centre Réseau franco-santé du Sud (Franco Health Network for Southern Ontario)

Working Group results Our first Health Promotion Outreach (Tournée) held in March 2006 with over 40 Francophone health providers in attendance and four resource centres represented. Second “Tournée” held in March 2007 in London and a third one in March 2008 in Niagara. Other events being planned by March 31 st 2009 for Toronto and Barrie areas in CSW Ontario.

Lessons learned on the “Building Blocks to Creating Healthy Francophone Communities in Ontario” Bring the knowledge and awareness of resource centres to the local level; Link with local partners to ensure effective outreach and information sharing; Build on existing ‘connections’ and relationships.