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CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES NETWORK MINUTES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014, 9:00AM - NETWORKING, 9:30AM -12:00PM – MEETING
HASTING AND PRINCE EDWARD DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD, 156 ANN STREET, BELLEVILLE IN ATTENDANCE: Kelly Allan (co-chair), Wendy Anderson (coordinator), Maribeth deSnoo, Wendy Fleet (recorder), Kellie Brace, Lynette Cumming, Brandi Hodge; Melanie Dunlop, Wanda Post, Terry Swift, Ruth Ingersoll, Heather Barker, Shannon Thompson, Linda Duffy-Brown, Linda Seeley, Susan Seaman, Beverley Bell-Rowbotham, Cathy Utman, Anne-Marie Murphy, Nancy McGeachy, Mark Fisher, Tami Callaghan, Wendy Swoffer, Rose Marie Reid, Cheryl Dupre, Dave Buttineau, Laurie Oram, Kathy Kennedy, Margo Russell-Bird, Darlene Stuckless, Chris Little, Susan Stoddard, Helene Cadotte-Gagnon, Amy LeGresley, Julie London, Cathie West, Colin Leaver, Mark Hill, Colleen Peairs, Peggy Yates
REGRETS: Teresa Kennedy, Paul Meadows, Tanya Grierson, Brandi Hildebrand, Paul Huras, Alana DeVille, Stephen Martin, Amy Watkins, Veronica Catry, Sarah Brown, Rachel Lackey, Arlene Coculuzzi, Bonnie Perrigard, Bonnie DeRushie, Cherie Hardie, Ann McIntosh
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
1. Welcome, Objectives, Declaration of Conflict of Interest
Kelly Allan welcomed everyone to the meeting. No conflict of interest was declared. Kelly reviewed the CYSN vision, mandate and meeting objectives.
OUR VISION: Children, youth and families living in HPE easily access a responsive service system that meets their needs.
MANDATE: To create an effective, integrated and seamless community service system for children, youth and families that maximizes resources through collaborative and informed planning.
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
Kelly asked participants to complete meeting evaluation forms before leaving, and advised that they are helpful to the Coordinating Team in their task of developing meeting agendas.
2. Roundtable Introductions CYSN members introduced themselves and the organization they represent.
3. Review of Agenda Approved
4. Consent Agenda a) Motion to approve Minutes
from September 25, 2014
Motion to approve the minutes – Linda Seeley Seconded – Tami Callahan All in favour. Carried.
5. Business Arising
Wendy Anderson advised that the advocacy questions submitted for the Belleville Mayoral Candidates were not approved by the Chamber of Commerce for inclusion in the debate. The reason given was that our questions did not align with their mandate. Question: Now that there are new municipal councils, is the CYSN interested in moving forward with this advocacy? CYSN members were in agreement to move forward with an awareness campaign.
The original small group; Anne-Marie Murphy, Heather Barker, Ruth Ingersoll and Wendy Anderson agreed to work on an awareness campaign.
6. Lead Agency Report; a) Financial Update
a) Maribeth deSnoo reviewed the financial statement dated October 31,
2014 included in package. Prior year revenue includes United Way funding carried forward for data repository development and 2013/14 membership fees.
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
b) Copyright policy/procedure
Maribeth informed members that she received verification from human resources regarding the qualifications for use of a motor vehicle. The wording in the job description needs to be updated to say that the candidate has access to a motor vehicle.
b) Wendy Anderson is currently drafting a copyright policy and procedure
in collaboration with the Communication Team. An outside organization used an unauthorized image in a slideshow presentation that was posted on the CYSN website. The imaging company then fined the CYSN for the image use. Wendy Anderson contacted the presenter who agreed to cover the fine and the issue was resolved. Maribeth suggested that there be funds reserved for occurrences stated above.
