New Partnership Expands Access to Culturally Safe Black Maternal and Reproductive Care in the GTA
North York General (NYG) and Mino Care have partnered to expand access to culturally safe Black maternal and reproductive care across the Greater Toronto Area.
Mino Care has started an in‑person clinic out of NYG’s Outpatient and Community Services Centre (Champagne Site), located at 2 Champagne Drive in North York. The clinic runs two Saturdays each month from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and is staffed by health care professionals and workers from Mino Care. Childcare is also provided to support patients with children.
“This partnership is an important step in improving access to care that reflects the lived experiences and needs of Black women, families and other people giving birth,” says Dr. Everton Gooden, President and CEO of North York General. “By working with community‑based organizations like Mino Care, we are helping to close care gaps and advance health equity in North York and beyond—a key priority under our new strategic plan.”
“Mino Care is honoured to partner with North York General in advancing an integrated, culturally safe model of perinatal and reproductive care,” says Elsie Amoako, Founder/CEO of MinoCare. “This collaboration enables us to bring our comprehensive services into a unified space that centers the holistic well-being of patients and their families. Together, we aim to deepen equitable access to care, particularly for Black and racialized communities, while supporting health care professionals committed to delivering inclusive, trauma-informed, and community-focused practice.”
The collaboration between North York General and Mino Care will help reduce the health risks and complications unique to Black women by providing culturally-safe expertise and services including sessions with a midwife or nurse, mental health counselling, fertility support, pelvic floor support, doula care and lactation support.
Culturally Safe Care Remains a Challenge
Because of minimal data or initiatives to publicize Black maternal health outcomes in Canada, many health care providers may not be knowledgeable about the unique health issues facing Black communities and so deliver inadequate care.
The few studies done in Canada show Black women can feel unheard and mistreated when accessing maternal and newborn care. Despite being more likely to experience depression and anxiety than their non-racialized peers, they may also underutilize mental health services before and after birth due to cultural and other barriers.
For more information and to book an appointment, please visit minocare.ca.
North York General
North York General is one of Canada’s leading community academic hospitals with a vision to deliver World-Class Care, 24/7. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, our multi-site campus supports our diverse community through every stage and life-defining moment by providing a wide range of acute care, ambulatory and long-term care services.
North York General is a member of the North York Toronto Health Partners, an Ontario Health Team that integrates local care with patients, primary care and community partners.
Mino Care Mino Care is a holistic perinatal health centre dedicated to providing culturally safe, customized services for ACB (African, Caribbean, Black) and racialized women, birthing persons, and families. Since 2019, we have delivered wraparound support including doula care, pelvic floor therapy, mental health services, lactation consulting, childcare and more through partnerships with hospitals, clinics, and midwifery practices. We address critical gaps in reproductive, prenatal, and postpartum care for ACB and racialized communities across Canada, and our growing expertise has made us an essential provider of culturally safe perinatal and reproductive care nationwide. Learn more at www.minocare.ca.