# Using Governance to Elevate Voluntary and Community Sector Representation

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how Archipel Ontario Health Team created governance structures to ensure community and voluntary sector partners have a strong voice in decision-making.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a sustainable integrated governance strategy that promotes leadership and equitable decision-making for community and voluntary sectors.

## Key findings

- Integrated governance strategies can elevate community and voluntary sector representation in health teams.
- Sustainable governance requires deliberate efforts to address unequal power dynamics among partners.

## Abstract

Archipel Ontario Health Team (OHT) developed as part of the provincial call to organize health and social service providers into integrated care delivery systems. With nearly 70 multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral partners, unequal power dynamics must be considered when creating governance structures. With the aim of collaboratively elevating the voice of voluntary and community sector partners, Archipel OHT deliberately implemented a sustainable integrated governance strategy that encourages community and voluntary sector leadership and equitable shared decision-making. This perspective paper describes applied strategies, lessons learned, and efforts to maintain an environment that prioritizes their representation.