7. Provincial Initiative Updates; a) Child and Youth Mental
Health Transformation
b) Special Needs Strategy
a) Terry Swift presented on Child and Youth Mental Health Transformation
- Moving on Mental Health an initiative that will transform the experience of children and youth with mental health problems and their families so that regardless of where they live in Ontario, they will know what mental health services are available in their communities and how to access them.
b) Margo Russell-Bird gave an update on the Special Needs Strategy;
Mental Health Transformation Presentation Attached
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
c) Ministry of Education, Early Years Branch
Representatives from all four Ministries that are engaged in the Special Needs Strategy were in attendance at an information session which took place October 17, 2014. Emphasis was on removing barriers and working towards seamless services for children with complex special needs. For more information, visit http://specialneedsstrategy.children.gov.on.ca/. You will need to create a log in and password but the site is open to anyone to view.
c) Kelly Allan reported on behalf of Rachelle Blanchette:
Bill 10, Child Care Modernization Act, has now gone to third reading. A registry of unlicensed child care violations is not available on the Ministry of Education website for parents seeking child care. For more information, refer to the Ombudsman’s Report.
Special Needs Strategy Update November 2014 attached
8. Acting on Partnership Self-Assessment Tool Findings
Brandi briefly reviewed the self-assessment tool findings that were presented at the September meeting, and advised those present that three exercises would be offered today to help the CYSN move past the work zone into the headway zone, especially with synergy.
Wendy presented a two-year CYSN Historical Timeline starting in 2012 when the Community Action Research Project (CARP) resulted in a complete restructure of the Network. Current work includes addressing partnership self-assessment results, family engagement, data repository, red flag projects, Aboriginal planning and maintaining a system-wide
Review, Celebrations and Moving Forward Slideshow attached Current structure diagram attached
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
approach to No Wrong Door/Warm Hand-Off and effective communication between members, organizations and community.
Members participated in three exercises which involved independent work, group discussion and report back. Input will go to the Community Indicators and Measures Committee to review responses, build recommendations and report back in February.
Exercise #1
Six questions were posed about the CYSN Mandate and Vision and whether they make sense in light on the CYSN and its work.
The three goals under which the CYSN receives funding from MEDU and MCYS were shared.
Exercise #2
How we identify new and creative ways to solve problems?
How we can include the views and priorities of the people affected by the partnerships work?
How we obtain support from individuals and organizations in the community that can either block the partnership’s plans or help move them forward?
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
Exercise #3
What are we doing that we should be doing more of?
What are we doing that we should be doing less of?
What are we doing that we should stop doing?
What aren’t we doing that we should be doing?
9. Recommendations from Teams, Committees and Working Groups
a) Communication Team; Maribeth deSnoo advised that the team has been working on the reorganization of the CYSN website. There is no impact to the budget as the company SNAP was paid in full for its services at year end 2013/14.
b) Community Indicators and Measures Committee;
Tami Callaghan reported that the committee is actively working on the partnership self- assessment. The data repository application to Trillium has been completed and submitted.
c) Service Pathway/Community Engagement Committee;
Melanie Dunlop reported that the No Wrong Door training has been put on hold. An electronic version of the No Wrong Door Service Referral Guide by Function and will be available to all on the CYSN website shortly.
Members are to watch for Service Referral Guide by Function launch and share with colleagues.
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
d) Second Helpings Working Group; Ruth Ingersoll posed the question to CYSN members: If there was something you personally could do to decrease food insecurity in our community and if there was something your agency could do, would you do it? Second Helpings working group is developing a campaign to encourage everyone to plant a community garden or grow an extra row and donate the produce to food programs and services. Loyalist College students will help develop the promotion campaign. This initiative will provide families with easier access to healthier food.
e) Early Childhood Development Working Group;
Wendy Anderson reported that this group continues work on its awareness campaign to promote a new ParticipAction campaign to HPE families called “Make Room for Play”. CYSN member organizations will be receiving “an ask” in the near future to help get key messages out to the community through their social media, websites.
f) Aboriginal Planning Working Group;
Wendy Anderson reported that that a number of things identified in the Plan have been accomplished; i.e., a speech café at the Head Start program in Tyendinaga and engagement with the Metis Nation. On-site speech and language services will be available soon.
