Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing

"Sometimes the right prescription is connection." - Dr. Dominik Nowak, MD, Family Doctor and President of the Ontario Medical Association. Thank you, Dr. Nowak, for your encouraging words at Canada’s Social Prescribing Conference. Your insights on the importance of integrating social prescribing into healthcare systems reinforces the critical role of community-based interventions in addressing health inequities. Let’s continue working together to shape a healthier, more equitable future. #socialprescribing

Last Thursday, we had the opportunity to hear from legendary organizer Marshall Ganz on the vital role of community-led action in building health justice.    Health workers, policy advocates, and community leaders gathered at Women's College Hospital to reflect on accessible, upstream healthcare solutions and the transformative potential of hope, curiosity, and shared responsibility. Building community, asking the right questions, and turning resources into power—these are the foundations for a healthier, more equitable society.   Ganz also spoke about the power of relationships, the strength in collective hope, and the need for leaders to step up, especially when systems fall short. His insights remind us: change starts with each of us, recognizing the impact we can make when we come together for a common cause. A big thank you to St. Michael's Hospital Academic Family Team for organizing the event and providing snacks from their SEED social prescribing program.

📢 Exciting progress in defining #socialprescribing! A collective commentary, with input from 54 contributors around the world, has just been published in BMC Health Services Research.    This piece explores how a shared understanding of social prescribing could enhance its use across health, social, and community sectors. But, as the article points out, there’s still much work to do to ensure adequate support for community services and tackle structural barriers. This growing global conversation is a powerful signal of momentum—one we’re watching closely as social prescribing evolves.   Read the full commentary to see the perspectives shared: https://lnkd.in/gte7qXHE

Join us for a FREE webinar, as we celebrate successes + share what we've learned in the past six years about Social Prescribing in primary health care, incl. learning about the incredible potential of culturally tailored #SocialPrescribing: https://lnkd.in/g3xnDTyW

As the holiday season approaches, the conversation around loneliness often intensifies. But the truth is, #loneliness is not just a seasonal issue; it’s a persistent epidemic affecting many Canadians throughout the year. Let’s shift our focus from temporary solutions to long-term strategies that build community resilience. By fostering social connections year-round, we can create a stronger, more inclusive society where everyone feels valued and connected. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gFrptAgf

On #WorldFoodDay, we recognize the importance of food security and proper nutrition in shaping the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities here in Canada. Despite the abundance of food produced locally and globally, many Canadians still struggle with hunger and access to affordable, nutritious diets. Food insecurity is a pressing issue, often driven by inequality and economic challenges, leading to malnutrition and related health issues. Social prescriptions, including food prescriptions, connect individuals to healthier food options and supports while respecting autonomy and choice. Learn more about innovative food prescription programs, check out: 🔸Guelph Community Health Centre's Food Rx: https://lnkd.in/ekYF2UtG 🔸Carrefour Solidaire Community Food Centre's Carte Proximité: https://lnkd.in/e-WjJGBx Beccah F. Lizzie Slattery Matthew Little Community Food Centres Canada

Such a pleasure to be at the #NACIC conference with International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC), learning from all the innovative and cocreative initiatives to better connect health and social care, and sharing about #SocialPrescribing as one powerful tool in the toolbox with Beth Mansell Healthy Aging Alberta. Day 1’s calls to action: - Build a big, inclusive tent that includes leaders outside of health and social care - Foster humility, kindness, and both the intent and competencies to enable trust, between individuals and across organizations - Focus on the wellbeing economy Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing Canadian Red Cross

This Thanksgiving, we take a moment to express our gratitude to all the partners and champions who tirelessly work toward building a more connected and compassionate future. While we pause to reflect, we also acknowledge the incredible strength and resilience of Indigenous wisdom, and the importance of frameworks like Two-Eyed Seeing, which teach us to value multiple perspectives in our journey. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn and unlearn together, and for the collective efforts being made to uplift communities across the country. Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving filled with reflection, gratitude, and a commitment to continued growth.

Stephanie Tierney has a great blog post out on her time presenting with Debra Westlake at the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing conference Key concepts from their research that warrant more consideration in research and practice: - Micro-discretions: The autonomy of social prescribing link workers to decide how to act in the role to be able to best support patients. - Holding: What link workers do, and how it impacts them, when people are not ready to be referred on to supports or when supports are unready to receive them. - Storytelling: Shared storytelling explores what has meaning for people involved in an activity or event, from their own perspective, and helps identify important themes in #SocialPrescribing.

Supporting older adults to age well with community supports such as social prescribing to increase Health span and quality years of life…