Connected Care Collective

Bringing Care Closer to Families

The Connected Care Collective is a regional mobile perinatal and reproductive healthcare pilot designed to improve access to perinatal, reproductive, infant, and related healthcare services across Simcoe, Muskoka, and Parry Sound through collaborative, community-based care.

This work is led in partnership by:

Together, partners are advancing a midwifery-led and Indigenous-led model of care that brings services directly into communities—ensuring families can access care that is timely, culturally safe, and close to home.

Why This Work Matters

Families across the region face barriers to accessing consistent, culturally appropriate care. Geographic distance, provider shortages, and fragmented care pathways can make it difficult to receive timely perinatal and reproductive health support—particularly for those who are underserved or not connected to primary care.

This initiative responds by delivering mobile, community-based care that is:

Accessible and responsive to community needs
Grounded in cultural safety and Indigenous knowledge
Integrated across healthcare and community services
Focused on improving continuity of care for families and expanding access to essential reproductive health services, including abortion care

A Collaborative Approach

This pilot reflects a shared commitment among partners to build a more connected, equitable, and community-informed system of care.

Together, partners are:

Designing and delivering a mobile-first model of care
Strengthening regional coordination and referral pathways
Building workforce capacity through education and training
Embedding culturally grounded supports, including Indigenous-led care
Supporting families in accessing the right care, in the right place, at the right time

Services & Supports

The program supports individuals and families through a range of perinatal and reproductive health services, including:

Perinatal & Reproductive Healthcare

Perinatal mental health screening and support
Care for pregnancy loss and complications
Contraception, STI testing, and reproductive health services
Support to improve access to abortion care and related reproductive health options

Infant Care

RSV prevention and catch-up clinics
Newborn assessments and well-baby care
Lactation and feeding support
Infant mental health screening

Navigation & Attachment to Care

Support connecting families to primary care providers
Navigation to appropriate health and community services
Focus on culturally appropriate and relationship-based care pathways

Culturally Grounded Care

A core strength of this initiative is its Indigenous-led approach, grounded in community knowledge, relationships, and culturally meaningful care practices. This includes:

Integration of Indigenous perspectives in care delivery
Support from trained Aunties (Traditional Birth Workers)
Access to culturally relevant education and supports
Strengthening trust and relationships with Indigenous communities

Partners are committed to ensuring care is respectful, inclusive, and responsive to diverse identities and lived experiences.

Who This Program Supports

This program is designed to support:

Indigenous and non-Indigenous families
Individuals without access to a primary care provider
Rural, remote, and underserved communities
Families across pregnancy, postpartum, and early infancy
Individuals seeking reproductive healthcare services

Looking Ahead

The Connected Care Collective represents an important step toward transforming how perinatal and reproductive care is delivered across the region.

By combining mobile care delivery, cultural safety, and system integration, partners are working to improve access, strengthen outcomes, and ensure individuals and families receive the care they need — when and where they need it.