Members are to watch for information about the social media campaign to help improve EDI scores.
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
g) Nominating Committee; Wendy informed the members that the nominating committee continues its appeal to the membership for co-chair nominations. Please consider yourselves if you are looking to play a stronger leadership role or recommend someone who you feel would do a good job. Kelly Allan shared details about what is involved and time commitment.
h) Terms of Reference Working Group;
No report at this time
Members are to consider becoming a CYSN co-chair and/or submit names for nomination to Wendy or co-chairs.
10. Moving Forward with Family Engagement
a) Statements for 2015/16 Membership Agreement Members were asked to review the proposed family engagement statements included in meeting package and take the information to their organizations for discussion. At the next CYSN meeting, February 26, 2014 members will have an opportunity to discuss. It is the intention of the Service Pathway/Community Engagement Committee to submit these statements for inclusion in the 2015/16 CYSN membership agreement.
b) The accompanying Philosophy, Practice and Definition of Family
Engagement one-pager was developed to clarify family engagement and what it means to the Network – as per regional project.
Members are to take the proposed statements and one-pager back to their organizations for discussion. Proposed questions and definitions attached.
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
11. Partnership Connections
No report
12. Community Issues
No report
13. New Business
14. Infomercials – an opportunity to introduce service gaps, new services, issues etc.
Mark Hill, the owner of Matters of Hope Counselling in Picton, gave an overview of his counselling services. Mark’s private practice works with children and youth and offers parenting programs. Matters of Hope website is http://www.mattersofhopecounselling.com/ Ruth Ingersoll of Community Development Council of Quinte The Good Food Box is looking for delivery space in Bancroft. The Good Food Box kitchen program will travel anywhere there is a kitchen! Belleville downtown DocFest is scheduled for February 27 to March 1, 2015. If you have a documentary you would like to submit contact mailto:[email protected] The deadline for submissions is December 22, 2014. Heather Barker of Community Learning Alternatives (CLA) The Hospitality Plus program offers four weeks of training, 12 weeks emerit training, and includes 9 months on-the-job training in the hospitality field to youth ages 18-29. More info available at http://www.cla-buildingskills.ca/
ITEM DISCUSSION/MOTIONS ACTION (including Person
Responsible and Completion Date)
Colin Leaver from Youth Unlimited is looking for partners to establish a youth centre in Belleville. If you are interested in learning more, contact [email protected]
15. Wrap-Up a) Course of Action; The Community Indicators and Measures Committee will compile the results of today’s group work and report back at the February 26th meeting. New advocacy/awareness group to meet.
b) Completion of meeting evaluations;
Please complete a meeting evaluation to help the Coordinating Team keep meetings meaningful, effective and efficient.
Next Meeting;
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2015 Networking: 9-9:30am Meeting: 9:30am-noon Location: TBD
If you plan to attend or not, please contact: [email protected]
Adjournment 11:46 am
Moving on Mental Health – a system that makessense for children and youth, released on November19, 2012, builds on A Shared Responsibility, Ontario’spolicy Framework for Child and Youth Mental Health,2006 (Policy Framework) and on Ontario’sComprehensive Mental Health and AddictionStrategy (2011) – a joint strategy with the ministriesof Education (EDU), Health and Long-Term Care(MOHLTC), Training Colleges and Universities (TCU)and Children and Youth Services (MCYS).
MOMH will transform the experience of children and youth with mental health problems and their families so that regardless of where they live Ontario, they will know:
• What mental health services are available in their communities; and
• How to access the mental health services and supports that meet their needs.
MCYS – funded child and youth mental health services are provided to children and youth from birth to 18 years of age under the authority of the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA). These services are not mandatory under the CFSA, but are provided to the level of available resources. Services and supports that address a range of social, emotional, behavioural, psychological and/or psychiatric problems are provided to children and youth who are at risk of, or who have developed, mental health problems, illnesses or disorders.
