The following is a letter from MoHLTC and the FOCUS Resource Centre
concerning the Ontario Alcohol and Other Drug Health Promotion/Prevention
framework.

=========================================================
Dear Colleague:

Ontario has a long history of working towards the reduction of alcohol and
other drug use and abuse in the province.  Over the past several years, the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has supported initiatives
aimed at the prevention of alcohol and other drug abuse in the province.
The Provincial FOCUS Community Program, implemented in 1998 to prevent
problems associated with alcohol and other drug abuse in 22 communities in
Ontario, and the current work to restructure and integrate the addiction
treatment system exemplify efforts toward coordinated action.  In keeping
with this commitment, the MOHLTC’s Public Health Branch, Health Promotion
and Wellness program aspires to build upon these past works and to enhance
the utilization of health promotion and prevention approaches inherent in
past strategies.

Also, over the past several years, the Ministry has been working to
establish the Ontario Health Promotion Resource System (OHPRS).  The
Ministry utilizes this system to gather and disseminate data related to
health promotion and prevention work across the province.  The Alcohol and
Other Drug Cluster, led by the FOCUS Resource Centre (FRC), is an integral
part of OHPRS, and serves to facilitate greater understanding of the
prevention of substance abuse and advance initiatives developed to reduce
and prevent associated harms.

Similar to past strategies, which involves laying the groundwork necessary
to support a coordinated and comprehensive approach, the MOHLTC has asked
the FOCUS Resource Centre to manage a project to determine the work required
to develop a provincial framework to address the problems associated with
alcohol and other drugs within a health promotion/prevention context.  Under
the direction of the Ministry, the project will be segmented into three
phases to be completed by June 30, 2002:

Ø       Research: analyse and synthesize data from provincial, national and
international research literature, reports and programs with a “Best
Practice” focus

Ø       Consultations:  conduct broad stakeholder consultations which would
include, but not be limited to, representatives from substance abuse and
injury prevention groups, public health and addiction agencies, members of
the OHPRS, MOHLTC and other ministries.

Ø       Framework:  develop & deliver a health promotion/prevention framework with
corresponding recommendations to the MOHLTC’s Health Promotion and Wellness
program

The framework will articulate a vision and goals that reflect the
aspirations and shared commitment of Ontario communities and health
intermediaries to prevent and reduce the harmful impact of alcohol and other
drugs.  Priority settings, populations and issues would be identified as
strategic areas of emphasis in tandem with recommended interventions at
local, regional and provincial levels, across a variety of settings and
employing a variety of approaches with proven effectiveness.  Recommended
roles, linkages and partnerships with and amongst stakeholders would
represent the underpinnings for action.

To implement this process, the FRC has contracted the services of Health
Horizons Consulting.  John McCready, as the Principal Consultant and Project
Manager, will draw upon the expertise of the other members of the consulting
team which include John Garcia, Expert Consultant on Health Promotion
Framework Development; Michael Goodstadt, Expert Consultant and Design Lead
for Literature Review; and Paula Stanghetta, Expert Consultant and Design
Lead for Stakeholder Consultation.

Healthy Horizons Consulting will work closely with a Project Advisory
Committee throughout the project and will involve stakeholders immediately.
In addition to broad consultations, stakeholders are currently being asked
to submit suggested research, programs, frameworks and strategies to be
included in the literature review.  At the same time, they will be invited
to submit organizational and individual position papers on the development
of the framework and its components.  If you and/or your organization wish
to submit any of the aforementioned documents, please forward them by April
22, 2002 to:

John McCready
Healthy Horizon Consulting
17 Beaufort Road
Toronto ON  M4E 1M6

E-mail: [log in to unmask]

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the FOCUS Resource Centre are
pleased to be working in collaboration with Healthy Horizons Consulting and
other health promotion stakeholders across Ontario on this very important
initiative.  For further information about this project, please contact
Marianne Kobus-Matthews, Acting Manager, FOCUS Resource Centre by telephone
at (416) 535-8501 ext. 4553, or by e-mail at [log in to unmask]

Sincerely,

Myrna Gough
Manager
Provincial and Community Programs
Health Care Programs
Health Promotion and Wellness
Public Health Branch
Ministry of Health Long-Term Care
        and
Marianne Kobus-Matthews
Acting Manager
FOCUS Resource Centre
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

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