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The C.S.S.P.H. or Centre de services de santé-Peel et Halton is a non-profit community organization created in 1988 and incorporated in 1995 under the name Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga, with the goal of obtaining primary health care services in French. The Centre identifies the individual and collective needs of the Francophone population in the Peel-Halton Region. It works to increase access to health services in French and, if appropriate, provides such services. The C.S.S.P.H is the official advocate for Francophones in the Peel-Halton Region in matters of health.
Mission :
The Centre de services de santé-Peel et Halton aims to provide the Francophone community of the region with the necessary means to achieve and maintain an optimal level of physical, mental and social well-being, individually as well as collectively.
Mandate:
To identify the health needs of Francophones and facilitate the development of health services in French.
Priority:
To increase the accessibility of health services in French by opening a community health centre to serve Francophones in the Peel-Halton Region, mainly in Mississauga and Brampton (two cities designated under the French Language Services Act), Oakville, Milton and Georgetown.
Centre de services de santé – Peel et Halton Inc. (formerly Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga)
The Centre de services de santé – Peel and Halton has been working to obtain French-language primary health care services since 1988 and was incorporated in 1995 under the name of Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga. The centre has the mandate of raising awareness among government authorities of the needs of Francophones in this region.
Since 1997, the centre has worked in close collaboration with the Centre francophone de Toronto (CFT) to obtain a satellite centre. Established in 1988, the CFT is recognized by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as the stakeholder of choice regarding matters affecting the health of Francophones. With CFT’s experience in the management of a community health centre in Toronto, it will be possible to open, with additional financial support, a new satellite that will serve the Francophones of our region.
Issues:
In 1986, the City of Mississauga became a designated area under the French Language Services Act. Despite all the efforts made by the Francophone community, no health agency or institution has been designated to offer French-language services in the Region of Peel.
The coming into effect of the French Language Services Act in Brampton, in January 2007, has created a larger under-serviced area in which the provincial government has a legal obligation to offer primary health care services in French.
More than 21,000 Francophones live in the Toronto-Hamilton corridor. This fast-growing area requires immediate attention to resolve the lack of primary health care services in French. In addition, 29% of Francophones in Peel are members of a racial minority.
For the Francophone community, the priority related to health care remains the opening of a health care satellite to ensure access to primary health care services in French adapted to its specific needs. A satellite centre will promote integration and networking of French-language services.
Challenge
The Centre is committed to supporting the government’s efforts to increase access to primary health care. To this end, the Centre participates regularly in community engagement activities held by Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN’s) in Mississauga Halton, and Central West.
The presence of a satellite centre would give a voice to the CFSCM in matters of planning and managing French language primary health care services in the region.
So, on behalf of the Francophone community, the CFSCM is asking the Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, to ensure that fair and quality health care services are made available in French within our region, and to grant the funding needed to establish a satellite branch of the community health centre that will serve the Francophone community in Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, and Georgetown.
Contact information:
( (905) 796-3937
Our Services:
HEALTH PROMOTION
Workshops
Since the fall of 2005 to December 2007, 114 workshops have been organized in collaboration with various partners, in 12 French-language schools in the Peel-Halton Region.
The workshops provided for Francophone schools and community organizations cover such topics as anaphylaxis, relationships between parents and teenagers, stress, nutrition, diabetes and communication.
Health Professionals
The Centre continues to identify and approach a number of community health workers in order to be able to refer the Francophone population to various health services provided by Francophone professionals in the region.
Development of Partners
Additional partnerships are currently being developed in order to increase the provision of health services in French. Steps have been taken to partner with the Peel Health Office, the Halton Health Office, and two Local Health Integration Networks (the Mississauga-Halton and Central West LHINs).
JEUDI – SANTÉ (HEALTHY THURSDAYS)
The Jeudi - Santé initiative targets Francophones in the Peel-Halton Region who are 55 years of age and older. It offers a chance for physical activities such as Pilates, tai chi and yoga, which will help them feel less isolated while improving their quality of life. These activities will be followed by useful advice given by health professionals for maintaining and improving their health.
If you would like more information about the time and place of these meetings, please contact the CSSPH by e-mail at sante-cfscm@bellnet.ca.
Province Ignores Peel and Halton Region Francophones – Again!
