Guelph Community Health Centre
The Guelph Community Health Centre (Guelph CHC, GCHC) is a public, non-profit organization that provides primary health care to the community of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, as well as a variety of programs that focus on holistic health promotion and community development. The Guelph CHC is a member of the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC) and one of over 300 CHCs in Canada. The Guelph CHC has one main location in downtown Guelph, as well as a satellite clinic located on Shelldale Crescent, and an Early Years Satellite location, situated in the Stone Road Mall.
Vision and mission
According to their website, the Guelph CHC’s vision is to “be a valued leader in a community supportive of those with barriers to well being”. The mission statement they use is "to provide innovative primary health services and community programs, mainly for our priority groups, using an interdisciplinary team approach, collaborating with community partners”.
Priority population
The Guelph CHC focuses on what it has identified as the priority population, which are those who face some sort of barrier to good health. People who fit into this population may be children under six years old, the underhoused, new immigrants, and individuals who face other adversities such as low income, isolation, single parents, and the unemployed.
Programs
Primary Care
This division of the Guelph Community Health Centre focuses on aspects of health and well-being. They cover areas such as illness prevention, chronic disease management, health promotion, caring for the elderly, support, counseling and referrals.
Program Name |
Description |
|---|---|
Breastfeeding Support |
Breastfeeding services are rendered by appointment with a lactation consultant who provides guidance on various aspects of the practice. They teach the very basics of how and why to breastfeed, how to handle potential challenges (concerning the health of both the mother and the infant), as well as how to maintain the practice as a student or a working mother.{{Cite web |
Clinical Services |
Clinical Services include access to a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, dietitians and outreach workers. Families with young children, those with difficulty accessing health care, new Canadians, and those grappling with challenges like low income, unemployment, isolation, homelessness and physical or mental disabilities (the priority population) are the particular focus.{{Cite web |
Foot Care |
Foot Care is available for referred clients without access locally to another such service.{{Cite web |
Nutrition Services |
Nutrition Services of the CHC, food and nutrition counseling and education with a registered dietitian, are again targeted at the priority population. Counseling is available to clients and those who cannot easily access a registered dietitian (though it does not cover weight loss, diabetes or eating disorders). Additionally, dietitians offer group nutrition programs within the centre and other neighborhood groups or agencies.{{Cite web |
Outreach Services |
Outreach services, facilitated by nurse practitioners and outreach workers in partnership with other community agencies, connect clients with health programs and services in their area. Some of the partnering agencies include Welcome In Drop In Centre, Wyndham House, Michael House, and Give Yourself Credit. Medical staff work to RESOLVE issues preventing people registered with the Stonehenge Therapeutic Community from fully participating in substance abuse and addiction programs offered there. Educational presentations are offered as well.{{Cite web |
Social Work Services |
Social Work Services are open city-wide and include two programs: the Growing and Parenting Program (GAPP) which is a parenting and self-esteem group for young mothers, and Postpartum Depression Support Services which includes counseling for postpartum depression and group support services for women and their families. Social workers also counsel individuals referred by the CHC's health care provider and offer both counseling and group programming in response to community needs.{{Cite web |
Healthy Living
Program Name |
Description |
|---|---|
Physical Activity |
|
in motion Mondays |
in motion Mondays is a program held year round at the Guelph CHC for adults that wish to participate in indoor or outdoor physical activity and to socialize.{{Cite web |
Pre- and Post-Natal Exercise Classes |
Pre- and Post-Natal Exercise Classes are classes offered to women to socialize and work out (with things like low-impact aerobics).{{Cite web |
Running Shoe Recycling Program |
Running Shoe Recycle Program collects high-quality, barely used running shoes from competitive runners and a local running store (Running Works) and redistributes them to those in need who are committed to being physically active. The shoes, collected in all sizes for both men and women, are washed and given new insoles.{{Cite web |
