Programs and services

MATCH (Midwifery and Toronto Community Health) Program

The MATCH Program offers a wide range of services for pregnancy, postpartum and well-gynecological care. You do not need an OHIP card to access this care. Our team provides 24-hour on-call support to ensure you receive timely and compassionate care when you need it.

Program details

Program categories

Pregnancy care

Program format

In-person

Registration requirements

Self-referral, Referral

Location

Partner sites

South Riverdale CHC, 955 Queen St East

Organization contact

416-461-2493

Cost

No cost

Language

Cantonese

English

French

Gujarati

Spanish

Tagalog

Translation services available

Schedule/time

Same hours as 955 Queen St E plus 24h on call support by phone

Who the MATCH team is:

The MATCH (Midwifery and Toronto Community Health) team includes six midwives and one social worker. Our midwives speak English, Cantonese, French, Spanish, Tagalog, and Gujarati, and we can arrange interpreters for other languages as needed. Our social worker supports clients with case management, housing, crisis intervention, one-on-one counselling, resource navigation, and help accessing supplies related to pregnancy and parenting.

Eligibility:

For pregnancy care, we support Ontario residents living in East Toronto and West Scarborough. Labour and birth care is provided at Michael Garron Hospital, the Toronto Birth Centre, or at home.
For abortion care, we welcome Ontario residents from across the Greater Toronto Area. Clients do not need to have OHIP coverage to access care.

How to seek care:

To request care, please call 416-461-2493 Monday to Friday. Our staff will complete a telephone intake. If you do not have access to a phone, you can email [email protected] to request care. Please note that email should only be used if phone access is not available. Providers can send referrals by fax to 416-461-8245 (see Provider Referral Form).

Services provided:

We offer complete pregnancy and postpartum care for infants and adults with deliveries planned at Michael Garron Hospital under the care of our obstetric team.

We provide medication abortion care up to 11 weeks*. We also offer abortion care navigation for any gestation. We also offer STI testing and treatment and contraceptive counselling and prescribing.

* We offer point of care ultrasound by our midwives for abortion care with thanks to Choice in Health Clinic https://choiceinhealth.ca/ for supporting our ultrasound training

Clients seeking abortion care:

Please note that we have a waitlist for abortion services and cannot offer same-day appointments. We prioritize refugee clients and clients without OHIP. For other abortion care options that may offer same-day services, visit https://ppt.on.ca/factsheets/abortion/.

Perinatal vaccine clinic update:

The MATCH Perinatal Vaccine Clinic for community midwifery clients closed in December 2024. Please refer patients to the Toronto Birth Centre Immunization Clinic: https://torontobirthcentre.ca/.

Information for providers:

To refer a client or patient to MATCH, please use our provider referral form. We accept referrals from both clinical and non-clinical providers (such as outreach workers or social workers) for pregnancy care, postpartum care, pregnancy testing, pregnancy options counselling, and abortion care.

Fax completed referral forms and any relevant records to 416-461-8245. Referrals are reviewed based on urgency, and we will respond within one week.

Useful Links

Media Articles

2025

Conversations on Midwifery Experiences, Education and Evidence – June 19, 2025: The Midwifery & Toronto Community Health (MATCH) Program
Strength in Practice Podcast – May 15, 2025: Midwifery Care Beyond the Gender Binary
The Local – February 2025: When a Hospital Visit Costs $11,000

2024

Toronto Star – November 6, 2024 (paywall): Uninsured patients in Ontario are finding it harder to get health care
Health Network for Uninsured Clients – August, 2024: Two Steps Back: The Impact of Ontario’s Rollback on Healthcare Access for Uninsured Residents
Strength in Practice Podcast – August 12, 2024: Scope of Practice
Strength in Practice Podcast – June 19, 2024: Health Equity

2023

West End Phoenix – August 30, 2023: No Doctor is Going to Take Care of Me
Toronto Star – July 14, 2023 (paywall): Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow calls on council to declare gender-based and intimate-partner violence an epidemic
Toronto Star – July 13, 2023 (paywall): More survivors of domestic violence, abuse and human trafficking are seeking public housing
Rabble.ca – May 18, 2023: Groups working to save public health care in Ontario
Healthy Debate – May 16, 2023: Uninsured health cuts and pregnancy: Why all Canadians should care
Small Change – May 11, 2023: Working together to save public health care in Ontario
Healthy Debate – May 10, 2023: What will happen to Ontario’s uninsured? Experts weigh in
Toronto Star – March 31, 2023 (paywall): Cruel health care cut targets the most vulnerable

