Rainbow Health Ontario to Help Improve LGBT Health & Knowledge

Filed Under Health, New Sites | December 3rd, 2008 

Gay Health & Medical NewsTORONTO, ON (CNW) — A new province-wide health initiative in Ontario, mandated to respond to the health service needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, was launched late last week at the Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto.

Joined by the Hon. David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, the Hon. George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre, members of the LGBT community, service providers and staff celebrated Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO), a program that will promote access to reliable health information, coordinate training workshops for service providers, and create links between researchers and policy makers throughout the province.

“Ontario has taken many steps over the last five years to ensure people of all background are treated as equals,” said Minister Caplan. “I am especially proud of Rainbow Health Ontario for its promotion of better access to health services and for enhancing the health of Ontario’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual communities. This is a province-wide initiative that puts Ontario at the forefront with respect to LGBT health and equity in Canada and around the world.”

Funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care will allow Rainbow Health Ontario to offer a large interactive website, to list trainers and researchers with expertise in LGBT health, to act as a consultant on policies and best practices, and support community groups working in relative isolation across the province. A wide range of resource materials will be available for download or purchase and new ones will be added as they become available.

“Until now the LGBT community had no central place to access reliable information on health issues or services related to them,” said George Smitherman Toronto Centre MPP. “Given that there are just a few organized training programs or accessible research collections in Ontario that focus on LGBT citizens, we are proud of the leadership shown by the Sherbourne Health Centre.”

“The Sherbourne Health Centre has been providing comprehensive primary health programs and services to local LGBT communities since 2003,” said Sherbourne CEO Suzanne Boggild. “Rainbow Health Ontario is a natural extension of what we do, and it makes us proud to know that through RHO, the vision of Sherbourne will be spread across the province, helping LGBT citizens no matter
where they live.”

“RHO will work to ensure health care services are accessible for LGBT communities across the province,” said Anna Travers, director of Rainbow Health Ontario. “Despite significant improvements, LGBT people still face gaps and inequities in services. Many health care providers are uninformed about the specific health care issues of this community. RHO will help to fill that gap.”

Outreach Team Members from every Local Health Integration area in the province have been hired on a part-time basis to promote the services of Rainbow Health Ontario; to gather information on local LGBT health needs; and to engage local groups in advocating for improved services.

Rainbow Health Ontario will act as an information hub and offer coordinated strategies to assist community members, service providers, researchers, educators and policy makers to work collaboratively to improve services. In this way, Rainbow Health Ontario will have the breadth and scope to support LGBT people no matter where they may live in Ontario.

Related Links:
- Rainbow Health Ontario
- Sherbourne Health Centre