History
Ontario’s Community Health Centres are one of the best ways to keep Ontarians and their communities healthy.
CHCs are nonprofit organizations managed by local community members. They offer easy access to a wide range of client-oriented services and programs.
CHCs bring together doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, mental health professionals, dieticians, health promoters, and other professionals under one roof. These professionals work together in interprofessional teams to provide essential healthcare services.
CHCs offer personalized care tailored to the needs of individual clients and the community. Programs are designed to address the root causes of illness and injuries within a preventative framework.
CHCs have been particularly successful at improving access to healthcare among groups and communities that have traditionally faced challenges obtaining the services and programs they need to stay healthy. Among these groups are linguistic and cultural minorities, people living in remote or under-serviced communities, people with low incomes, homeless people and senior citizens (Source: Dossier d’orientation de l’Association des Centres de santé de l’Ontario, 2001).
The Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie: A Brief History
1991The Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie (CSCE) is created through the initiative of a group of francophone women to meet a marked need for French-language healthcare services in the Cornwall region.
Roland Beaulieu is hired as Executive Director and plays a major role in the CSCE’s remarkable expansion over the course of the following years.
The CSCE becomes a partner in the project to create a francophone cultural centre in Alexandria, and opens a satellite office in the same building.
1999Following multiple requests and strong political pressure in the town of Crysler, the CSCE receives funding to open another satellite office. A complete team, including a doctor, nurse practitioner, health promoter, mental health professional and dietician, is put in place to offer a full range of services.
2001The success of the Crysler experience inspires other rural communities, such as Bourget in Russell County. A group of citizens mobilizes to obtain a satellite office in their community.
2002Roland Beaulieu steps aside and Marc Bisson takes over the reins of the CSCE. Like his predecessor, Mr. Bisson works to consolidate and expand French-language healthcare services for the entire francophone community.
2005The CSCE learns that it will receive funding to open a satellite office in Bourget. Numerous actions, strong political pressure, and a feasibility study clearly demonstrated that there was a real need in the region.
2006The CSCE begins offering services in Bourget in a temporary facility while waiting for its permanent home to be built by a local contractor.
2007The CSCE produces a study on healthcare needs in Russell County, clearly demonstrating the need for a satellite office.
Additional resources are allocated to the CSCE’s Crysler satellite office to meet the needs of this under-serviced region.
The official opening of the CSCE facility in Bourget, in August, is attended by The Honourable David Caplan, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care expresses interest in funding a second satellite office in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell, in the town of Embrun. The official opening of the Embrun CSCE is held in November. The location is chosen to host a dedicated team for the Aging at Home Strategy.
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