COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT TAKES A NEW PERSPECTIVE-
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MEDIA RELEASE

        Researchers have developed a new approach to assess
a community's social determinants of health that emphasizes
the community's perspective.

        The Community Quality of Life Approach looks at
issues such as employment, housing and education through the
eyes of the people who live there, says Professor Dennis
Raphael of the department of public health sciences. "This
enables us to identify the community's strengths that should
be protected and the needs that should be addressed.

        "For too long experts and policy makers have been
deciding what is important for the everyday person," Raphael
says. "This new approach gives a voice to those members of
society who are normally not heard and forces experts and
policy makers to listen to what they have to say about their
quality of life."

        Raphael worked on the study with staff at the South
Riverdale and Lawrence Heights Community Health Centres. The
researchers held group discussions and individual interviews
with residents, service providers and elected
representatives. "We are developing a portrait of the
community to illustrate what people in the community think
makes life good for them and keeps them healthy."

        The tool is a product of the Community Quality of
Life Project in which researchers examined the Toronto
communities of Riverdale and Lawrence Heights. The work was
a partnership of the South Riverdale and Lawrence Heights
Community Health Centres, the City of Toronto and North York
Public Health Departments, the Metropolitan Toronto District
Health Council, the national office of the Canadian Mental
Health Association and U of T's department of public health
sciences and Centre for Health Promotion. Funding support
was provided by the Jessie Ball Dupont Fund, a charitable
agency based in Jacksonville, Fla.

        The Community Quality of Life Report for Riverdale
was discussed Feb. 24 at the South Riverdale Community Health Centre, and
copies of the report were available. Results from the Community Quality of
Life Report for Lawrence Heights will be announced in a few weeks.

Copies of the Riverdale Reports are available from:
South Riverdale Community Health Centre <[log in to unmask]>

The manual is available from:
<[log in to unmask]>


CONTACT: Professor Dennis Raphael of the department of
public health sciences, (416) 978-7567, e-mail:
[log in to unmask] or Christina Marshall, U of T public
affairs, (416) 978-5949, e-mail: [log in to unmask]




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  The cabinet minister lies in his bath.  With one hand he tries
  To force the wooden brush below the glassy surface.
  This childish play hides a serious core.
       -Bertolt Brecht
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Dennis Raphael, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Acting Director,
Masters of Health Science Program in Health Promotion
Department of Public Health Sciences
Graduate Department of Community Health
University of Toronto
McMurrich Building, Room 101
Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M5S 1A8
voice:    (416) 978-7567
fax: (416) 978-2087
e-mail:   [log in to unmask]