2022

International Confederation of Midwives PUSH Campaign – August 17, 2022: The Role of a Midwife in Providing and Advocating for Abortion Care
Toronto Star – July 28, 2022 (paywall): Are thousands of uninsured people about to lose health coverage in Ontario? Fears grow about end to COVID-era OHIP rules
Ontario Association of Midwives Blog – June 15, 2022: Midwives deliver – on World Refugee Day and every day
CTV News – May 6, 2022: Abortion is legal in Canada — but is it accessible? Experts weigh in
Chatelaine – May 4, 2022: Midwives Can Do More—Why Won’t We Let Them?
META:PHI newsletter – March 2, 2022: MATCH Program-Substance Use in Pregnancy Pathway (SUPP)

2021

East Toronto Health Partners Newsletter – Program supporting pregnant people who use drugs sees growth alongside strengthening of community and hospital partnerships

2020

Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni Magazine- March 5, 2020: Ryerson alumnae are filling the gaps in midwifery

Awards

2021: Elsie Cressman Award – Association of Ontario Midwives
2025: Trailblazing Team Award – Abortion Care Canada

Program FAQ

Why should I choose midwifery care?
Midwives are registered healthcare providers who provide complete perinatal care for infants and adults. Midwives order testing and provide diagnoses and treatment during the childbearing year. Midwives specialize in pregnancy, postpartum and well-gynecological care, including abortion, miscarriage care and contraception.

The midwifery model of care is client-centred with a focus on informed choice and continuity of care. Midwives at South Riverdale Community Health Centre work as part of an interprofessional primary care team that includes collaboration with social work, physiotherapy, dieticians, medical doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

Midwives at South Riverdale offer 30-60 minute appointments, access to midwives by phone 24 hours a day for urgent concerns, and a holistic approach to care with high levels of support. Midwives consult as needed with specialists when complications arise and collaborate closely with the obstetric team at Michael Garron Hospital.

Midwifery care is free for all Ontario residents, even if they do not have access to OHIP.
Do I need a referral from a doctor or clinic?
No referral is needed. You can call us directly to request care.
Can I get perinatal care if I don’t have OHIP ?
Yes. We offer free care during pregnancy and after birth for people living in Ontario, even if you don’t have access to a health card.
Can I get perinatal care if I have coverage through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)?
Yes. We offer free care during pregnancy and after birth for people who have temporary health care coverage through the IFHP program, including refugees.
Can I get perinatal care as a tourist or visitor to the province of Ontario?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide care to visitors to the country, since our health care system is publicly funded. Midwives in Ontario, including our team here at MATCH, can only provide care to residents of Ontario.

As a visitor to the province, it would be advised to access travellers’ health insurance and seek care from an obstetrician. Obstetricians in the province may be able to bill private insurance (midwives cannot) in order to care for you. Alternatively, you can pay out of pocket to seek obstetrical care.
Can I get an abortion or talk to someone about my options?
Yes. We offer medical abortion care and pregnancy options counselling. If you need care beyond what we provide, we can help connect you to other services.
Do you provide care for people who are having a miscarriage?
Yes. We offer support for people experiencing pregnancy loss, including medication, care, and emotional support.
Where will I give birth?
Deliveries are planned at Michael Garron Hospital with our obstetric team.
Can I still get care if I’m not sure I want to continue my pregnancy?
Yes. You don’t have to be certain about your plans to reach out to us. We’re here to support you and talk through your options.
Do you support 2SLGBTQ+ families?
Yes. We welcome all kinds of families, including 2SLGBTQ+ clients.
Can I receive care in different languages?
Some members of our team speak multiple languages, and we can arrange interpretation if needed. Let us know what language works best for you.
I don’t speak English very well – can I still get support?
Let us know which language you prefer. We do our best to provide interpretation or translated materials when possible, and we’ll work with you to make sure you feel understood.
What if I also need help with housing, food, or other supplies?
If you need help with other resources, we can help connect you with other programs and supports in the community. Visit us to access our social worker for further assistance.

Our 2023-2024 Impact

535

unique clients

70

pregnancy clients and newborns in care

30

deliveries

262

medication abortions provided

140

prenatal vaccine visits provided to community members

938

patient visits provided at the Early Pregnancy Clinic at Michael Garron Hospital

16

Community Events and presentations

15

Committees and Work Groups

6

Research Projects Supported

Featured resources