Full title: The National Newcomer Navigation Network: A tool to support Connection, Learning and Collaboration across Sectors to Improve Social and Health Outcomes among Newcomers to Canada

Presenters: Christine Kouri, BScN, MHA, Manager, Health Equity and Diversity, Sahar Zohni, MD, MHA, Project Manager,  National Newcomer Navigation Network, and Mariah Maddock, MPH, Project Coordinator, National Newcomer Navigation Network, CHEO -- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Date: August 17th, 2021

Description

COVID-19 has highlighted the vulnerability of newcomers to Canada. Data analysis of Ontario COVID+ residents has shown a hyper-representation of newcomers, despite barriers to access testing. These findings have raised the awareness and urgency for cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure health equity for newcomers. This session will profile one city’s attempts to breakdown the silo between health and settlement services, as well as the formation of the new National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4) whose aim is to support newcomer-serving professionals across sectors to connect, learn and collaborate, with the ultimate goal of ensuring an equitable experience.

Presenter biographies

Christine Kouri has over 30 years of experience in the Canadian healthcare system and is known for her initiatives and expertise in equitable health care across socioculturally diverse and marginalized populations. Upon obtaining her Master's in Health Administration, she was recruited to CHEO to lead the development of their Patient Experience department. As the Manager for that department, she led CHEO's efforts to ensure an optimal experience for Syrian Refugees that were welcomed to Ottawa in early 2016. In addition to oversight of the N4 project, Christine continues to lead CHEO's health equity efforts for their most vulnerable patients and families, including newcomers.

Sahar Zohni is the Project Manager for the N4 – National Newcomer Navigation Network. She has a Master and Doctor Degree in Pediatrics from Alexandria University in Egypt, and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Ottawa. Dr. Zohni brings to the role over 25 years work as a clinician, lecturer, researcher and passion for quality improvement. She has worked internationally including Egypt, England and now Canada. Sahar's career path makes her the ideal leader for the N4 team to create a national network aimed to improve the experience of newcomers in navigating Canada's complex health and social services.

Mariah Maddock brings several years of project management, coordination, and research experience to her role as Project Coordinator with the National Network Navigation Network. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health with a specialization in Northern and Indigenous Health Care. Mariah’s experiences living in northern Ontario and with N4 have provided her with direct knowledge of the social and health needs within newcomer and Indigenous populations in Canada. In her current role, Mariah enjoys finding ways the N4 project can build capacity within the health and settlement sector to better support professionals who help newcomers navigate Canada’s complex health and social service systems.