Toronto, Ontario is often said to be one of the most diverse cities in the world. Concurrent Disorders Support Services (CDSS) operates in the downtown area of Toronto that the Ontario Ministry of Health calls the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
In the Toronto Central LHIN, 43% of the population are immigrants, with more than 9% of these having arrived between 1996-2001. See the last available census figures in the Population Health Profile: Toronto Central LHIN
As other Toronto agencies, CDSS was created with the value of equitable access. It assumed that the most efficient way to consider the multifaceted needs of a diverse population was with an early, planned approach. CDSS initiated the Diversity Plan Committee prior to the formal launch of the program.
In culmination of a 7-month committee process, a report of the CDSS Diversity Plan was completed and approved by the partnership. The Diversity Plan called for two years of activity:
- Creating a CDSS infrastructure in 2007 that can accommodate diversity planning, data collection and other needs.
- Reporting to, allocating a budget and seeking approval from the partnership in a transition period between 2007 and 2008.
- Engaging the partners in a partnership expansion and community outreach in 2008.