The System-Linked Research Unit on Health and Social Service Utilization was launched in 1991 and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health to compare the effects and financial costs of innovative intersectoral, comprehensive services with the usual sectoral, fragmented approaches of serving vulnerable populations. The Unit's investigators were mandated to conduct research relevant to health and social services agencies and provider agencies, in regions of Ontario. The partner agencies helped to plan the relevant research agenda, interpret, disseminate and implement findings.

The unit will initiate, implement and co-ordinate studies of persons with co-existing problems simultaneously using health and social services and

	test co-ordinated interventions to provide more effective service through
	linkage with multiple service agencies

Objectives of the Unit

		Provide direct input by service sector to decisions about research directions in order to improve relevancy
		Agency involvement in research projects
		Create alternative service approaches as we compare the results of these to usual care
		Provide continuity of support or release time for team developing research
		Create opportunity for potential researcher in service role to be more active in research
		Strengthen infrastructure for health services research
		Facilitate formation of multidisciplinary research teams
		Enable co-operation in research across multiple sites
		Concentrate resources on a focused (comprehensive and coherent) program of research
		Quicken the pace of research in an area
		Speed up the implementation of research results
		Decisions made based on findings