(Sept 18, 2007) Francophones in Peel and Halton wrote to Premier Dalton McGuinty asking why his government continues to ignore their health needs after they recently learned that their application for a community health centre in Mississauga has been rejected.
“There are more than 21,000 Francophones in Peel and Halton who are without health services in French,” said Carmen Gauthier, Peel resident and President of Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga (CFSCM).
“We have been working very hard with this government. This decision is not right.”
“I have spent most of my adult life as a Peel resident,” said Gauthier. “There is not one health agency that has been designated to offer French language services in the Region of Peel or Halton despite 20 years of advocacy with successive Ontario governments.”
In 1986, the City of Mississauga became a designated area under the French Language Services Act. In January 2007, the City of Brampton also became designated. Under the Act, the provincial government has a legal obligation to offer primary health care services in French in designated areas.
Currently, there are no French language community health services in either Peel or Halton.
The CFSCM had applied for funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care under the Community Health Centre Program. The Ministry awarded the funding to another group. The region’s Francophones continue to be without any agency designated to offer French language health services.
In the past year alone, the CFSCM has received written letters of support for the funding of its community health centre project from six of the eight sitting MPPs for Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville. Copies of these letters are available on request
For more information:
Carmen Gauthier
President,
Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga
(905) 799-8752
Questions & Answers
a) What is the CSSPH?
The CSSPH, (previously known as Centre francophone de santé communautaire de Mississauga) is a non-profit community organization established in 1988 for the purpose of obtaining French-Language Primary Health Care Services. Its mandate is to identify the needs of Francophones in the Region of Peel and surrounding areas and to increase access to health services in French and, when appropriate, to provide for the delivery of those services. The Centre acts as the official representative on behalf of the Francophones of Peel and Halton concerning health issues.
b) What proposal is the CSSPH seeking to have approved?
The CSSPH sent to Minister George Smitherman of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on December 21st, 2007 a request for funding of a Community Health Care Centre. This centre would serve the Francophones of the Regions of Peel (Mississauga and Brampton are designated areas under the French Language Services Act) and Halton (mainly Oakville and Georgetown). It would provide family medicine and curative care services, mental health care and a health promotion and disease prevention program.
c) Who will decide whether or not to approve the CSSPH’s proposal?
The Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, is responsible for making a decision regarding the proposal submitted by the CSSPH. On November 10, 2005, the McGuinty Government announced funding for 22 new Community Health Centres and 17 new satellite locations for 2005 - 2008. Unfortunately, we have yet to receive a positive response to our request.
d) How many Francophones live in the Peel and Halton regions? Where are they most concentrated?
Our project focuses on a population of more than 20,000 Francophones. There are approximately 10,570 Francophones in Mississauga, 5,280 in Brampton and 530 in Caledon, for a total of more than 16,000 Francophones in the Region of Peel alone. With respect to the Halton Region, the population in Oakville, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Milton, and Burlington includes approximately 7,720 Francophones. Given their proximity to the Peel Region, Oakville and Georgetown are targeted for our project, as well as Mississauga and Brampton, located within the Peel Region. These figures are based on the 2001 Statistics Canada census.
e) Why are the Francophones in Peel and Halton entitled to French-language health care services?
The Francophone community in Ontario benefits from an historical and legislative obligation that ensures that health services are available in French for Francophones. The French Language Services Act and the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006, call for both the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and LHINs to actively engage, and plan for services for the Francophones.
f) Since the cities of Mississauga and Brampton are designated under the French Language Services Act to offer French-language services, are Francophones entitled to a Community Health Care Centre?
Yes. With the designation of the cities of Mississauga and Brampton, Francophones are entitled to receive health care services in French. Following various studies and consultations, the Francophone community of Mississauga and Brampton opted for a community development approach that will provide access to primary health care services and community programs. Considering the language barriers, the geographic distribution and the increasing number of Francophones coming from ethnocultural minorities, we strongly believe that a Community Health Centre would meet the needs of our community. We are entitled to receive quality health care services in our language.
g) How many French-language Community Health Centres have been approved in other areas of Ontario since the initial request for a satellite was submitted by the CSSPH?
Currently, there are 56 Community Health Care Centres (CHCs) in Ontario, including 5 French-Language Centres; 10 CHC satellites and 10 Aboriginal Access Health Centres. In 2005, the Government of Ontario announced the creation of 22 new CHCs and 17 new satellites over a three-year-period. Development is underway for a new satellite CHC in East Mississauga and a new Community Health Centre in Bramalea. The government has not yet responded to our proposal. (Information provided by the Association of Ontario Health Centres).
h) Since the designation of the cities of Mississauga and Brampton under the French Language Services Act, have any health institutions in those cities been offering services in French?
