Abstract
Many Canadian children and families face disproportionate access to the social determinants of health leading to persistent health inequities. In response, Healthy Kids HOME (Health On the Move for Equity) was developed as a place-based, community-driven health promotion program aimed at reducing systemic barriers by bringing services directly into equity-deserving Thunder Bay, Ontario neighbourhoods. Guided by a multi-sectoral steering committee and grounded in a Participatory Action model, HOME delivered resident-informed programming through local Healthy Kids Sites, targeting four pillars: physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and smoking cessation. Strong community partnerships underpinned program delivery, with a central goal of increasing resident engagement while supporting behaviour change and other self-identified needs. Between 2020 and 2025, HOME delivered more than 2,000 program offerings, reaching 20,000+ unique and repeat participants. A flagship initiative, I Love To…, focused on physical activity and was implemented in collaboration with the City of Thunder Bay. This component encompassed 36 unique programs delivered across three neighbourhoods, ranging from hockey and soccer to archery and cultural games, emphasizing accessibility and inclusion. This presentation will highlight key program outcomes, enabling factors (e.g., neighbourhood-based delivery, no-cost participation, resident co-design), and persistent challenges (e.g., staffing, complex funding structures, infrastructure limitations) associated with developing, implementing, and evaluating a multi-faceted community-based health promotion initiative. The HOME model demonstrates a scalable, partnership-anchored approach to improving health behaviours among children and families who are historically excluded from mainstream opportunities. Its success reinforces the value of culturally responsive, low-barrier, and locally tailored programming in advancing health equity.
