Black Health & Wellness
At Durham Community Health Centre (DCHC), we recognize the need for every member of our community to be seen, heard, and cared for with compassion, dignity, and inclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted disproportionate health inequities among priority communities such as African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities who have historically faced disparities when accessing health services. As a Community Health Centre, we identified this as a critical responsibility to address structural barriers and elevate the social determinants of health for Durham’s diverse ACB communities.
In 2022, we launched our Black Health Strategy & Framework as the result of a community engagement process that saw well over 200 respondents participate via surveys, online meetings, consultations and focus groups. Participants were asked for their input on the main challenges they face, barriers to their health and social well-being, and programs and services they identified were needed to improve their health and well-being.
This Framework has guided us in building our Black Health and Wellness Program that provides integrated clinical and wellness care for ACB community members that generates greater access, engagement, and community trust. Furthermore, our services, activities, and events in support of our ACB community members are designed to produce positive and long-lasting health and wellness outcomes for Durham’s diverse ACB community members.
