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January 24 2023

Investing in the oral and mental health of Windsor-Essex County

WINDSOR, Ontario, January 24, 2023 – The WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) was joined by Green Shield to announce the successful recipients of their granting partnership. A total of $564,000 has been invested in four local charities to fund critical mental and oral health programs in the Windsor-Essex Community. Funding recipients joined Green Shield and the WECF at the temporary location of the Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex, located at Maryvale, to celebrate this latest investment in community. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, Green Shield has partnered with leading community organizations across Canada to commit a total of $75 million to social impact initiatives, with a focus on mental health and dental care, between 2020 and 2025. The WECF is proud to collaborate with Green Shield as a long-standing partner for transformative and innovative local investment.

The organizations funded through these grants include:

The Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County Branch, awarded $200,000 to support the Youth Wellness Hub Windsor-Essex;
The Windsor Family Health Team, awarded $200,000 to support their Community Oral Health Care Project;
Harrow Health Centre Family Health Team awarded $100,000 to support their Community Oral Health Care Project; and,
Trans Wellness Ontario awarded $64,000 to support their Queer and Trans* Counselling Services Program.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Kolody, Executive Director

WindsorEssex Community Foundation

519-255-6572

lkolody@wecf.ca

About Green Shield
With an unwavering focus on better health outcomes, Green Shield is bringing all its offerings together into one integrated health
services organization, to optimize care and deepen its social mission. As Canada’s first and only payer-provider, Green Shield
is pairing its 65 years of health and dental insurance expertise as a benefits ”payer”, with ever-growing capabilities as a mental
health, pharmacy, and medical services ”provider.” This integrated approach makes it easier for clients to support their
employees and Canadians to access the personalized health care they need. Learn more here: www.greenshield.ca

About WECF
The WindsorEssex Community Foundation is a perpetual community trust for philanthropic purposes. It exists to manage
donors’ legacy funds and make grants to support local community programs. Through community investments. the WECF
is able to establish partnerships to assist a broad range of community organizations. Learn more here: www.wecf.ca.

November 16 2022

New Substance Use Program being launched to support 2SLGBTQ+ Community

Printable flyer

Windsor Family Health Team (WFHT), Windsor Pride Community (WPC) and Family Services Windsor Essex (FSWE) is launching a new 2SLGBTQ+ One Team Recovery (OTR) Program this coming January 2023.

The inaugural launch of this additional program is targeted for January 10th,2023. This program will run two days a week from 1:00pm-4:30pm and participants who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion.

“We’re excited to offer OTR as a dedicated program for 2SLGBTQ+ community where participants can feel safe to have their recovery incorporate a focus on their unique challenges and needs which, the evidence tells us, will lead to better outcomes for their recovery” added Margo Reilly, Executive Director, WFHT.

Understanding the need and identifying a gap in local services for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals struggling with substance use, WFHT, in partnership with Windsor Pride Community, began adapting its existing OTR program through an affirmative care lens to create a program specific to the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

“People who identify within the 2SLGBTQ+ community often face social stigma, discrimination, and unique challenges specific to our community”, noted Colm Holmes, President, Windsor Pride Community. “These factors contribute to a high rate of substance use within our community, and the need for a dedicated response for the 2SLGBTQ+ population here in Windsor-Essex. Alongside our fantastic partners Windsor Family Health Team and Family Services Windsor-Essex, Windsor Pride is thrilled to be a part of the solution moving forward. Providing 2SLGBTQ+ specific recovery services is an evidence-based way of ensuring our communities needs are met.”

Some research suggests that 2SLGBTQ+ community members use alcohol, tobacco and other substances at a rate of 2 to 4 times higher than heterosexual people. Research also identifies that the 2SLGBTQ+ population has unique needs when dealing with addictions and would benefit from dedicated services.

“We believe that addiction is an experience and not your identity”, said Elizabeth Lalonde, Addictions Counselor, WFHT. “We avoid using labels such as “addicts” or “alcoholics” and instead use our unique multi-disciplinary psychoeducational, evidenced-based model to empower individuals to own their recovery”.

