Amy Stephenson
September 13, 2024
Written by Malak Jaafar, Marketing Intern
Amy’s journey with SCHC has been one of growth, learning, and deep community impact. Starting in 2021 as the Caregiver Wellness Coordinator, Amy quickly demonstrated her passion for community health. Part of this motivation comes from being born and raised in Scarborough. Her deep ties to the community make the impact of the work feel even more meaningful.
Amy came to SCHC with a variety of experiences. She completed an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and a Master’s in aging and health. Both contributed to her work in adult day programs and with the Alzheimer’s Society of Durham Region. She also brought up her personal experience of “seeing how helpful health care was when it worked well and how challenging it was when the system felt like it wasn’t set up for you”. All this shaped her desire to continue in the healthcare field. Witnessing the success and challenges of the healthcare system fuels Amy’s commitment.
In 2022, Amy transitioned to the Vaccine Engagement Team as an interim manager. Under her leadership, the team expanded its outreach providing mobile vaccine clinics and information booths in the community. Each event was in collaboration with a community partner: Toronto Community Housing, grocery stores, places of faith, and or a community champion. This initiative highlighted her ability to creatively and effectively engage the community, ensuring broader access to essential health services.
Amy acknowledges that the transition to a managerial role was challenging. It involved learning new processes, meeting new faces, and adapting to different practices. However, she embraced this learning curve, finding it a valuable experience that continues to shape her approach to leadership.
In 2024, Amy became a permanent Manager of Community Health Teams and currently supports the Family Wellbeing, Health Promotion, Hepatitis C, Prevention, and Vaccine Engagement programs. All together known as the HEALTH team, which focuses on promoting Health Equity And Literacy through Health Promotion.
One of Amy’s proudest accomplishments is the evolution of the ambassador role. Initially focused only on COVID-19 the Ambassador role has been highly effective at engaging residents and building relationships around all health topics. Community Ambassadors are trusted members of the community and help to shape programming by bringing forward the needs and ideas of the community. Residents know that when they see the ambassador they can trust them and open up a testament to the reputation the team built through previous projects.
Amy’s high-energy, hands-on approach to her work reflects her dedication to supporting her staff and the broader community. She takes pride in facilitating impactful work through grant writing, team support, and partnership building. For Amy, the most rewarding part of her job is knowing that her efforts contribute to the well-being and development of the Scarborough community she cares deeply about.