No. Approximately ten health agencies and institutions have been identified* to offer services in French since the coming into effect of the French Language Services Act in Mississauga in 1986. No agency or institution has been designated.
i) How can the CSSPH be contacted and who is its spokesperson?
The spokesperson for the CSSPH is Carmen Gauthier, President of the Board of Directors. She can be reached at 905-799-8752.
You may also contact Malika Foul, Project Manager, at 905-796-3937 or via e-mail at sante-cfscm@bellnet.ca Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The office is located at 375 Centre St. North, Brampton, Suite 107, in the Carrefour des Jeunes school.
j) How can I contribute to getting this project approved and to further this cause?
We would suggest that you get information regarding the CFSCM and the project in question. You may get in touch with your Member of Provincial Parliament and the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable George Smitherman, by writing a letter, sending an e-mail or making an appointment. You can also contact the LHIN in your area to make your health needs known. Lastly, you can file a complaint (regarding the lack of health care services in French) with the Ontario Office of Francophone Affairs (OFA) (www.ofa.gov.on.ca).
k) Who are the CSSPH’s partners?
The CSSPH’s partners include two French School Boards and 12 schools in our area, in addition to Paroisse de la Ste-Famille, Retraite Active, Club Le Bel âge de Peel, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Windsor, Collège du Savoir, Cercle de l’Amitié and OASIS Centre de femmes. The CFSCM is a member of the Réseau Franco-Santé du Sud de l’Ontario. Together, we are working at developing a work relationship with the LHINs in Mississauga, Halton and Central West.
l) Why was the request for a health centre in Peel never approved?
We believe that our request for a Satellite of a Community Health Centre has not approved because French-language services are not a priority for this government.
The political will to implement the French Language Services Act in Mississauga and Brampton is simply not there.
m) Why hasn’t the CSSPH joined another existing Anglophone organization?
Studies over the years have shown that “bilingual” services do not meet the needs of Francophones. More often than not, these services are unstable, vulnerable, uncertain and inadequate. Also, if decisions regarding French-language services are made by English-speaking decision makers, the needs of the Francophones may not be understood and, as a result, are not met properly. However, we are open to collaborate with organizations that are planning to offer French language health services.
n) Why hasn’t the CSSPH asked the Hamilton/Niagara Health Centre for its support in the request for a satellite location?
The Government divides Ontario into regions. The CSSPH does not fall into the same region as the Hamilton/Niagara Health Centre. However, we have met with its Director to explore the idea of a partnership. The Centre is not capable of serving Francophones outside its territory at this time, but has granted its moral support to our project.
o) Why hasn’t the CSSPH lodged a complaint with the OFA since the rights of Francophones are not being respected under the Act?
Several complaints have been made to the OFA over the years. The CSSPH has opted to continue working with the McGuinty Government since it has committed to the enhancement of primary health care. We believe that changes to the Ontario health care system will allow the Government and the LHINs to meet the needs of the Francophones where primary health care is concerned.
p) Why hasn’t the CSSPH initiated an awareness program (letters, calls, etc.) directed at the Ministry of Health and Members of Parliament?
The CSSPH sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on
December 12, 2006, and has yet to receive a response. An awareness campaign is currently underway.
Reference:
1. “Identified” means that the agency or institution must draft an action plan for implementing services in French. “Designated” refers to the fact that the agency or institution is recognized by the ministry of Health and Long Term Care and offers a number of services in French.
Agencies/institutions that are “identified” for services in French in Peel:
- Erinoak
- Peel Pre-school Speech and Language Program
- Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program (Region of Peel)
- The Credit Valley Hospital
- Canadian Mental Health Association of Peel
- Ontario March of Dimes
- Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program (THC)
- CCAC of Peel
- Alzheimer Society of Peel
- Centre for Addictions and Mental Health
Services offered in French are very limited. The community is not informed of their existence and the services are not always available.
* “Identified” means that the agency or institution must draft an action plan for implementing services in French. “Designated” refers to the fact that the agency or institution is recognized by the Ministry of Health and offers a number of services in French.
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