What is the Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO)?
Rainbow Health Ontario is a province-wide program that works to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Ontario through education, research, outreach and public policy.
What is the Mission Statement of RHO?
The mission of RHO is to improve access to services and to promote the health of Ontario’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities.
What is the Vision Statement of RHO?
RHO envisions a province in which all lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people are healthy and valued members of their diverse communities and are supported by equitable services and public policy.
Where is RHO located?
RHO is based at the Sherbourne Health Centre (SHC) in downtown Toronto. Sherbourne has been providing comprehensive primary health programs and services to local LGBT communities since 2003. SHC has also produced many materials and is frequently contacted to provide consultation and expertise on LGBT health matters.
Who founded RHO?
Rainbow Health Ontario was founded in 2008 by Sherbourne Health Centre (SHC) and the Rainbow Health Network (RHN).
How is RHO funded?
Rainbow Health Ontario has been generously funded by a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the ministry.
Why is this Resource Needed?
• Despite significant improvements in human rights of LGBT people in Canada, there are still gaps and inequities in services and in the health status of LGBT people. Many health care providers are uncomfortable when caring for LGBT people and uninformed about the specific health care issues of this community.
• LGBT people have often had negative experiences and may be reluctant to come out to their health care providers. Some avoid the health care system, especially for preventative care, resulting in later diagnoses and more serious conditions.
• LGBT people are rarely included in health promotion campaigns other than those relating to HIV/AIDS. Neither they, nor their care providers, have accurate knowledge about their health risks.
• Professional schools and licensing bodies have done little to ensure that health and social care providers are knowledgeable and competent to serve LGBT people.
• Health care policy and decision makers lack robust data on the needs of Ontario’s LGBT communities. There is a need for more research, knowledge exchange and better public policy.
• There is no central place for reliable information on health issues or culturally competent programs and services in Ontario; there are few organized training programs or accessible research collections that could be useful to the LGBT community, health care providers, policy makers or the general public.
How will RHO Connect with LGBT Communities throughout Ontario?
The RHO team consists of 4.5 staff in Toronto and 14 Community Outreach Team Members, one in each of Ontario's Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). These 14 Community Outreach Team Members work on a part-time basis to ensure that RHO has a presence throughout the province, that we respond to a range of issues, and that innovative models and best practices are shared.
In addition, most of the resources of Rainbow Health Ontario are web-based, making them accessible to all and reflecting the work that is being done all over the province. Finally, each of our staff travel from time to time to meet with local representatives and community groups and are also available to network and consult by phone or email.
What are the services of RHO?
RHO works with LGBT communities, service providers, researchers, policy makers and government representatives in three main areas: Information and Consultation, Education and Training, and Research and Policy. Our services include:
• Maintaining a comprehensive website featuring searchable databases of LGBT health information, news and events
• Consulting with health and social service providers and community groups on program development, organizational change, clinical standards and protocols
• Supporting the development of local community-based health promotion strategies, e.g. surveys, program partnerships, advocacy work
• Creating health education and health communications materials that address LGBT health issues
• Developing partnerships with universities, colleges and licensing bodies to create appropriate curriculum materials, and ensure competence among health care and social service providers
• Providing a database of trainers across Ontario and developing special training initiatives and curricula
• Hosting a provincial conference offering skills development, networking and partnership opportunities
• Developing partnerships with researchers, funders and policy makers to gather LGBT health data and to encourage more LGBT health research in Ontario
• Promoting the use of existing LGBT health research to develop evidence-based practice and informed public policy
What is the contact information for RHO?
Rainbow Health Ontario
Sherbourne Health Centre
333 Sherbourne Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto ON M5A 2S5
email info@rainbowhealthontario.ca
tel 416.324.4100 ext. 5058
fax 416.324.4259
www.RainbowHealthOntario.ca
