The Canadian Stage is Set with a Prescription for Possibilities…



Through Social Prescribing and CISP

With an audience from coast-to-coast and representation from the health, academia, student, community, government, and policy making sectors, the Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing (CISP) officially made its introduction as Canada’s hub for connection, collaboration, and community partnerships. In the webinar launch, CISP director Sonia Hsiung says there is so much potential for CISP in Canada, as social prescribing is a prescription for possibilities.

“What social prescribing at its fullest can offer, is an intentional collaboration between health and social care systems, practitioners and individuals that create a more connected community. It prioritizes and enables a person’s ability to determine their own goals, take control of their own well-being in a supportive pathway by asking what matters to them, and co-designing those solutions together.” “Co-design”, and “together”, are key words to this initiative, as partnerships play a key role in making CISP happen. The Canadian Red Cross is serving as the anchor for the Institute, and the Red Cross’s chief of health, Tanya Elliott, says it’s a perfect fit.

“The Canadian Red Cross is honored to be serving as the anchor for the CISP. Social prescribing is a practice – and the work of the CISP holds such meaningful alignment to the transformation that is currently underway within our own community health programming at the Red Cross.”

One webinar participant, who was connected to social prescribing by his primary care provider through Active Aging in British Columbia, said, “Programs like social prescribing can both prevent concerns and symptoms from becoming pathologies, and in a non-clinical or non-medical setting can help people win over these challenges. I guess that’s what social prescribing has been doing for me.”

The plan for CISP is to gather the groups across Canada like Active Aging, so that many more stories like his can be told. With a focus on priority populations and health equity as a cornerstone for an effective practice, Dr. Grace Park says social prescribing has a bright future in taking some of the load off the primary healthcare providers.

“We can help our neighbors and we don’t have to turn to the health care sector for everything, because that’s not where health really lies; they only take up 20% of the big picture of a healthy compassionate community.” The team is looking forward to inspiring and creating these partnerships and to watching them thrive and flourish together through CISP. Social prescribing champions like Dr. Andrew Boozari are inspired by what’s ahead.

“I think this is where I draw so much hope in a room like this where there is real collective commitment to seeing something better, and actually bridging a system for people who have been completely shut out.”

CISP’s work is just getting started, and now is the time to get involved. If you missed the launch, you can watch it here, and read up on social prescribing resources here on our website. Be sure to follow CISP on Twitter and LinkedIn and keep up to date by subscribing to our newsletter.