In 2019 Windsor Team Care Centre (a program of WFHT) developed a 5-week, closed, outpatient substance use program supporting clients 16+, called One Team Recovery (OTR). OTR is an evidence based, SMART Recovery informed model of care and is a non-spiritual, non-faith-based alternative to 12-step programs. OTR is also trauma informed and aims to provide a safe space for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Along with the 5-week program, OTR includes a 6-week After Care program and a 3-week Family & Friends program. OTR is delivered in partnership, with Certified Canadian Addictions Counselors and/or Registered Social Workers from Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (WECHC), Essex County Nurse Practitioner Led Clinic (ECNPLC), and Erie Shores Family Health Team, providing sessions year-round in Windsor and Essex County as well as virtually.

Individuals who would like to register can self-refer by calling 519-250-5524 or visiting https://windsortcc.ca/programs-services/one-team-recovery-substance-abuse-program/ and downloading the program application. Health and social service providers can also refer through the Ocean e-Referral platform.

For more information visit: www.windsortcc.ca.

Contact Information:
Windsor Family Health Team
Margo Reilly, Executive Director
Phone Number: 519- 250-5656 x201
Email: mreilly@windsorfht.ca

Colm Holmes
President, Windsor Pride Community
Phone Number: 519-966-5010 x 1080
Email: caholmes@wehc.ca

November 1 2022

weCHC programs

The Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean Canadian Youth (SAPACCY)

Teen Health location

This program, for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) promotes improved mental wellness for young people who identify as African, Caribbean and/or Black. SAPACCY provides community-based mental health and/or substance use services that are holistic, anti-oppressive, Africentric, and culturally safe for Black youth (ages 12-29) and their families/caregivers.

Who is the service for?

Black youth ages 12-29 (and their family/caregivers) that are experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges.

Services offered:

individual and group counselling and psychotherapy;
addictions and/or substance use supports;
comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and treatment planning;
mental health promotion and prevention;
intensive case management;
wraparound supports and referral services;
caregiver support groups;
trauma-informed and healing-centered interventions; and,
crisis intervention.

For more information please visit our website at www.wechc.org

Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorders Program

BANA and WECHC Teen Health

As of May 2022, a new Intensive Outpatient program for Eating Disorders is offered in Windsor-Essex. This program is offered in collaboration with Windsor Regional Hospital and Bulimia Anorexia Nervosa Association (BANA). The program offers a variety of groups and individual sessions and is designed to assist individuals aged 16 years and older with serious eating disorders. Interested individuals can access program information through a regional intake phone number, toll-free at 1-855-969-5530.

Southwestern Ontario Youth Gender Diversity Clinic

Teen Health location

In collaboration with Dr. Ian Johnson and Chatham Kent CHC, the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC) is happy to announce a new service for transgender children and youth in Windsor-Essex. Youth gender diversity clinics are held every Wednesday at our Teen Health location on Ouellette Avenue for youth up to 18 years old. Services include: Assessment & diagnosis of gender dysphoria, managing common comorbid mental health conditions, assessment of starting hormone blockers and affirming hormone therapy, prescribing of hormone or blockers and monitoring of treatment.

For referral information contact CKCHC Pediatric Affirmative Care Clinic at 519-397-5455 Ext. 164. In addition, please visit our website at www.wechc.org for more information about this program.

International Agricultural Workers

Leamington location

In Windsor-Essex, we are lucky to have the support of thousands of International Agri Workers (IAW). The CHC Greenhouse teams continue to provide health care work at multiple farms. Our 33 Princess location is also home to a Sunday walk-in clinic from 10-5. The WECHC is hard at work, providing vaccines, ongoing primary care as well as episodic care to our International Agri Workers in our community. Numerous Spanish speaking staff and “WeSpeak” enable us to provide the care needed in any language. Our Sunday walk in clinic supports anyone who is undocumented/without OHIP, who may not have another pathway to care.