Doctors, nurses, social workers, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals work together at CHCs to support your physical and mental health.
What kinds of services do Community Health Centres offer?
Some programs and services you might find at a CHC:
- Culturally sensitive care in different languages
- Primary healthcare
- Sexual healthcare and education
- Mental healthcare
- 2SLGBTQIA+ programs
- Domestic violence prevention and treatment
- Parenting education
- Food-related programs
- Physiotherapy
- Diabetes education
All services provided by CHCs are confidential, and some are anonymous. To find a CHC near you, check the Ministry of Health website or contact 211.
If you do not have OHIP (the Ontario Health Insurance Plan), CHCs may still be able to help you.
Who are Community Health Centres for?
Anyone can go to a CHC and access services regardless of their immigration status, income, age, gender identity and sexual orientation. CHCs focus on serving populations who face barriers to accessing healthcare, such as:
- New immigrants
- People without health insurance
- Low-income people and families
- People struggling with mental health or addictions
- Houseless or precariously housed people
What is the difference between a Community Health Centre and a Family Clinic?
A family doctor is your primary physician, also called a General Practitioner (GP). You should see a family doctor whenever a health issue arises. They can also treat ongoing or chronic conditions and provide referrals to specialists.
The main difference between a CHC and a family clinic is that family clinics usually only have General Practitioners. CHCs, on the other hand, offer an interdisciplinary team of health professionals under one roof, including GPs.
Unfortunately, many CHCs have long wait lists for family doctors. However, many offer drop-in services. Ask your local community health centre what services you can access.
How do Community Health Centres support youth?
CHCs offer services to youth and some work with immigrants and refugees. They focus on health and have settlement services to help you settle into your community. They may offer services in your language. They may have services specifically for newcomer youth, like:
- Drop-ins and one-on-one support for newcomer youth
- Youth programs with group activities
- Art therapy
- Settlement counselling
- Employment counselling
- Family violence support groups
- Teen pregnancy and prenatal/postnatal support programs
- Community kitchens and food-buying co-ops
In Ontario, these community organizations have youth-focused health programs and services:
- All CHC Locations (Ontario)
- Durham Youth Services (Durham Region)
- Windsor Essex Community Health Centre - Teen Health (Windsor)
- Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (Toronto)
- Planned Parenthood Toronto (Toronto)
- Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services (Toronto)
- FCJ Refugee Centre Primary Health Clinic (Toronto) - only for those without insurance (OHIP, IFH)
For more information
- Youth Health - A list of health services and information for youth. By the government of Canada.
- Health811 - Call 811 anytime to speak with a registered nurse about health-related questions or concerns. It's free and confidential.
- Health Network for Uninsured Clients - Services and resources in the Greater Toronto Area for uninsured people.
- Pharmacies - Learn about the health care services you can get through your local pharmacy.
- Settlement.Org Health Section - Health-related articles for newcomers to Ontario.