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph in Motion |
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph in motion is a community-wide effort to promote physical health in all residents of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph region starting with the standard of 30 minutes of physical activity each day and aiming at establishing a "culture of physical activity". Strategies for the initiative include forming partnerships, specialized strategies, marketing and collecting data.{{Cite web |
Shelldale/Brant Women’s Yoga |
Shelldale Women’s Yoga{{Cite web |
Peer Leader Program |
The Peer Leader program is one that utilizes volunteer peer leaders who have a passion for healthy living, have received first-aid and safety training, and have leadership skills.{{Cite web |
Outreach |
|
Identification Clinics |
Identification Clinics are held at the Guelph CHC to provide assistance to people filling out birth certificates, health cards, social insurance number forms. Through these clinics, financial assistance may also be available to those in need.{{Cite web |
Helping Hands |
Helping Hands is targeted towards women in Guelph, to teach life skills such as sewing, crafts, cooking.{{Cite web |
Women Everywhere Breastfeed |
The WE (Women Everywhere) Breastfeed program is run by a group of volunteers that have experience with breastfeeding, to support women either over the phone or in person.{{Cite web |
Take Charge |
Take Charge is a program designed for people living with a chronic health condition, providing assistance in learning to physically and mentally manage daily challenges. Attendees learn how to manage their symptoms and medications, how to set goals, and how to eat right and exercise. Reference books and other materials are also provided.{{Cite web |
Food Health |
|
Garden Fresh Box |
Garden Fresh Box, a non-profit organization based out of Guelph, emphasizes the importance of buying locally and supporting local farmers as well as providing produce at an affordable price. The ultimate goal is to build a healthier community.{{Cite web |
Guelph-Wellington Local Food Initiative |
According to the Guelph-Wellington Local Food Initiative (GWLFI), their mission is to "promote the procurement of local food by consumers and industry in order to preserve and enhance sustainable agricultural diversity in Guelph and County of Wellington." The initiative emphasizes the importance of buying locally, supporting local farmers and building partnerships.{{Cite web |
Little Chefs |
Little Chefs is a program for young children (aged three to six) and their parents, where they can learn to cook simple and inexpensive recipes as well as other activities.{{Cite web |
Developmental Health
Program |
Description |
|---|---|
Drop-In Playtime |
Drop-in Playtime is for parents and children to explore new toys and concepts while meeting other children in the community.{{Cite web |
Programs Requiring Registration |
|
Parent-Child Place |
The Parent-Child Place's supervised playgroup includes free play, snack time, craft time and circle time to allow children to bond with their parents and caregivers while interacting with other children.{{Cite web |
Parent Support and Information |
The Guelph CHC provides information about the following topics:
|
Ontario Early Years Centre |
The Guelph CHC is affiliated with the Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC). Playtime and other programs are held by the OEYC in the Wyndham Street and the Stone Road Mall locations.{{Cite web |
Child-Care Registry |
The Guelph CHC links to Guelph-Wellington Childcare, a network for childcare providers and parents in search of childcare providers which also provides newsletters, advice, and event listings.{{Cite web |
Volunteers
The Guelph CHC regularly recruits volunteers to run programs. Volunteers may serve as board members or play-leaders, provide support for reception or in the clinic, assist with food preparation or program planning, or provide general help for the various annual events the GCHC holds. Before an individual is taken on as a volunteer, a police check and reference check is conducted.
Research
The Guelph CHC conducts research to evaluate its Early Years programs and services in the Guelph and Wellington County regions. Intending to develop and improve services for preschool and school-aged children, every three years GCHC collects data and uses the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Agencies who offer Early Years services and parents of senior kindergarten children have also been included in past surveys to further identify gaps and strengths in the offered programs.
The final report that evaluated all the activities and programs (as of fall 2008) is available for public review.
Donors and Sponsors
- Rotary Club of Guelph
- Wellington Catholic District School Board
- Upper Grand District School Board
- Wellington County and City of Guelph
- Fire The Imagination
- Scholastic Book Fair
- University of Guelph
- New Life Church
- Budget Car & Truck Rental
- Don's Produce