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Halton report links income, education to wellbeing by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 9 | Thursday, November 10, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com There's more to good health than eating right, exercising, leading an active lifestyle and limiting cigarettes and alcohol, says Halton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hamidah Meghani. "We also need to think about those factors that influence those types of behaviours -- the social and economic factors, such as person's level of education, the job they have, the money they earn and the support of family and friends," Meghani told Halton's Health & Social Services meeting Nov. 1. In presenting a report on what Halton Region is doing to improve health equity in the community, she noted social and economic circumstances account for about 50 per cent of all health outcomes in Halton. Over the last year, the Health Department has brought forward a number of reports highlighting health issues, such as life expectancy, infectious disease and injuries and how social determinants such as income can affect the wellbeing of the community. "People living in lower income neighbourhoods in Halton have poorer health outcomes than those who live in higher income neighbourhoods, typically," she said, of the incomerelated health inequity. Meghani warned social determinants of health cannot be ignored. "They are fundamental drivers of our population and health outcomes and lead to significant, yet avoidable health differences," she said. Highlighting the report as a way to reaffirm Halton Region's actions in improving health equity within Halton's communities, Meghani underlined the Health Department working collaboratively within the Region, especially with the Social and Community Services Department, to identify areas where work intersects, such as food security, housing and health, older adults and community safety and wellbeing. It has also introduced performance measures to monitor health equity in Halton. Meghani's presentation included a six-minute video, titled Let's Start a Conversation about Health and Not Talk about Health Care at All to highlight why health is more than having access to medical care. Through the fictional story of Anita, the video shows how social and economic factors, such as income, education, employment and social support networks, have influenced her health. The video can be viewed by visiting halton.ca/ healthequity. Following the short film, Social and Community Services Commissioner Alex Sarchuk spoke of how Halton Region is investing in Halton communities to improve its health through a number of different programs that "seek to improve the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens." It runs an Ontario Works program to help people in temporary financial need find sustainable employment and achieve self-reliance through effective, integrated employment services and financial assistance. In Halton, that accounts for 2,000 households that receive employment assistance and basic financial assistance for basic needs, shelter and some health benefits, he noted. On top of that, Ontario Works clients can receive a monthly food voucher at a rate of $20 per person in a family and they're eligible to receive a fresh food box, which is filled with seasonal fruits and vegetables. "In a recent 12 month period we provided 1,700 such food boxes," Sarchuk said, highlighting the work the Region is doing in affordable housing from homelessness prevention to working with residents to keep them in their own homes. Alex Sarchuk The Region provides a range of services including access to affordable market housing, subsidized housing (rentgeared-to-income), housing with supports, an emergency shelter program, as well as onetime financial assistance for low income people experiencing difficulty with housing costs. More recently, it turned federal funding into places to live in Halton by investing in a number of apartment and condominium units. Clients from the social housing wait list will be placed into these units and will be provided rent supplements so it is affordable for individuals and families, he said. The Region also works with other community groups supporting projects such as community gardens, youth drop-in programs, after school programs and more as well as through the Halton Region Community Investment Fund (HRCIF), which invests about $1.4 million in 55 programs and projects that support individuals and families at risk of social and economic vulnerabilities. It's played an instrumental role in early learning and childcare. "Currently, 2,680 families in Halton are receiving a child care subsidy and we have 854 children with special needs receiving service," Sarchuk said. But while it's important there are initiatives designed to support immediate needs, in order to see "significant and sustained health," the programs need to be supported by federal and provincial policies that lead to long-term improvements, he added. To view the full report, visit halton.ca. Are you open to your money doing better to turn fulltime into me-time? 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