Rachel South
Touchpoint
Social isolation experienced by female immigrants in the GTA is exacerbated by access barriers to mainstream service delivery.
Touchpoint is a product-based outreach system and service design that facilitates registration for Toronto Parks and Recreation programming for newcomer parents living in priority downtown neighbourhoods.
Insight
The mental health of female immigrants is heavily reliant on the types of social networks they are able to make/maintain in their new country.
Idea
By optimizing convenient spaces shared by the school boards and the City of Toronto, Touchpoint clarifies self-guided registration for Parks and Recreation programming by abolishing cultural and linguistic barriers to newcomers that exist in the current process. The system promotes the value of recreation by demonstrating the social connection facilitated by recreation for adults. By exhibiting child leadership and learning, Touchpoint further displays how recreation can support academic achievement in children.
Impact
Touchpoint provides:
Better mental and physical health outcomes for newcomers and youth
Social support network building for women
Easier adaptation to Western language and culture
Better access to information, resources, and opportunity
