Newcomer Canadians use social media to navigate their families and communities through the health system

Thousands of young Canadians use social media and smart phones to help immigrant communities navigate the health system

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2011

What if young, disenfranchised newcomers were empowered to help navigate their families and communities through the maze of Canadian health and social services, using social networks, fulfilling their desires to support others and lead?

Youth4Health is a community engagement initiative led by Dr. Alex Jadad and Dr. Cameron Norman at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, which utilizes social media, smart phones and tablets to train thousands of youth as navigators able to enhance access to health services for newcomers to Canada. "Newcomers often don't know of the richness of services available to them”, says Dr. Andrea Cortinois, project consultant and expert on immigrant health. “Youth4Health trains young people as health system navigators, enabling them to help their families and friends identify and better access quality health services and resources in Ontario."

Building on youth's interests in online social networking and social media, Youth4Health is pleased to launch NavigateThis.org, a health navigation training toolkit created by youth for youth. Powered by TakingITGlobal, the largest online global network promoting youth leadership for social change, the toolkit features short videos and documentaries, an interactive trivia game, and other resources like blogs, photos and stories to teach youth about health issues and health navigation.

"Youth want to make a difference, have diverse networks and through social media are able to leverage both of these qualities to plug a hole in the health care system, offer innovative solutions, and contribute to the health of their communities" says Dr. Norman.

In celebration of the project success, Youth4Health is hosting an event on Monday March 28, 2011, from 4-7pm ET at Hart House, University of Toronto. All are welcome to attend, to see demonstrations of the Toolkit, meet young health navigators, and learn about the project.

"By training youth as health navigators, Youth4Health is leveling the playing field for newcomers facing serious health problems" says Dr. Jadad, who migrated to Canada in the mid 1990s. ”Harnessing the creativity, passion and skills of newcomers is essential to build a strong Canada”.

Youth4Health is an initiative of the People, Health Equity and Innovation (PHI) Group and the Youth Voices Research Group and is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Project partners include FindHelp/211 Ontario, MindYourMind.ca, CAMH, the Centre for Health, Wellness and Cancer Survivorship and the ELLICSR program at Princess Margaret Hospital, the YMCA of Cambridge/Kitchener, Waterloo Collegiate Institute, Conestoga College and Green Thumbs, Growing Kids.

Youth4Health Contact:
Charlotte Lombardo, Project Manager, c.lombardo@utoronto.ca or 416-978-2201