The Policy Framework has four goals – to:• Promote optimal child and youth mental health and
well-being through enhanced understanding of, and ability to respond to, child and youth mental health needs through the provision of evidence informed services and supports;
• Provide children, youth and families with access to a flexible continuum of timely and appropriate services and supports within their own cultural, environmental and community context;
• Provide community-based services that are coordinated, collaborative and integrated,
• Be accountable and well-managed.
Pathways
Parents, youth, and those seeking help for children and youth with mentalhealth problems often describe the frustration of finding their way to care andthrough the service system as one chief flaws in the current system. TheService Framework addresses this by setting expectations for establishing andmaintaining clear pathways to, through, and out of care, recognizing that theneed for intervention and treatment is not a one-time event in the lives ofmany children and youth. Connecting children and youth with mental healthproblems in a timely way to the right mental health services and establishingclear and streamlined pathways of care between primary care, schools and thesupports they need is a central feature of the child and youth mental healthsystem we are building. This means establishing transparency andpredictability in pathways to, from, and through, care, in which families, youthand children as well as all concerned and involved parties who interact withthem on a regular basis such as educators and primary health care practitionersunderstand their roles in relation to one another and to the child or youth andtheir families.
Core Services and Key Processes
Defining a set of core child and youth mental health services to be availableacross the continuum of need, in every community or spanning communitiesand across the 0 – 18 age spectrum is central to the delivery of services in atransparent and accountable way. Providing this clarity will help parents,youth, service providers, educators, physicians and others understand whatCYMH services are available and how to access them in a consistent way. Theservice framework establishes minimum expectations for services providersfunded by the MCYS for the delivery of CYMH core services.
While core services are available to all children and youth across the provincewith a mental health problem, within the available resources, not all coreservices are provided in every CYMH community; core services that areaccessed by a smaller portion of the population may span communities.
Core Services available to clients in every community (local core service) – Lead agencies are responsible for ensuring that these services are available to children and youth in their community:• Targeted Prevention• Brief Services• Counselling and Therapy• Family Caregiver Skill-Building and Support• Specialized Consultation and Assessments• Crisis Support Services• Intensive Treatment Services
Supporting the provision of these core services are key processes. These processes are:• Coordinated Access• Intake, Eligibility and Consent• Identifying Strengths, Needs and Risks• Service Planning and Review• Case Management/Service Coordination• Monitor and Evaluate Client Response to Service• Post-intervention Transition Planning and Preparation• Child, Youth and Family Engagement
LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4
All children, youth
and their
families/caregivers
Children and youth
identified as being at
risk for, or who are
experiencing mental
health problems that
affect their
functioning in some
areas, such as at
home, school and/or
in the community
Children and youth
who are experiencing
significant mental
health problems that
affect their
functioning in some
areas, such as at
home, school and/or
in the community
Children and youth
experiencing the most
severe, complex, rare
or persistent
diagnosable mental
illnesses that
significantly impair
functioning in most
areas such as at
home, school and in
the community
Continuum of Needs
Least Intensive MCYS-Funded CYMH Services Most Intensive
Lead Agencies
A key element of MoMH is establishing lead agencies in defined communitiesacross Ontario who will be responsible for planning and delivery of CYMHservices. Within each defined community, and reporting to a community-based Board of Directors, a lead agency will be responsible for five primaryfunctions:• In collaboration with local service system and the MCYS Regional Office,
establish a plan for the delivery of CYMH services to be submitted to MCYSfor review and approval;
• Creating clear and simple to use access pathways for parents, youth as wellas justice, education, and health professionals who wish to refer;
• Delivering or contracting for the range of defined core MCYS-funded CYMHservices, and holding sub-contracted agencies accountable;
• Making those services effective and accountable to parents, youth, andchildren; and
• Establishing and maintaining inter-agency and inter-sectoral partnerships,protocols, and transparent pathways to care.
