I always find myself fascinated when one year is coming to a close, and the anticipation of a new year is right around the corner.
First, there is the reflection period.
How did this past year go by so quickly? (An annual question….)
What successes and milestones can we celebrate? (There are many!)
And what have we learned, what can we do better? (Nobody after all, is perfect!)
And then, there is the eagerness, and the excitement of looking ahead to a new year, ripe with opportunities… (Think, new programs, and partnerships!) What could 2024 possibly bring?
As I look back, here are just a few 2023 highlights from the Community Health Centres of Northumberland;
- celebrating fifteen years of serving the community,
- expanding our Social Prescribing program with the help of a United Way Grant,
- receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to start our weekly Community Food Market,
- creating new partnerships with Northumberland Hills Hospital Community Mental Health and Rebound Child and Youth Services to expand mental health services in our community,
- serving close to 500 local seniors on the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (for a total of over 1000 patient visits!)
- being nominated for our first ever Port Hope Business Excellence Awards through the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce!
- providing primary care services to over 2,500 individuals, for a total of 13,656 visits
- participating with many other local partners, in the development of the Strategic Plan for the Ontario Health Team of Northumberland
This is by no means an exhaustive list of everything our teams have accomplished in 2023, on top of their day-to-day work, but a great depiction of some of the innovative ways that we, along with community partners, are working to better serve Northumberland County. We are all very proud of these great accomplishments!
After reflecting on the previous year, it is exciting to envision and anticipate what the future could possibly hold, and my crystal ball tells me that 2024 is going to be a great year here at the CHCN. Here are some things we can all look forward to in the coming year;
- we will be launching a new and refreshed Strategic Plan, early in the year, thanks to the work of our very engaged Board of Directors,
- we are introducing a Gender Affirming Care program in the Spring of 2024 thanks to generous grants from the Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) and Cameco Corporation,
- we will be expanding our youth programming through collaboration and development of a Youth Wellness Hub,
- we will continue to participate as a strong Ontario Health Team of Northumberland partner, engaging in projects aimed at furthering the plans of the OHT-N to remove barriers for residents of Northumberland County so that health care and social services can be delivered, and received in an equitable manner,
- we are planning to increase the voice of clients and community members in the development of our future planning and,
- we will strive to expand our outreach services to ensure we are reaching those who most need our programs and services
As a Community Health Centre, we are always looking for ways to improve and expand our services. We have an extremely dedicated team of professionals that are also very creative in their thinking, always coming up with new ideas to meet the needs of our clients. As we continue to grow in staff, clients, volunteers and services, we will do so with the best interests of the community in mind.
I wish to thank our incredibly dedicated team for continuing to show up every day for our clients, our community and for each other. Many thanks to all of our volunteers who help keep the work moving, supporting us in what we do. Thank you as well to our Board of Directors who guide our work with the best interests of the community in mind. And finally, thank you to our donors, who are able to support our programming through their generous contributions.
May 2024 bring you and your loved ones health, happiness and successes, whatever that may look like to you.
Warmest wishes,
Taryn Rennicks
