Our Service Philosophy

We think of "health" defined very broadly – not just helping people when they get sick but helping them feel fully engaged in a community where they feel they belong and fully engaged in activities that promote their well being.

Model of Care

Stonegate CHC as one of a network of CHCs across the province is committed to The Community Health Centre Model of Care (Association of Ontario Health Centres, 2008). CHCs offer a range of comprehensive primary health care and health promotion programs in diverse communities across Ontario. Services within CHCs are structured and designed to eliminate system-wide barriers to accessing health care and harmful forms of social exclusion that lead to an increased burden or risk of ill health.

The CHC model of care focuses on five service areas:

  • Primary care
  • Illness prevention
  • Health promotion
  • Community capacity building
  • Service integration

The CHC Model of Care is:

  • Comprehensive: Stonegate CHC provides comprehensive, coordinated, primary health care for the Stonegate community, encompassing primary care, illness prevention, and health promotion, in one to one service, personal development groups, and community level interventions.
  • Accessible: CHCs are designed to improve access, participation, equity, inclusiveness and social justice by eliminating systemic barriers to full participation. Stonegate CHC has expertise in ensuring access for people who encounter a diverse range of social, cultural, economic or legal barriers which contribute to the risk of developing health problems. This includes the provision of culturally appropriate programs and services, programs for the non-insured and 24 hour on-call services. Stonegate CHC is in the optimal location for its focus community as over 50% of clients report that they walk to their appointments and programs at Stonegate CHC (or use their motorized scooters).
  • Client and community focused: Clients, patients, program participants and community residents are at the heart of Stonegate CHC’s activities. Our programs have evolved and continue to evolve in response to community needs. Regular community engagement activities include client surveys, community surveys and community meetings as well as seeking input from community partner agencies and program participants.
  • Interdisciplinary: Stonegate CHCs has built a strong and well functioning interdisciplinary team working in collaborative practice. Stonegate’s team works together in a coordinated approach to address the health needs of our clients. Stonegate CHCs interdisciplinary team includes physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, a chiropodist, an asthma educator, counsellors, health promoters, community development workers, early childhood educators, child and youth workers and administrative staff.
  • Integrated: Stonegate CHC has developed strong connections with health system partners, schools, churches, social services and community partners to ensure the integration of CHC services with the delivery of other health and social services.  Through partnerships Stonegate CHC clients receive diabetes education, settlement services, prenatal nutrition education, parent relief, food bank services and mental health counselling and Stonegate CHC provides asthma education, early years programs and community development activities to the clients of Parkdale CHC, LAMP CHC, New Heights CHC and their respective communities.
  • Community governed: Stonegate CHC is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, governed by a community board. Community governance ensures that the health of a community is enhanced by providing leadership that is reflective of its diverse community. A community board and committees provide a mechanism for Stonegate CHC to be responsive to the needs of our community and for our community to develop a sense of ownership over “their” health centre.
  • Inclusive of the social determinants of health: The health of individuals and populations are impacted by the social determinants of health including shelter, education, food, income, a stable eco-system, sustainable resources, anti-oppression, inclusion, social justice, equity and peace. Stonegate CHC's Intake practices are grounded in these determinants of health and help ensure that we are offering the greatest range of services to community members in the greatest need.  Stonegate CHC strives for improvements in social supports and conditions that affect the long-term health of our clients and community, through participation in multi-sector partnerships, and the development of healthy public policy, within a population health framework.
  • Grounded in a community development approach:  Stonegate CHC services and programs are responsive to local community initiatives and needs. The community development approach builds on leadership, knowledge and life experiences of community members and partners to contribute to the health of our community. Stonegate CHC has supported the development of community gardens, playgrounds and a farmer’s market as well as supporting community development activities in the neighbouring Mabelle Community.