Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA)

The OCDPA is a coalition of more than 30 health-related organizations, programs and groups committed to provide collaborative leadership for a comprehensive chronic disease prevention system in Ontario. The alliance was formed in February 2003 to address a growing need for integrated action on the issue of chronic disease prevention.

Recognizing that many chronic diseases originate from common, modifiable risk factors (such as smoking, unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol drinking, and poor mental health), and risk conditions (such as poor education, living in poverty and exposure to environmental contaminants), the Alliance work to promote healthy living and to address the determinants of health necessary to prevent chronic disease in Ontario.

OCDPA in Action…

  • Our collective voice has influenced policies and practices to support chronic disease prevention in Ontario. Please visit our website to see our advocacy work in action.
  • Members collaborate and facilitate knowledge exchange through hosting and participating in meetings and events. Please visit our website for more information on our knowledge exchange events.
  •  Each year, the OCDPA engage in knowledge translation processes to support evidence-informed decision making and to facilitate the exchange and transfer of evidence-informed practices at the provincial level. Please visit our website to see OCDPA-produced resources.
  • For more information, please read about our latest initiatives and activities.

Impacts

  • Since the establishment of OCDPA in 2003, the Alliance has grown from 9 member organizations to more than 30 member organizations. The OCDPA website serves as a key communication tool to promote and disseminate our resources. Each year, there are over 100, 000 total number web hits on the OCDPA website and over 1,000 number of downloads of OCDPA’s resources.
  • The Alliance has provided overviews on the determinants and risk factors for chronic disease development; addressed the economic cost of chronic disease in Canada and identified the priorities of action for government and stakeholder as well as tools to support those priorities of action for a more comprehensive strategy to prevent chronic disease.
  • The Alliance has developed evidence-informed messages to address the five common and modifiable chronic disease risk factors. Supporting materials are now available to support the use of OCDPA’s evidence-informed messages.