2024 Annual Report | Southwestern Public Health

In 2024, Southwestern Public Health built momentum driven by innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision for healthier communities. This annual report shares the highlights, milestones, and voices that defined a year of impact across Oxford County, Elgin County, and the City of St. Thomas.

Message from the Executive Branch

Reflecting on the achievements of the past year, we are filled with gratitude and pride for the incredible work carried out by staff at Southwestern Public Health. Your expertise, compassion, and resilience have been the driving force behind our progress—and a beacon of hope for those we serve.

Together, we’ve learned from recent experiences to prepare for the unexpected, especially in the face of re-emerging threats like measles. Through outreach, education, and strategic partnerships, you have elevated vaccination rates across our region, protecting families and communities with precision and care. But beyond disease prevention, your evidence-informed work extends further: mitigating the health risks rooted in social determinants of health, equity, and environmental challenges. From food security and housing to climate adaptation and community wellness, your programming is making an impact.

As we embark on a new year with a new Strategic Plan before us, we are reminded of all that we have experienced since we became this organization in 2018. Much has transpired over those years to shape us, and we will take those lessons and opportunities into consideration to inform our next steps as a health unit.

To the Board of Health, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your steadfast leadership and strategic investment in public health priorities. Your commitment to our organization’s mandate and your vision for a healthier community enable our team to advance confidently, knowing we are supported in mission and purpose.

To every staff member—we see you, we value you, and we acknowledge the magnitude of your impact. Your work matters. Your efforts continue to build a foundation of well-being for generations to come.

Thank you for your professionalism, dedication, and heart.

We welcome the year ahead, and look forward to realizing a healthier, more vibrant community through your work.

- Cynthia St. John, Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Ninh Tran, Medical Officer of Health

Message from the Board of Health

As we conclude another transformative year, the Southwestern Public Health Board of Health extends our sincere congratulations and appreciation to our dedicated team. Through steady leadership and unwavering commitment, you’ve advanced the health and well-being of the communities we serve—making 2024 a year of impact.

Your exemplary work in infectious disease preparedness has been vital. Amid rising global concerns about measles, your strategic, coordinated efforts to elevate vaccination rates across our region have not only protected public health but demonstrated the power of momentum in prevention.

Every outreach initiative, immunization clinic, and community conversation helped build a more informed and protected population.

Over the past year, the Board of Health has made conscious and purposeful investments in the core priorities that matter most—including expanding frontline capacity to meet the needs of our communities. These actions underscore our commitment to ensuring you are fully equipped and supported.

Together, we’ve laid strong foundations. The road ahead calls for continued vigilance, innovation, and collaboration; we are confident that with your expertise and resolve, we will continue to advance our mission with purpose.

Thank you for your tireless work, professionalism, and enduring spirit.

Let’s keep the momentum going.

Highlights by department

Every department at Southwestern Public Health contributed to a healthier, more vibrant community in 2024 through purposeful programs and services.

Healthy Communities

Expanded programs to support children and youth through evidence-based frameworks like the Planet Youth Model and Comprehensive School Health
Three schools supported by the Healthy Schools Team—Annandale Public School, Oliver Stephens, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau French Immersion—achieved national Gold Healthy Schools Certification for improving the health and well-being of their students and staff
In a 2023-2024 survey, 100% of elementary school administrators agreed their school receives the support needed
from their public health nurse
In 2024, food affordability data was collected, analyzed, and shared, resulting in presentations to 37 community local
agencies or partner organizations about household food insecurity data in the region
758 inspections were completed by Tobacco Enforcement Officers in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act
75 reports of student non-compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act were received and addressed

Healthy Foundations

Launched the Nurse-Family Partnership to support first-time mothers under the age of 24
Identified 601 urgent dental conditions among 7,773 students screened
Migrated to a new oral health database for better client care
Partnered with Queen’s University and SickKids on early childhood developmental screening for a national database that will inform public policy and address assessment gaps
Strengthened capacity for supporting children from prenatal to age 6 through the Infant Early Mental Health Promotion
Adopted a chapter-based release approach to Community Health Status Reports to identify timely local health needs
Distributed 14,800 eclipse glasses during the total solar eclipse
Collaborated with local and provincial agencies for emergency prepareness initiatives, exercises, and workshops

Health Protection

Prepared necessary supports to respond to measles, mumps, and COVID-19 cases in local communities
Delivered 10,000 COVID-19 vaccines to individuals living in congregate and community settings
Achieved 87.8 per cent measles immunization coverage for 7 year-olds (above provincial average of 70 per cent), and 93.5 per cent coverage for 17 year-olds (above provincial average of 91.6 per cent)
Implemented the Heat Alert Response System (HARS) to offer direction to those most at-risk to extreme heat
Completed a regional Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment in partnership with the University of Waterloo's Climate Institute

Corporate Services

Became a designated Living Wage Employer
Launched a new staff recognition strategy and completed an engagement survey
SWPH shifted toward a more broad approach to student placement intakes to welcome a variety of disciplines, including Nursing, Medicine, Nutrition, and Public Health Inspection
Initiated strategic planning to set the direction for the next five years of improving health, resiliency, and service excellence at Southwestern Public Health
The IT and Emergency Management teams collaborated on a tabletop cyber security exercise to strengthen processes and policies in the event of a cyber threat
A new installment of Vital Perspectives explored the intersection between climate change and health to encourage community resilience
A full-divisional approach to innovation resulted in the deployment of CoPilot, Chatbot, and migration to new web properties that prioritize modern digital best practices

Community voices

The true impact of our work is best told through the voices of those we serve and collaborate with.

“I now experience a better quality of life and am grateful for the care I received.”
– Ontario Seniors Dental Care client

“SWPH is helping lead this shift alongside a community that’s ready to make meaningful change a reality.”
– Myles Proulx, Volunteer and Community Engagement Advocate, Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas and Elgin County

“We had such a strong and consistent message from SWPH that they were very committed to equity.”
– Dr. Susan Elliott, Professor, Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo

“The community partnering and pivotal work to-date would not have been made possible without the exemplary leadership and unwavering instrumental support provided by Southwestern Public Health .”
– Terry Spencer, Research and Evaluation Officer, London District Catholic School Board

Financial accountability

Revenue

This chart illustrates the sources of Southwestern Public Health’s revenue in 2024. The majority of funding came from the Province of Ontario, with additional support from municipal and federal sources.

Total revenue for 2024 from all sources: $25,253,104

Expenses

This chart shows Southwestern Public Health’s 2024 expenses. Most spending supported cost-shared programs and services, with additional funds used for one-time initiatives and clinics.

Total expenses for 2024 from all sources: $22,821,425