Item - 2019.HL3.4

Tracking Status

This item was considered by Board of Health on February 25, 2019 and was adopted with amendments.

HL3.4 - 2019 Board of Health Committees and Appointments

Decision Type:: ACTION

Status:: Amended

Wards:: All

Confidential Attachment - Personal matters about identifiable individuals who are being considered for appointment to the Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel and the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel

Board Decision

The Board of Health:

1. Appointed the Board of Health members listed below to the following Committees for a term of office ending December 31, 2019, and until successors are appointed:

a. Board of Health Budget Committee:

- Ashna Bowry

- Councillor Joe Cressy

- Trustee Stephanie Donaldson
- Angela Jonsson

- Councillor Gord Perks

- Soo Wong

b. Board of Health Performance Appraisal of the Medical Officer of Health Committee:

- Councillor Joe Cressy

- Councillor Cynthia Lai

- Peter Wong

- Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam

2. Appointed Kate Mulligan to the 2019 Association of Local Public Health Agencies' Board of Directors and Board of Health Section and agreed to pay her expenses incurred when participating in, and attending, the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' 2019 meetings and semi-annual meetings/conferences, within the approved 2019 budget, for a term of office ending December 31, 2019, and until a successor is appointed.

3. Encouraged all Board of Health members to attend the Association of Local Public Health Agencies' Board of Health Section meetings and semi-annual meetings/conferences held in Toronto in 2019 and agreed to pay expenses associated with this participation, within the approved 2019 budget.

4. Approved the revised Terms of Reference for the Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (February 11, 2019) from the Medical Officer of Health, and appointed Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam as the Board of Health member on the 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel for a term of office ending December 31, 2019, and until a successor is appointed.

5. Appointed the individuals listed below from the following communities and/or areas of expertise to the 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel for a term of office ending December 31, 2019, and until successors are appointed:

a. Indigenous Member:

- Allen Woodhouse (also appointed as an HIV Expert)

b. HIV Experts:

- Zahra Bolouk
- Ciro Bisignano
- Guy Mian
- Andrea Westbrook
- Allen Woodhouse (also appointed as an Indigenous Member)

c. Harm Reduction Experts:

- Chaudhry Ahmed
- Beth Collison
- Marc-Andre Hermanstyne
- Mary Elizabeth Lindsey
- Stephanie Moulton

d. Child and Youth Resiliency Experts:

- Sahar Golshan
- Julia Gonsalves
- Jordana Rovet
- Danielle Sutherland
- Dorene Weston

6. Appointed the individuals listed below from the following communities and/or areas of expertise as alternates for the 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel, with such appointments effective only in the event a vacancy for the specific community and/or area of expertise occurs prior to the first meeting of the 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel, for a term of office ending December 31, 2019, and until successors are appointed:

- Dakarayi Chigugudhli, Alternate HIV Expert

- Lindsey Jennings, Alternate Harm Reduction Expert

- Enrique Robert, Alternate Child and Youth Resiliency Expert

7. Approved the revised Terms of Reference for the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel, as outlined in Attachment 2 to the report (February 11, 2019) from the Medical Officer of Health, and appointed Councillor Gord Perks as Chair of the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel for a term of office ending December 31, 2022, and until a successor is appointed.

8. Appointed the individuals listed below to the Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel for a term of office ending December 31, 2022, and until successors are appointed:

- Kaitlyn Adams-Lewis, Youth Coordinator, Toronto Indigenous Health Advisory Circle, Youth Council

- Zahra Bolouk, Representative, Research Group on Drug Use

- Joanne Brown, Executive Director, Parent Action on Drugs

- JF Crépault, Senior Policy Analyst, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

- Frank Crichlow, Representative, Toronto Drug Users Union

- Rose D'Alimonte, Manager, Social Work, Toronto District School Board

- Madam Justice Mary Hogan, Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto Region

- Jann Houston, Director, Strategic Support, Toronto Public Health, City of Toronto