MCYS REGION SERVICE AREA LEAD AGENCY
Central Halton Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK)
Central Peel Peel Children’s Centre
Central Waterloo Lutherwood
Central York Kinark Child and Family Services
Central Ottawa Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
Eastern Prescott & Russell Valoris for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell
Eastern Stormont, Dundas,
Glengarry
Cornwall Community Hospital
Eastern Essex Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare-Regional Children’s Centre
Eastern Grey-Bruce Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services
Eastern Haldimand-Norfolk Haldimand NorfolkResource, Education and Counselling Help
(H-N R.E.A.C.H)
West Hamilton Lynwood Charlton Centre
West Huron-Perth Huron Perth Centre for Children & Youth
West Middlesex Madame Vanier Children’s Services
North Sudbury-Manitoulin Child & Family Centre/Centre de l’enfant et de la famille/Ngodweaangizwin
Aaskaagewin
Phase One Lead Agencies
1
Special Needs Strategy-Update-November 24, 2014
Since our meeting in the summer, there has been some activity related to the Special Needs Strategy.
The four ministries that are engaged in the special needs strategy sent invites out to key Signatory
agencies that must be involved in the Special Needs Strategy proposal development. Only invited agencies
identified by the ministries attended the information session which occurred on October 17, 2014 for our
region service area.
Key Signatory agencies invited included:
Service Coordination: (Proposal is due March 5, 2015 with planned implementation by summer 2015)
1. Applied Behavior Analysis Based Lead agencies
2. Children’s Treatment Centres
3. Children’s Access Mechanisms
4. Autism Intervention Programs
5. Local Health Integration Networks
6. Community Care Access Centres
7. District School Boards/school authorities
Integrated Delivery of Rehabilitation Services (proposal is due June 1, 2015 with planned implementation
by January 2016)
1. Preschool Speech and Language Services
2. Children’s Treatment Centres
3. Community Care Access Centres
4. District School Boards-Public, Separate, French and English
Representatives from all four ministries were in attendance at this information session. Information
shared included: (these are from my notes so not carved in stone)
Emphasis on working towards seamless service for children with complex special needs, keeping
families at the centre of the services.
Families should only tell their stories once.
Removal of barriers-lots of examples of opportunities to work together in the Speech and
Language Pilot sites and CTC pilots in Full Day Learning Programs.
Emphasized that this work is NOT cost savings-no intent to decrease funding, reduce agencies or
decrease jobs. Delivery of quality services is intended to build on strengths.
Strong emphasis on the seamless delivery of OT, PT and Speech and Language services across
service areas and from birth to school leaving age
Single waitlist for each of PT, OT and SLP across the service area and age mandate
Services to address home, school and community needs of clients and families
2
Delivered where it makes the most sense to families.
Looking for creative use of human and financial resources to meet the needs of children/youth
with complex special needs.
Needs of families are to be put ahead of needs of organizations and individuals.
Emphasis that the needs of children/youth and families are not based on diagnosis but based on
needs.
Local planning tables are to plan with children/youth and families at the forefront and are to
assume no barriers related to mandate, policy etc. but are to identify to ministry any barriers that
could impact on role out of any plans.
Ministries are to determine any realignment of funding if needed based on the proposals –this is
not something local planning tables are to address.
Developmental screen-There is a provincial consultation group that is developing this and will
determine the implementation plans. It will build on processes already happening for 0-6
children. Will be a standardized tool that determines if a child needs further assessment. Child
would then be directed to service coordination. There was not a lot of detail provided at the
meeting related to the developmental screen.
Ministry staff will not be part of the proposal development at the local level.
There are scheduled ‘check points’ between local co-chairs and the ministries. First one to occur
on Dec 5, 2014. The ministries will be monitoring the work at the local level through this
mechanism.
Input from families and youth and other community agencies is expected to be part of the process
and input is to be utilized in the planning.
Proposals are to identify one agency responsible for service coordination for children with
complex special needs across the service area.
Service coordination is broader than complex special needs funding-i.e. Children’s Case
Resolution. Children that are part of Case Resolution are also eligible for Service Coordination.
