Toronto Public Health Unveils Strategic Plan 2024-2028

TORONTO – Toronto Public Health’s (TPH) Strategic Plan 2024-2028 was officially adopted at the Toronto Board of Health (BOH) meeting on Monday. This comprehensive plan will direct TPH’s initiatives over the next four years, focusing on its vision, mission, values, priorities, and objectives.

Led by the BOH and its Strategic Plan Development Committee, the plan was shaped by feedback from Toronto residents, community partners, TPH staff, and various City divisions. The inclusive consultation process ensured a well-rounded approach to public health strategies.

The Strategic Plan identifies five key priorities:

1. Strengthening Health Protection, Disease Prevention, and Emergency Preparedness
2. Promoting Health and Well-Being
3. Supporting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Substance Use Harms
4. Advancing Health Equity
5. Nurturing a Positive Workplace Culture

We are excited to launch our new Strategic Plan for 2024-2028! It will be our blueprint over the next four years, ensuring continued delivery of impactful interventions to Toronto’s diverse population of over three million residents.

Learn more at https://t.co/djJEE0u0Q3 pic.twitter.com/hfC1TyJJcb

— Toronto Public Health (@TOPublicHealth) July 8, 2024

The plan is grounded in several key inputs:

• Recent population health data and analysis, including TPH’s 2023 Population Health Profile.
• Extensive public consultation.
• Best practices within the public health sector.
• Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Previous TPH strategic plans.
• Comparative analysis of other relevant strategic plans from public health, healthcare, and private organizations.

As Canada’s largest local public health unit, TPH delivers a wide range of public health interventions, programs, and services in alignment with the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). These standards, established by the Minister of Health under Section 7 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act, set the minimum requirements to address community health needs, reduce health inequities, prepare for public health emergencies, and improve health outcomes for Toronto residents.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, expressed her optimism about the plan, stating, “Public health works by assessing the health of the population and understanding what actions we can take to improve our overall health and reduce health inequities. Hearing from a diverse and engaged population throughout the Strategic Plan consultation and development process, I feel encouraged by Toronto Public Health, our community partners, and the people of Toronto coming together to tackle these challenges.”

For more details on the OPHS, visit the Government of Ontario’s website.

For further information on TPH’s Strategic Plan, visit the City of Toronto’s website.