March 24, 2025
Informative Articles & Guides
Best Foot Forward: Foot screening to avoid limb loss
July 1, 2024
In healthy individuals, blood sugars are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. For people with type 2 diabetes, they can no longer produce or use enough insulin to control their blood sugars, which can lead to health complications such as nerve damage, sight loss, heart disease, kidney failure, anxiety, amputations, and even death.
Leg and foot loss due to diabetic foot injury is one of Canada's most pressing and preventable healthcare crises. Leg and foot wounds from diabetes-related complications account for more than 70% of lower limb losses in Canada.
The CAPE team is improving the prevention and early treatment of diabetes related foot wounds for structurally disadvantaged Ontarians living with diabetes, which can lead to loss of lower limbs and early death.
The CAPE team will train unregulated healthcare workers and care providers to deliver foot screening, and risk assessment. This will enable care providers to identify and intervene before foot wounds advance to limb loss.
This research will address disparities related to foot care in Ontario as well as connect persons living with diabetes to care when they need it.
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CAPE: Community Health Worker Advanced Certification Training Program
Are you interested in becoming a Community Health Worker or advancing your career? Follow CAPE's progress on developing a CHW Advanced Certification Training Program. The CAPE Program and The Institute for Education Research, in collaboration with the Department of Social Medicine, the Michener Institute of Education at UHN, along with CHWs from across Ontario are co-designing a unique CHW advanced certification program that focuses on building core CHW skills at the interface of community and hospital systems to address current gaps in CHW education in this province. The aim of the program is to amplify the vital role that CHWs play in the healthcare system and to support the development of the current and future CHW workforce through an innovative educational advanced certification program that reflects the current care dynamics and the needs of members of this significant care profession.
Two program development sessions were held, in April and June. The summary reports of these sessions highlight the co-design process, lessons learned, and main themes essential to developing the advanced certificate. If you would like to provide input on the courses, modules or structure of the program, we would love to hear from you! Send us an email: cape@uhn.ca
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Social Media Advocacy Kit
Want to get more involved? Have ideas for spreading PSW awareness throughout your own networks? Download our free social media advocacy kit below, and read through our tips and resources in this comprehensive guide. Created by and for PSWs, this kit was put together with the intent to create an informed plan for spreading awareness about the importance of PSWs, and the work that they do on a daily basis. Inside, you will find example posts, important dates, potential schedule ideas, and more.
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Small Group Facilitation Guide
Do you want to facilitate a small group discussion on this topic, but have never facilitated before? Or do you just want a refresher? Download this facilitation guide to get some tips and tricks for your next small group discussion. This informal PDF guide was put together by Sanne Kaas-Mason, who has kindly provided access for us to post here.
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Unambiguous Science - COVID-19 Vaccine Infographics
Do you want a handy resource that debunks some common COVID-19 vaccine myths? Maybe you're just curious, and always looking for more information? Download our handy infographics to learn more about MRNA vaccines, as well as vaccine impacts on special groups, such as those that are pregnant, breastfeeding, or those 65+.
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Leveraging the Science of Learning to Co-Create Trustworthy Science Communication (2024)
This guide supports healthcare workers, educators, and public health professionals in applying principles of education science to strengthen science communication. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, it outlines a co-creation process—co-design, collaborative mobilization, and co-evaluation—to build trust, ensure clarity, and promote inclusive, respectful engagement. Featuring practical tools and reflective questions, the resource emphasizes transparency, audience relevance, and the importance of integrating diverse voices in the development of health communications.
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