CHCN Showcases Innovation and Leadership at 2026 Alliance Conference
June 23, 2026
The Community Health Centres of Northumberland (CHCN) recently participated in the Alliance for Healthier Communities 2026 Annual Conference, an event that brought together health system leaders, providers, partners, and community members from across Ontario. The conference serves as a platform to share leading practices, celebrate innovation, and advance equitable, community-driven health care—particularly for underserved and marginalized populations.
This year’s conference highlighted the important work being done across the province to build more inclusive, accessible, and coordinated systems of care. CHCN was proud to both contribute to this dialogue through two presentations and be recognized provincially for its leadership in gender affirming care.
Advancing Rural Access Through Partnership
One of CHCN’s featured presentations, “Bringing Primary Care Home: A CHCN–OHT Northumberland Partnership Model for Rural Outreach and Attachment,” showcased a collaborative initiative with the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland (OHT-N).
The session highlighted the development of an innovative Rural Outreach Clinic (ROC) model, designed to address persistent barriers to primary care in rural communities, such as transportation challenges, provider shortages, and limited access to interdisciplinary services.
By co-designing solutions with community partners, municipalities, and regional stakeholders, CHCN and OHT-N have created a flexible, scalable model that brings care directly into underserved areas. Early efforts have already strengthened community partnerships, improved system readiness, and positioned the region for expanded, low-barrier care delivery.
The model emphasizes equity, sustainability, and adaptability—ensuring progress can continue regardless of future funding outcomes, while supporting improved attachment to primary care and better long-term health outcomes for rural residents.
Strengthening Care Through Social Prescribing and Data Quality
CHCN’s second presentation, “Improving Data Quality and Collaboration Through Standardized Social Prescribing Pathways,” highlighted efforts to enhance care coordination and data accuracy across interprofessional teams in support of CHCN’s Social Prescribing program.
The initiative introduced a standardized referral pathway and customized electronic medical record (EMR) form to better capture social determinants of health and related interventions—areas that were previously inconsistently documented.
By formalizing how socially based needs are identified and recorded, the approach has:
- Improved the completeness and accuracy of client records
- Reduced administrative burden for providers
- Strengthened collaboration through shared documentation and communication tools
This work enables a more comprehensive understanding of each client’s health journey while supporting data-driven decision-making, reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
Provincial Recognition for Gender Affirming Care Program
A highlight of the conference was CHCN’s recognition at the annual gala, where our Gender Affirming Care Team received a 2026 Transformative Change Award.
These awards celebrate organizations and teams making outstanding contributions to improving health and wellbeing across Ontario, particularly through innovative approaches that address barriers to care. CHCN’s program was recognized for addressing a critical gap in services for trans and gender-diverse individuals in a region with historically limited access and long wait times.
Through a community-informed and co-designed approach, CHCN has developed a comprehensive program that integrates:
- Medical care
- Peer support
- System navigation
Delivered within a trusted primary care setting, the program is embedded in CHCN’s core operations and supported by an inclusive organizational culture. This work has helped advance equitable, safe, and inclusive gender affirming care, improving access and outcomes for individuals in Northumberland and serving as a model for other communities across the province.
CHCN is honoured to have received this recognition alongside other Transformative Change Award recipients, all of whom are driving meaningful improvements in community health across Ontario.
Looking Ahead
Participation in the 2026 Alliance Conference provided the Community Health Centres of Northumberland with an opportunity to both share our work and learn from peers across the sector. From innovative rural outreach models to improved integration of social determinants of health—and through award-winning inclusive care programs—CHCN continues to demonstrate leadership in delivering accessible, community-centered primary care.
As CHCN builds on this momentum, we remain committed to advancing partnerships, improving health equity, and supporting the diverse needs of the communities we serve.