Service coordination it also not a service resolution function nor is it a DSO model or gatekeeper
model.
Service coordination is intended to ensure that families are linked to the services they require
AND service coordinators will be responsible for developing, monitoring and updating a single
plan of care across those agencies involved with the child/youth/family. Goals must be aligned
across providers and in line with families identified needs. This is specific to children with
complex special needs which at this point we are still trying to define.
Service coordination is also to include mental health services and therefore there is a strong link
between the coordinating agency and the Lead Mental Health Agency going forward. (Our service
area has yet to identify the lead agency for Children’s Mental Health as part of the Mental Health
Transformation)
Service coordination will not replace existing transition planning. It could be part of service
coordination if transition planning does not already exist or it can identify that transition planning
is required as part of coordinating services. In the latter case, the single plan of care would
3
potentially identify the need for transition planning but the actual planning would occur through
already existing processes.
Both proposals must be creative in inclusion of Aboriginal and Franchophone populations.
Integrated rehab-are asking us to challenge the status quo
Families must be able to self-refer.
One waitlist per services, one number to call. Waitlist to be transparent.
May include funding alignment, who does what, who is funded for what; identify barriers and flag
policies and regional barriers that are creating challenges in integrated services.
Children/youth should be able to get into the system of rehab regardless of age/acuity.
(child/youth must still have complex special needs-does not include children/youth with acute
injuries such as fractures requiring physiotherapy which is short term.
Services are to be continuous from birth to school leaving age.
Each community is now tasked with starting the planning process and determining how other partner
agencies will be involved.
At the present time, there are 25 people at the table because we are crossing two main service areas,
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties and Northumberland County. This means that we have
representatives from: 6 school boards, (public, catholic and French/English), 2 CTC’s, 2 Preschool Speech,
2 CCAC-both central and south east, 3 Autism Intervention and ABA Agencies and many have more than
one representative at this stage as each signatory agencies tries to understand the overall impact on this
planning. We still need to get representation from the LHIN’s in both areas as part of the required
signatories for Service Coordination. The membership is primarily senior level staff.
Where are we in the planning process? Since the information session we have had one meeting intended
to complete the tasks that we were required to report to the ministries on by November 19. These
included:
Determining Co-chairs of the committees. The group determined that the existing table would be
a ‘steering committee’ for the two proposal developments. This role will be shared by June
Rogers, Superintendent of Special Education Hastings Prince Edward District School Board and
Margo Russell-Bird, Manager, Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre and Preschool Speech and
Language program.
Completion of a funding request to the ministry to support the development of the two proposals.
Forty thousand dollars has been allocated to each region for each of the two proposals to assist
in the proposal development. This was the decision of the group for those funds:
o Hire a facilitator that will assist the group in planning AND in determining a stakeholder
engagement process that will allow involvement of all community stakeholders including
other agencies, parents and youth.
The role of the facilitator has been defined and a request for proposals has been
sent out to some key contacts to obtain applications that include mandatory
elements, a business case and an outline of the costs involved in delivering the
services we are requesting.
4
The budget request was submitted to the ministry on November 19.
Applications for the facilitator will close on November 27 and we hope to have a
decision the following week.
We will not be able to proceed with hiring until funding approval from the
ministry is received.
o Some costs have also been allocated for stakeholder engagement i.e. focus groups, child
care; translation; backfill; and administrative support (minute taker, preparation/set up
for meetings etc.
We also discussed at the first meeting the involvement of other agencies that were not part of
the signatory group that were invited to the initial information session. It was determined that at
this stage we need some further time with the existing group to get a good understanding of the
tasks before us. This includes clearly defining what population is included in ‘children with
complex special needs’ and being clear on what is in scope and what is not in scope for these
proposals. For example, it is clear that the needs of aboriginal children with complex needs must
be considered in the planning but services at federally funded schools like Quinte Mohawk are
out of scope. The facilitator will be assisting in developing a stakeholder engagement process.
