T.O Urban Health Fund (TUHF)

The application process will take place in two phases:

Phase 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) required for all applicants

Phase 2: Full Proposal for applicants successful at the Letter of Intent phase

Letter of Intent (LOI)

One year and three year funding is available to agencies that meet all seven of the following criteria:

1. Non-profit organization with Letters Patent
2. Organization has an incorporation number
3. Organization’s head office located in the City of Toronto
4. Project activities take place in Toronto
5. Organization has an annual Audited Financial Statement within the last two years
6. At least 50% of the organization’s Board of Directors reside in Toronto
7. Proposal is requesting one-year or three year project funding

Ensure you meet ALL the criteria listed above before completing the LOI. Should your organization not clearly meet criteria #1-7, a trustee will need to be secured at the Full Application phase to be considered for funding. A trustee must meet the above five criteria and will be responsible for the financial oversight of your project.

Toronto Public Health has identified and prioritized improving the health of Toronto’s urban Aboriginal population in its Strategic Plan (2015-2019).  The new strategic plan calls for implementing an Aboriginal Health Strategy that is based on collaborative, community-led assessment of needs of the urban Aboriginal population.  Given the disproportionate impact of HIV/hepatitis C infection, alcohol and drug use within Aboriginal communities, the Toronto Urban Health Fund is enhancing its support to applications from organizations that primarily serve First Nations, Metis, or Inuit groups.

Application – Review Panel Recruitment

Roles and responsibilities:

The role of the Review Panel is to bring subject matter expertise and lived experience to the review and allocation of funding for community-based projects in the areas of HIV prevention, harm reduction and child and youth resiliency. The Review Panel works with Toronto Public Health staff to review each application and make funding recommendations to the Board of Health, for final approval.

Membership:

The Review Panel is comprised of the following members:

• A minimum of one member from the Board of Health
• A minimum of one member from City Council
• A minimum of one technical expert member in each of the fields of epidemiology and evaluation.
• A minimum of five citizen expert members in each of the fields of HIV prevention; harm reduction and child and youth resiliency.

Membership will include people living with HIV/AIDS, people who use substances, youth, people from Aboriginal and ethno-cultural communities, and residents of the diverse neighbourhoods across the city.

Terms of Office:

A Review Panel term is one year, and is renewable. Members of the Review Panel are appointed annually by the Board of Health.

The number of consecutive terms served by Review Panel members will be considered in the appointment process in order to maintain corporate history and continuity, and to take into consideration required knowledge in the areas of HIV prevention, harm reduction, and child and youth resiliency.

Eligibility requirements:

Review Panel members must be a resident or employed by an organization located within the City of Toronto, and at least 18 years of age. Individuals who are employees of the City of Toronto or any of its Agencies, Boards or Commissions are not eligible.

Qualifications:

Citizen members of the Review Panel should collectively demonstrate a range of qualifications including:

• interest or background in issues affecting health programs and services related to HIV prevention, harm reduction and child and youth resiliency;
• interest or skills assessing funding proposals that meet local community needs;
• experience in organizational activities, such as committees, non-profit groups, and voluntary societies;
• demonstrated skills in conflict management, negotiation and mediation;
• ability to make a commitment to participate  in Review Panel orientation, meetings and other related consultation and evaluation activities; and
• a youth (between ages 18-29) is a desired qualification for at least one citizen member.

Remuneration:

Review Panel members are not remunerated for their time, but may be reimbursed for travel and other reasonable expenses incurred while attending authorized Review Panel business, in accordance with approved policies.

Nomination and appointment process for citizen members:

A TUHF Staff Review Team, comprised of TUHF program staff, supervisor and management, will review application submissions and recommend candidates to the Board of Health. Alternates may be identified for first consideration when vacancies occur during the term.

The names of nominees and alternates are submitted in a confidential report to the Board of Health for review and final approval. The appointees’ names and a short biography are made public once a final decision is made.

Chair and Vice-Chair:

The Review Panel membership elects the Chair and Vice-Chair at its first meeting.

Application:

Please submit completed applications to tuhf@toronto.ca by Friday, December 15, 2017 at 4 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

For more information about membership on the Review Panel, please contact Herbert Co by telephone at 416-338-7946 or by email at hco@toronto.ca

The Toronto Urban Health Fund’s three- year and one-year funded projects:

• Summaries of Funded Projects 2014-2017 and 2016-2017

Evaluation of the Toronto Urban Health Fund application, review and allocation process – August 2014