Supporting the Health of Newly Arrived Refugees in Primary Care
Health Equity Community of Practice
Release Date: 11/27/2025
Practical Strategies for Supporting Patients on OW & ODSP
Health Equity Community of Practice
Family physicians regularly support patients navigating Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)—systems that can be complex and time‑consuming. This session clarifies the key difference between OW and ODSP, walks through ODSP application and medical review processes and demystifies additional income benefits. Designed for family physicians and primary care providers across Ontario, this session focuses on actionable strategies to improve patient access to income and health benefits. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: Differentiate OW and...
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Supporting the Health of Newly Arrived Refugees in Primary Care
Health Equity Community of Practice
In this session, we will explore how Family Physicians and Primary Care Providers can better support the health needs of newly arrived refugees in Canada. We will review global and Canadian refugee migration trends to understand the populations you may encounter, discuss appropriate screening tests and clinical considerations for newly arrived refugees and examine the benefits and limitations of the health insurance available to refugees in Canada. Panelist: Dr. Meb Rashid, Medical Director, The Crossroads Clinic, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto Moderator: ...
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Equity-oriented Primary Care Attachment
Health Equity Community of Practice
In this session, our panel will outline a pathway for equitable attachment to primary care. We will introduce a toolkit designed to support interdisciplinary teams—including those in Family Health Teams, clinics and other primary care settings—in defining target populations and outcome measures, building community partnerships and recruiting and retaining providers for new patients. Panelists will also explore strategies for optimizing team-based care and refining processes based on feedback from both patients and providers. Panelists: - Dr. Curtis Handford, Family Physician SMH...
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Income Benefit Programs for People Living on Low Income and in Poverty – Primary Care Providers' Role
Health Equity Community of Practice
Poverty has a profound impact on health across the life course, with impacts on both physical and mental health. Primary Care Providers can play a key role in supporting patients to connect to income supports. In this session, panelists will provide an overview of social assistance and income benefit programs. They will discuss strategies for completing successful Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Disability Tax Credit (DTC) applications and review the new Canada Disability Benefit. Additionally, they will highlight innovative team-based strategies to address patients' income...
info_outlineIn this session, we will explore how Family Physicians and Primary Care Providers can better support the health needs of newly arrived refugees in Canada. We will review global and Canadian refugee migration trends to understand the populations you may encounter, discuss appropriate screening tests and clinical considerations for newly arrived refugees and examine the benefits and limitations of the health insurance available to refugees in Canada.
Panelist:
- Dr. Meb Rashid, Medical Director, The Crossroads Clinic, Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto
Moderator:
- Dr. Doug Gruner, Family Physician, Bruyère Family Health Team, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa’s Department of Family Medicine, Ottawa, ON
Our Partners
The Ontario College of Family Physicians has partnered with the Department of Family and Community Medicine to deliver this community of practice. This Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for Mainpro+Ⓡcredit
Learn more about this CoP here: https://ontariofamilyphysicians.ca/supports-for-family-doctors/health-equity-cop/