- Amber Kellen, Director, John Howard Society of Toronto

- Andrea Kusters, Representative, Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP)

- Peter Leslie, Representative, Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance

- Dennis Long, Executive Director, Breakaway Addiction Services

- Debra Neil, Representative, Knowledge and Power of Women (KAPOW)

- Rachel Robinson, Representative, Knowledge and Power of Women (KAPOW)

- Michael Nurse, Representative, Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention

- Steph Pinch, Youth Representative/Co-ordinator, TRIP! Project

- Lori Kufner, Youth Representative/Co-ordinator, TRIP! Project

- Cindy Raycroft, Representative, COUNTERfit Women's Harm Reduction Program, South Riverdale Community Health Centre

- Gord Tanner, Director, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration Division, City of Toronto

- Steve Teekens, Representative, Toronto Indigenous Health Advisory Circle

- Steven Watts, Staff Inspector, Drug Squad, Toronto Police Service

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Board of Health:

1. Authorized the public release of the names and biographies of the appointed individuals in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (February 11, 2019) from the Medical Officer of Health, immediately following its adoption of Recommendations 5, 6, and 9.

(February 25, 2019 - 11:16 a.m.)

The following information contained in Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (February 11, 2019) from the Medical Officer of Health is now public:

Biographies for 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel Appointees

Chaudhry Ahmed (Harm Reduction Expert)

Chaudhry Ahmed is currently a Harm Reduction Drop-In Coordinator at Street Health Community Nursing where he delivers harm reduction services, overdose prevention services, and education on HIV/HCV and other blood-borne illnesses. He was previously at the Flemington Health Centre and Kinza Hospital in Pakistan working in a diabetes prevention program and a drop-in program. He has a Bachelor's of Health degree and was the recipient of a Community Volunteer Service Award in 2014.

Ciro Bisignano (HIV Expert)

Ciro Bisignano is a returning member of the Review Panel and is currently the Legacy Project Coordinator and Supporter Research Coordinator at the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment where he is coordinating training sessions, providing peer mentorship support, and coordinating administrative functions with the research team. He was a Youth Support Worker at the AIDS Committee of Toronto and Research Associate for the Community Champions HIV/AIDS Advocate Mobilization Project. He has experience addressing the sexual health needs of newcomer immigrants, refugees, and non-status persons and experience conducting community-based research. He was also involved as a Committee member of Opening Doors Toronto and Latinos Positivos Ontario, addressing the needs of people living with HIV.

Zahra Bolouk (HIV Expert)

Zahra Bolouk is currently the Manager of Harm Reduction at Sistering and, previously, the Women's Community Development Coordinator at the AIDS Committee of Toronto working with women who use substances. She has a Doctorate degree in medicine and a Master's degree in Public Health and had the privilege of being able to work at different levels of the health system, including health policy, primary care, harm reduction, mental health, public health, and sexual health, in both Canada and internationally. She has focused her career working with vulnerable populations, including prisoners, factory workers, training Afghan refugees to be rural midwives, and co-designed a national curriculum on health crisis management focusing on supporting women and children from sexual abuse during disasters.

Beth Collison (Harm Reduction Expert)

Beth Collison is a returning member of the Review Panel and is currently an Addiction Therapist at Breakaway Addiction Services, Satellite Opiate Treatment Clinic. She has a Master's of Social Work and co-authored a research project on youth engagement in HIV prevention strategies. With over 17 years of experience in social work, her current work interfaces health care, mental health services, community agencies, criminal justice, and the child and welfare system. She has participated in various Committees, including the Toronto Women Substance Use Network, the Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Network, the Research Group on Drug Use, and the Toronto Withdrawal Management System.

