BETTER for All is an evidence-based peer coaching program that supports healthy behaviour change to reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases in community healthcare settings.

The program is a partnership between the Canadian Cancer Society, Women’s College Hospital, Access Alliance Community Health Centre on behalf of the Mid-West Toronto Ontario Health Team and program advisor Dr. Lawrence Paszat.

The Canadian Cancer Society recruits, trains, and supports individuals from newcomer, racialized, and underserved communities to become peer health coaches and support participants in adopting and sustaining positive behaviour change. Prevention practitioners receive training through the BETTER Institute; any clinician or healthcare professional can take on this role. Access Alliance brings expertise in reaching priority populations through community-based interventions, and Women’s College Hospital will serve as the program evaluator.

Individuals will access BETTER For All through community groups (e.g., primary care and community organizations) or self-referral. Prevention practitioners will hold a person-centred visit with participants to review their medical history, family history, and health behaviours and support them in setting specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals. Participants will be matched with a peer health coach with similar intersecting identity factors to support achieving their health goals.

BETTER For All is made possible through joint funding from the Canadian Cancer Society, the Women’s College Hospital Foundation, and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

For more information, visit the BETTER for All program webpage hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society. The French version is available here.