Aboriginal Health Access Centres

What are Aboriginal Health Access Centres

Aboriginal Health Access Centres (AHACs) are Aboriginal community-led, primary health care organizations. They provide a combination of traditional healing, primary care, cultural programs, health promotion programs, community development initiatives, and social support services to First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. There are currently ten AHACs in Ontario, providing services both on and off-reserve, in urban, rural and northern locations.

First announced in 1995, AHACs were closely modelled after Ontario’s Community Health Centres (CHCs), whose wide basket of services and supports had become the preferred mechanism to improve the health and well-being of communities in Ontario facing various barriers in accessing health care. In fact, two CHCs had already been established, one in Toronto and another in Timmins, with a mandate to apply this CHC model as the framework for services to local Aboriginal community members.

Ontario’s experience with CHCs, including these two Aboriginal CHCs — Anishnawbe Health Toronto CHC and Misiway Milopemahtesewin CHC in Timmins — provided strong evidence that such organizations could play a powerful role in improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal communities throughout Ontario. Currently, there are three Aboriginal CHCs in Ontario: Anishnawbe Health Toronto, Misiway Milopemahtesewin in Timmins and Chigamik in Midland.

That’s why, in 1994, when the province implemented its Aboriginal Health Policy – developed in the largest ever consultation with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities - through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, Aboriginal community-led primary health care was identified as a key pillar of the vision for the future. Beginning the following year, AHACs started to open their doors. By 2000, all ten were operational. And so were born Ontario’s Aboriginal Health Access Centres. Since then, AHACs have made a powerful contribution to health and wellbeing in Ontario, helping to bring tens of thousands of Aboriginal community members into the circle of care and support.

From clinical care to integrated chronic disease prevention and management, family-focused maternal/child health care, addictions counselling, traditional healing, mental health care, youth empowerment and other programs, AHACs continue to serve as a key entry point to overall family and community health and development.

Resources

• Aboriginal Health Access Centres and Aboriginal Community Health Centres - Report to Communities 2016

• Our Health, Our Seventh Generation, Our Future - 2015 Aboriginal Health Access Centres Report

• Indigenous Cultural Safety Training

• Model of Wholistic Health and Wellbeing

Members

Anishnawbe Mushkiki1260 Golf Links Road – 3rd FloorThunder Bay, ON  P7B 0A1Tel: 807-623-0383Fax: 807-623-0135Website: www.mushkiki.com     

De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre          678 Main Street EastHamilton, ON  L8M 1K2Tel:  905-544-4320Fax:  905-544-4247Website:  www.aboriginalhealthcentre.com                                  Brantford Site      36 King Street      Brantford, ON  N3T 3C5      Tel: 519-752-4340      Fax: 519-752-6096

Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre1460 Idylwild Drive P.O. Box 686RMB2004 RR #2Fort Frances, ON  P9A 3M9Tel: 807-274-3131Fax: 807-274-6280Website: www.gizhac.com

Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin Primary Health Care Team64 Cedar Point Dr. Unit 1405Barrie, ON L4N 5R7Tel: 705-734-1818

Mohawk Council of AkwesasneP.O. Box 579Cornwall ON  K6H 5T3Tel: 613-575-2341Fax: 613-575-133Website: www.akwesasne.ca            N’Mninoeyaa Health Access CentreP.O. Box 28, 473B Hwy #17WCutler, ON   P0P 1B0Tel: 705-844-2021Fax: 705-844-2844Website: www.mamaweswen.ca

Noojmowin Teg Health CentreHwy 540, Postal Bag 200248 Hillside RoadAundeck Omni KaningLittle Current, ON P0P 1K0Tel:  705-368-2182Fax:  705-368-2229                                                                          Website:  www.noojmowin-teg.ca                                                Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre161 Applegrove StreetSudbury, ON   P3C 1N2Tel: 705-675-1596Fax: 705-675-8040         Website: www.skhc.ca   

Sweetgrass Health Centre207 6th StreetCochrane, ON P0L 1C0            

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - London Site425-427 William StreetLondon, ON  N6B 3E1Tel: 519-672-4079Fax: 519-672-6945           Website: www.soahac.on.ca                                             Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Chippewas of the Thames Site      77 Anishinaabeg Drive      Muncey, ON  N0L 1Y0      Tel: 519-289-0352

      Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Owen Sound Site      #3-733 9th Avenue East      Owen Sound, ON  N4K 3E6      Tel: 519-376-5508

Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre - Windsor Site2-1405 Tecumseh Rd W.Windsor, ON  N9B 1T7Tel: 519-916-1755

Temiskaming Native Women’s Support Group 121 Scott StreetP0J 1P0 New Liskeard, OntarioTel: 705-567-6177

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health299 Montreal RoadOttawa, ON   K1L 6B8                                               Tel: 613-748-5999Fax: 613-748-9364      Website: www.wabano.com

Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig212 4th Ave. SouthKenora, ON   P9N 1Y9Tel: 807-467-2453Fax: 807-467-2666Website:        Head Office      Obashkaandagaang First Nation      P.O. Box 320      Keewatin, ON  P0X 1C0