Sahar Golshan (Child and Youth Resiliency Expert)

Sahar Golshan is currently the Program Manager at the Canadian Roots Exchange and a part-time Grants Writer at SKETCH Working Arts. She is a Youth Community Leader with over five years of employment experience in the youth community sector, where she supports youth organizations to develop funding proposals, designs and facilitates anti-racism and decolonization workshops for Indigenous and racialized youth, and manages various youth leadership projects. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree and has experience working at the provincial, national, and international levels working to address indigeneity, diversity, and youth social justice issues.

Julia Gonsalves (Child and Youth Resiliency Expert)

Julia Gonsalves is a returning member of the Review Panel and is currently the Director of Operations at the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, where she oversees their children and youth programs, community outreach, communications, and the development of the new George Chuvalo Community Centre. She has had 16 years of experience delivering community programs and services, including children’s after-school programs and camps, early years programs, and youth programs (including those for Trans and LGBTQ2SI youth). She was previously the Grants Manager at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She currently sits on the Board of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto.

Marc-Andre Hermanstyne (Harm Reduction Expert)

Marc-Andre Hermanstyne is a returning member of the Review Panel where he served as Co-Chair for two funding cycles and is currently the Outreach Worker at Ve’ahavta’s Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness outreach van. He was formerly the Harm Reduction Coordinator at the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention. He is a member of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Harm Reduction Advisory Committee and is a Director of the Board of the Central Toronto Community Health Centre. He has experience working with clients from diverse cultures and backgrounds, including clients dealing with issues such as homelessness, drug addictions, alcohol addictions, mental health, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Mary Elizabeth Lindsey (Harm Reduction Expert)

Mary Elizabeth Lindsey is currently the Program Manager at Accommodation, Information, and Support Inc. where she supervises an interdisciplinary team for supportive housing. She has a Master's in Social Work and holds certificates in several therapeutic modalities. She has extensive experience providing community support, supportive counselling, as well as organizational policy and program development that focuses on poverty and systemic service gaps.

Guy Mian (HIV Expert)

Guy Mian is currently the Program Manager of the HIV-STI Program at the Centre Francophone, a Board member of the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, and a Committee member of various working groups, including the Francophone HIV/AIDS Working Group; the KTE Forum for African, Caribbean, and Black People Living with HIV/AIDS; and the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment. He has a Master's degree in Public Health and a Doctorate degree in Medicine and has worked in addressing the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and care management of HIV-positive newborns.

Stephanie Moulton (Harm Reduction Expert)

Stephanie Moulton is currently the Provincial Harm Reduction Outreach Coordinator at the Prisoner’s AIDS/HIV Support and Action Network (PASAN). She is a registered Social Service Worker and has over six years of experience with the community-based response to harm reduction across multiple sectors, including working with people within the criminal justice system, older adults, and those in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas in the City of Toronto.

Jordana Rovet (Child and Youth Resiliency Expert)

Jordana Rovet presently works as the Harm Reduction Program Coordinator at Skylark Children, Youth, and Families (formerly Delisle Youth Services). She has a Master's of Social Work. Jordana brings experience working to improve access to mental health and health services for youth involved with substance use and or sex work. Coupled with her work in youth engagement and outreach, Jordana has also accumulated experience in community capacity building and has worked with various stakeholders to identify gaps in service delivery around harm reduction. Jordana also has experience conducting needs assessments for community groups, and has been involved in grassroots advocacy initiatives, including the Moss Park Overdose Prevention Site.

Danielle Sutherland (Child and Youth Resiliency Expert)

Danielle Sutherland is a returning member of the Review Panel and is currently the Curriculum Development Manager at Skylark Children, Youth, and Families (formerly Delisle Youth Services) where she manages knowledge translation and implementation into the community as well as oversight of internal capacity building in the areas of drug prevention, harm reduction, implementation science, licensing, as well as learning and behaviour change. She has a Master's of Social Work and has a strong history of working in youth resiliency, particularly with LGBTQ youth and LGBTQ families.

