The Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion presented to the TORC Rural Health Forum. The purpose was to provide an overview of the Ministry, highlight programs and initiatives, and identify areas for collaboration. The Ministry's vision is healthy communities and active lifestyles. It has 146 staff and a $400M budget. Key areas of focus include chronic disease prevention, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco control, and partnering with public health and communities.

1. Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion Presentation to TORC Rural Health Forum November 5, 2009

2. Purpose To provide an overview of the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion (MHP); To highlight various MHP programs, tools and initiatives; To identify areas for possible collaboration.

3. Overview Vision: Healthy Communities working together and Ontarians leading healthy and active lives Mission: To champion health promotion across Ontario and inspire partners to create a culture of health and well being for all 4 year old ministry with 146 staff and $400M budget Achieve goals through social marketing, public education, influencing and partnering with others, funding programs and services, surveillance, designing legislation/regulation, creating and disseminating new knowledge.

4. Promoting a Population Health Approach Recognize that health is determined by complex interactions between social and economic factors, the physical environment and individual behavior.

5. Applying an Integrated Approach

6. Ontario’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Framework

7. MHP’s 2009-10 Priorities Promoting Health and Wellness Preventing Disease, Injury and Addiction Partnering for Healthy Communities Promoting Nutrition and Healthy Eating Valuing Sport and Recreation

8. Examples of MHP Strategies and Initiatives

9. Partnering with Public Health MHP’s funds 75% of the health promotion standards for Ontario’s 36 public health units: chronic disease prevention prevention of injury and substance misuse reproductive health child health Best practice documents being developed to guide implementation. Supported expansion of Children in Need of [Dental] Treatment Program to include children from birth until their 17 th birthday.

10. MHP’s After-School Initiative MHP partnering with community organizations on after-school programs and services Linked to Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy 15,500 children and youth will benefit 270 Sites within priority neighbourhoods Programs include activities like: healthy eating and nutrition education to help combat childhood obesity physical activity to encourage active lifestyles personal health and wellness education to promote self-esteem

11. MHP’s Diabetes Prevention Initiative Goal: To reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes among those at greatest risk and in those geographic areas of highest incidence Settings: Communities Workplaces Health care Media

12. EatRight Ontario Evidence-based nutrition information for families and health care providers, including s support on diabetes prevention and management. Free web and phone-based service. Meal-planning tools and label reading videos.

13. Other Tools NutriSTEP: Tool to screen preschooler’s eating habits, identify nutrition problems early, including growth and overweight problems. EatSmart!: Award program promotes healthy food choices, in restaurants, schools, workplaces and recreation centres.

14. healthyontario.com Provides access to a wide range of health information and services available to Ontario residents. Includes health assessment tools, articles by experts, medical information, as well as links to other Ontario and not-for-profit health and wellness websites.

15. Smoke Free Ontario Implemented Smoke-free Ontario Act and Strategy Banned Smoking in Cars with children Supporting TEACH - smoking cessation training for health intermediaries Collaborating on Aboriginal Initiatives Creating New Directions in Tobacco Control

16. Healthy Communities Ontario Enhancing health and wellbeing through inter-sectoral collaboration, community engagement and partnerships. Three main components: Healthy Communities Fund supports healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco use, substance and alcohol misuse, mental health and injury prevention projects; Healthy Community Partnerships promote community planning and mobilization to effect policy change and create a environment that promotes health; Healthy Communities Consortium of resource centres that support partnership and community development, training and best practices.

17. Healthy Communities Ontario Priorities Increase access to healthier food Educate and develop food skills Increase access to recreation, sport and physical activity Support active transportation and improve the built environment Increase tobacco free environments and smoking cessation services Educate the public about the risks of tobacco use Increase resiliency in youth and adults re: alcohol and drug use Increase access to mental health prevention and promotion programs and supports Promote safe environments that prevent injury

18. Expanding Partnerships for Health Promotion