For more information on the Special Needs Strategy please reference
http://specialneedsstrategy.children.gov.on.ca
You will need to create a log in and password but the site is open to anyone to view.
Margo Russell-Bird,
Manager, Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre
November 2014.
Children and Youth Services Network Structure Diagram April 24, 2014
Hastings & Prince Edward
Children and Youth Services Network
Communication
(Standing) Team
Coordinating
(Standing) Team
Community Indicators and
Measures Committee
Service Pathway/ Community Engagement Committee
Second Helpings (Food Reclamation)
Working Group
Early Childhood
Development
Working Group
Aboriginal
Planning
Working Group
PROPOSED FAMILY ENGAGEMENT STATEMENTS
FOR INCLUSION IN THE CYSN MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT
COVERING THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 2015 to MARCH 31, 2016
TO: Member Organizations
FROM: CYSN Service Pathway/Community Engagement Committee
DATE: November 27, 2014
Please take the following statements back for review and discussion with your organizations in
preparation for the signing of the 2015/16 CYSN membership agreement.
Members agree to . . .
Support and contribute to the work of the CYSN on family engagement.
Recognize the importance of and implement best practice related to family
engagement in your organization.
The attached common philosophy, practice and definition of family engagement document has been
developed to help clarify what your organization will be agreeing to support.
An opportunity for discussion by members of the Network will be offered on February 26, 2015.
In the meantime, the Service Pathway/Community Engagement Committee will continue working on
a framework for presentation and consultation with the Network at a later date, using tools
contained in Developing a Common Understanding of Family Engagement in South East Ontario, April
11, 2014 and input gathered from our consultation with the Network on April 24, 2014. This
framework will include long and short-term family engagement activities for the Network, for member
organizations and for both.
Any questions may be directed to Wendy Anderson, CYSN Coordinator, [email protected] or
613-966-1170, ext. 2269 or any Service Pathway/Community Engagement Committee member.
SOURCE: Developing a Common Understanding of Family Engagement in South East Ontario, Theresa Dostaler, Synergy Research and Evaluation Consulting, April 11, 2014.
THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT:
We understand that family engagement is complex and can mean different things to different families, organizations, and at the planning table level.
We understand that family engagement is both:
A philosophy - Family engagement speaks to our beliefs and our values. We value a family-centred
service system that puts the best interests of the child, youth, and family first. We value the
contributions that families can make at all levels of service delivery.
A practice - Family engagement is a set of behaviors or how we act. We put our values into action by
providing meaningful and appropriate opportunities for families to contribute at all levels of service
delivery.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IS DEFINED IN HASTINGS-PRINCE EDWARD AS:
Respectful Our interactions with families are respectful. Families feel safe from judgment and bias.
Strength-based We recognize that each family has unique strengths. Family engagement builds on a
family's passions, gifts, and talents.
Mindful of the
expertise of families
We value the knowledge and lived experiences of each family. Family engagement helps
families shape the services they receive in ways that are meaningful to them.
Inclusive We recognize and support diversity of practice. There is no one way to engage all families.
Broad-based We understand that one family cannot represent all families and each family must speak
with its own voice.
Accessible We remove barriers that prevent families from accessing services or engaging with
organizations or planning tables, including barriers arising from organizational policies and
practice.
Collaborative We build trusting relationships and meaningful partnerships with families. Steps are taken
to acknowledge and address real or perceived power imbalances.
Based on clear
communication
We use plain language when communicating with families and each other.
An opportunity
to learn
We learn from families and each other through the process of family engagement.
On a continuum We recognize that family engagement will differ from family to family.
Constantly changing We understanding the degree or level of a family’s engagement or involvement with
service planning and delivery changes over time, as their life circumstances change, and
throughout a child’s life cycle.
Cross-sectoral Family engagement, as a philosophy and practice, is not limited to any one sector.
Different than Youth
Engagement
We recognize that family engagement and youth engagement are not the same, though
they may share some components, practices and values.