Andrea Westbrook (HIV Expert)

Andrea Westbrook is currently a Social Worker at the Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. She is a Mental Health Clinician, Psychotherapist, and Registered Social Worker with a focus on HIV, Hepatitis C, schizophrenia, psychosis, substance use, anger management, Trans and gender-diverse clients, and working with sex offenders. She has diverse experience in research, program development, evaluation, leadership in knowledge sharing, and mentorship. She also has extensive community involvement in the HIV sector, including as the Board President at the Teresa Group and various Committee work addressing combination prevention services for HIV-negative men who have sex with men; developing a toolkit on Young Women’s HIV Prevention with the Canadian AIDS Society; Research Assistant at the HIV Prevention Lab at Ryerson University; evaluating PHA Engagement in Poz Prevention for Gay Men at the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation; developing child care subsidy guidelines for the Toronto HIV/AIDS Network; and advising on Access Project for the Canadian Treatment Action Council.

Dorene Weston (Child and Youth Resiliency Expert)

Dorene Weston is a returning member of the Review Panel and Co-Chair of the 2018 Review Panel. She is the Owner and Consultant of Full Circle Consulting where she has had extensive experience working with agencies around program design and evaluation, as well as organizational development and delivery. She has a Master's of Business Administration. In addition to consulting, her work experience spans a variety of settings, including working as a Program Consultant for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, as the Associate Director, Non-Profit Management and Leadership Program, Schulich School of Business, and as the Interim Executive Director, Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors. The majority of her consulting work has been in the non-profit sector, with a focus on newcomers. She currently sits on the Community Advisory Council of the Michael Garron Hospital and the Cecil Community Centre Board of Management.

Allen Woodhouse (Indigenous and HIV Expert)

Allen Woodhouse is an Indigenous Wellness Worker. He holds a diploma in Social Services, Addictions Counselling, and Policing. Allen has worked in health promotion, community capacity building, program development, and community development. Allen has sat on a Youth Committee and Community Social Services Board. Allen also brings front-line experience in HIV/AIDS-related service provision and harm reduction.

Biographies for 2019 Toronto Urban Health Fund Review Panel Alternates

Dakarayi Chigugudhli (Alternate HIV Expert)

Dakarayi Chigugudhli is the founder of Women Empowering Positive Women. She has a Master's degree in Critical Disability Studies as well as a Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Leadership and Management. She has more than five years of experience in providing health education, as well as project development, implementation, and evaluation. She has participated as a Steering Committee and Advisory Committee member on a variety of community-based research projects. She has received numerous accolades and awards for her work and commitment to empowering women living with HIV, most recently, receiving the 2018 Outstanding Community Dedication Award from Inspire Awards.

Lindsey Jennings (Alternate Harm Reduction Expert)

Lindsey Jennings is currently the provincial Hepatitis C Program Coordinator at the Prisoner’s AIDS/HIV Support and Action Network (PASAN). She has over 10 years of experience working in community and social services, with a focus on HIV, Hepatitis C, and the criminal justice system. She has worked with the John Howard Society of Toronto as a Reintegration Worker and the Salvation Army as a Residential Support Worker. She has an Honours diploma from the Social Service Worker program at Humber College and has extensive experience volunteering with the Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy, as well as FEAT for Children and Youth.

Enrique Robert (Alternate Child and Resiliency Expert)

Enrique Robert is a returning member of the Review Panel and, currently, is the Executive Director of Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre, and has extensive experience in non-profit administration and governance. He is a Human Rights Attorney by training and is committed to implementing policies and programming on social inclusion, anti-oppression, and anti-racism. He has experience working to provide drop-in services, providing basic needs for visible minorities, and providing housing to the homeless through his work at the Open Door Centre and Rooms Registry, the Harbourfront Community Centre, and Homes First Society. He was Chairperson for the Board of Directors for the Toronto Neighbourhood Centres and has extensive experience with grant-making through his volunteer work with United Way Toronto, the Maytree Foundation, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Toronto Drug Strategy Implementation Panel Appointees