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ABOUT US

Health equity

An elderly woman smiles warmly while talking with a caregiver seated across from her.

Working to build a more inclusive and equitable health system

At the Ottawa OHT-ÉSO, health equity is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to addressing the unique needs of equity-deserving populations—including First Nations, Inuit, Métis and urban Indigenous peoples, Francophone, Black and other racialized communities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, and other underserved groups. Together with our partners, we are embedding equity into our organizational cultures, governance, service delivery, and community engagement. Through shared responsibility, measurable progress, and collective action, we are working to build a more inclusive and equitable health system for all.

Sociodemographic data collection

The Ottawa OHT-ÉSO Health Equity Co-chairs identified the need to increase the capacity of organizational partners to collect and use sociodemographic data. The Decision Support Working Group led this effort, developing the toolkit to build greater capacity for partners to voluntarily collect and use sociodemographic data. This intent is to bolster equity-informed system-level planning and improve point-of-care delivery.

This initiative aligns with the goals of the Ottawa OHT-ÉSO Health Equity Charter and seeks to incorporate more social determinants of health factors into the planning and evaluation of healthcare initiatives.

Health Equity Documents Suite

The Ottawa OHT-ÉSO recognizes that advancing health equity is a shared responsibility and a foundational pillar of our health system transformation. These resources bring together key tools and documents to support partners in embedding equity across all aspects of their work, from governance and service delivery to community engagement.
Health Equity Charter:
A guiding document that outlines our collective commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and promoting fairness across the health system. Endorsement of the Charter is required for all partners.
Self-Assessment Tool:
Adapted from the Alliance for Healthier Communities Health Equity Charter Self-Assessment Tool, this tool helps organizations evaluate their current practices and identify actionable steps to advance equity.
Winning Strategies for Serving Francophone Clients:
The Winning Strategies is a regional initiative launched in 2022 by the Francophone Working Group at Kids Come First. The initiative brings together service-providing organizations around a shared set of practical actions that strengthen active offer—supporting equitable, timely, and meaningful access to services in French. These actions, known as the Winning Strategies, help reduce language-related barriers and advance more inclusive care for Francophone communities.

Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), including Ottawa OHT-ÉSO, play a critical role in advancing this work as part of their commitment to health equity and culturally and linguistically appropriate care. This collaboration supports more coordinated, people-centred care and improved experiences and outcomes for Francophone individuals and families.
The Winning Strategies project is a regional collaboration involving eight Ontario Health Teams in the East Region, in partnership with Kids Come First.

To learn more about Winning Strategies and access resources related to active offer, visit:

Resources

We help community well-being by connecting providers, individuals, and families with tools that improve health.
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Key initiatives

Our initiatives focus on promoting improving quality of life, and ensuring that older adults receive coordinated care and support.
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