History: Community Care Access Centres in Ontario
Providing help right where you live
In 1997, 43 Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) were established
across Ontario to meet the growing need for ready access to
community-based services. Each organization serves a defined
geographic area and provides services formerly offered by Home Care
Programs and Placement Coordination Services Programs across the
province. The objective was to offer a single point of access for
people to link up with all the health and social support services
they might need. Health services in each community are thus coordinated
and funded through this central source.
Six CCACs were established to serve the geographic areas of Toronto:
Etobicoke, York, North York, the old City of Toronto, East York and Scarborough.
The passage of Bill 130, The Community Care Access Corporations Act 2001,
introduced sweeping changes to Community Care Access Centres across the
province. Under this legislation the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
took over direct responsibility for appointing Boards of Directors and
Executive Directors for all CCACs. In addition, CCACs were required to
develop strategic plans based on Ministry objectives and to adopt new service
improvement strategies.