ETHP advancing integration of community outreach, substance use and mental health services in East Toronto with new leadership model

Leah Palmer, Director, Substance Use and Mental Health at SRCHC, and Phillip Anthony, Manager, Community Outreach Services at MGH.

We are so proud and grateful to all of our teams delivering community mental health, substance use and harm reduction across the East Toronto community. Together, our teams showed tremendous dedication, compassion and resilience in often uncertain and challenging times during the past two years of the COVID-19 health crisis.

As we reflect on the rapidly growing and evolving needs of clients experiencing substance use and mental health challenges in our communities – especially during an unprecedented COVID-19 recovery climate – we recognize the need for the right investments in leadership and structures with partners responding as one coordinated health system.

We are pleased to share two leadership announcements that further the partnership between South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) and Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), as part of our broader East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP) collaboration and commitment to strong and sustainable substance use and community health services.

Leah Palmer, Director, Substance Use and Mental Health, SRCHC

Leah Palmer is the new Director of Substance Use and Mental Health at SRCHC.

In September, Leah Palmer will be promoted to the role of Director of Substance Use and Mental Health for SRCHC.

Building on her extensive experience leading teams across SRCHC and MGH, in this new position, Leah will advocate for strong and responsive community mental health, substance use and harm reduction services at health system tables, to address and support the most pressing issues facing substance use and mental health issues in our communities.

In her new role, Leah will also take on Director responsibility for leading the East Toronto Health Partners’ efforts in better serving community members with Substance Use and Health needs including the expansion of Safer Opioid Supply and Harm Reduction Services in East Toronto

Given Leah’s new role, she will transition responsibility for MGH’s Community Outreach Services to Philip Anthony who will expand his management responsibilities at MGH.

We want to recognize Leah’s accomplishments together with the team and leadership at Community Outreach over the past two years, which enhanced pathways and partnerships for our teams and clients across MGH, SRCHC and with partners across ETHP more broadly.

Phillip Anthony, Manager, Community Outreach Services, MGH

Phillip Anthony is the new Manager of Community Outreach Services at MGH.

Effective August 15, Phillip Anthony will expand his management responsibilities to become the Manager for Community Outreach Services (COS) for MGH, integrating all of the hospital’s adult mental health outreach services.

Phillip currently oversees the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT), which helps support people experiencing mental health crises with teams of nurses and specially trained police officers in a way that does not criminalize their behaviour and mental health issues. Phillip also provides oversight to ETHP’s evolving COVID-19 Outreach Centres, one-stop shops for COVID-19 supports and resources.

Together, these services improve the network of community-based outreach services to support East Toronto, and all of our many partners across ETHP delivering care every day to our community.

Please join us in congratulating Leah and Phillip on their new roles! Leah and Phillip will work closely together, alongside the team and leadership at Community Outreach Services over the coming weeks and months to ensure a smooth transition for our community.

We feel confident that this new leadership model will provide our teams with further support and integration to strengthen our community outreach, substance use and mental health services and provide a solid foundation for ongoing and future collaborations across ETHP.

Thank you again to our exceptional teams at MGH and SRCHC for their continued dedication and commitment to our communities and the clients we serve.

Sincerely,

Mark Fam
Vice President, Clinical Programs
Michael Garron Hospital
Co-Chair, ETHP Substance Use and Health

Jason Altenberg
President and CEO
South Riverdale Community Health Centre
Co-Chair, ETHP Substance Use and Health