President and Executive Director’s Report1).pdffective Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Networking...

Annual Report 2009-2010

“Reaching out to those in need since 1985”

President and Executive Director’s Report India Rainbow Community Services of Peel was founded in 1985 by concerned mem-

bers of the Indo-Canadian community to meet the social services need of newcomers

from the Indian sub-continent. Today, India Rainbow is a vibrant, highly respected

multi-service agency recognized for leadership and diversity, innovative and cost effi-

cient programs, community partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders. Our

steady growth reflects thoughtful planning and consideration of capacity before ex-

panding.

With our growth, expansion and 25 year history, we continue to embrace forward thinking and strive for excellence in

client service and program operational best practices. In brief, some of our last year’s successes and current endeavours

are:

We completed the ‘Benchmarks of Excellence’ process, as a start of our journey to accreditation. This process provided

us the opportunity to better understand, measure, celebrate and improve our organizational performance.

With our enthusiastic governors (Board Directors), we revised our entire board orientation manual, hosted two board

governance retreats, implemented a standardized method of board evaluation and developed membership recruitment

and engagement strategy.

Our Board and Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) members are actively engaged in risk management, succession plan-

ning, women’s, seniors’ and 25th Anniversary committees.

We continue to develop and monitor compliance of governance, finance, information technology operations, and health

& safety policies.

We took a leadership role in the Home Support Exercise Program, an evidence based exercise program for older adults

that promotes falls prevention. We also participated in a pilot project called ASSIST - All inclusive Seamless Services for

Seniors’ Independence Today and Tomorrow. Our Seniors Wellness Program has resulted in tracking a reduction in

emergency room visits, thus promoting the government’s initiative of Aging at Home.

With assistance from Health Canada, we successfully developed a Guide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic Self----CareCareCareCare, a tool for the South Asian

seniors to assist in the early detection and self-management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. The next part of the

project is to pilot test the guide in the community.

We are developing a custom database through Caseworks Software, an all-encompassing software designed to manage all

aspects of case management from intake to cycle close.

After a quarter century, we still remain motivated by the desire to enhance the lives of immigrants who choose to make

Canada their home. We want to have a share in helping new immigrants realize their full potential by making a mean-

ingful contribution to their communities.

As we look back at our accomplishments in a quarter century, we are, as always, thankful to our volunteers, clients, net-

working partners, funders and donors. We are very appreciative of our Board of Directors and Policy Advisory Commit-

tee Members for their unfailing guidance and watchful eye over the organization. A very special thank-you goes to our

front line staff and the management who truly believe in our mission, and serve and live that mission every day.

Thank you for putting your trust in us.

Sheela Joshi Kitty Chadda

PresidentPresidentPresidentPresident Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorExecutive Director

Annual Report 2009 Annual Report 2009 Annual Report 2009 Annual Report 2009 ---- 2010 2010 2010 2010

Sheela Joshi Kitty Chadda

LINC

The Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)

Program provides free basic English language training and

childminding services to adult permanent residents of Can-

ada.

This past year, we have started a LINC class specifically for

seniors 55 years and older at our new location 245 Queen

Street, Brampton. The response has been overwhelming

and Seniors enjoy taking these classes. The classes run on

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. With two addi-

tional evening classes at our Mississauga site this year, IRCS

now offers 26 part- time classes between Mississauga and

Brampton thereby providing a wide range of flexible and

convenient time and location options to newcomers.

JSW

Job Search Workshops (JSW) facilitate the employment of

new immigrants to Ontario by familiarizing them with ef-

fective job-search practices and techniques in a culturally

appropriate manner.

We provide pre-employment workshops to train newcomers

in job searching techniques. This includes Orientation to

the Canadian Labour Market, Self-Assessment of Skills, Ef-

fective Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Networking and

methods of Contacting Employers, Successful Interview

Techniques, Overview of the Workplace, Workers’ Rights

and Employment Standards.

We expanded our JSW program to operate from our new

location 21 Regan Road in Brampton in the past year making

JSW available at three locations within Brampton and Mis-

sissauga.


Settlement Services

Immigrant Settlement and Adaption Program

(ISAP) and Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP)

assist immigrants in settling and integrating into

Canadian society. It includes the delivery of di-

rect and essential services to immigrants for a

smooth integration into the Canadian society.

These services include but are not limited to in-

formation and referral to various community re-

sources, services and programs, assistance filling

out various applications such as Child Tax Bene-

fits, Permanent Resident Card, Citizenship, non-

profit housing, Ontario Works, Canada Pension

Plan, Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Sup-

plement, Passports, name changes etc.

Information Sessions are organized for various

groups of newcomers on many important topics

of need such as Landlord Tenants Issues, Employ-

ment Standards Act, labour market information,

Employment Insurance, Teaching in Ontario,

volunteering etc. which greatly helps them un-

derstand the Canadian culture.

Free Income Tax clinics and legal clinics are also

organized for low income newcomers at all our

locations.

LINC students at a sugar bush - learning about maple syrup

Programs and Services

Newcomers using our resource room.

LTC

Our comprehensive Long Term Care Program (LTC) in-

cludes, Adult Day Program, Seniors Wellness Program and

the Friendly Visiting Program where in we offer a wide

range of services to seniors which includes a variety of ac-

tivities that enhance their mental and physical well being.

The highlights of this year are:

We are greatly honoured to be chosen as the ASSIST test

phase participating agency to provide Home Support Exer-cise Program . The Home Support Exercise program is an

evidence based exercise program for frail, homebound older

adults developed by the Canadian Centre for Activity and

Aging. It consists of 10 simple yet progressive exercises de-

signed to enhance and maintain functional fitness, mobility,

balance and independence of the participants. Trained front

line workers such as caregivers, volunteers, personal sup-

port workers or other community professionals teach these

exercises to older adults.

Over the past year IRCS has taken a significant step towards

the process of acquiring accreditation through CARF, Can-

ada (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facili-

ties) . As part of the process we have had the honour of be-

ing one of the first 8 agencies selected to participate in this

accreditation..

The process provides us an opportunity to better under-

stand, measure, celebrate and improve our organizational

performance. The Mississauga Halton LHIN is funding our

participation in this process.

Programs and Services


HASP

Housing And Support Peel provides supportive

housing to people with severe mental illness who

are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming

homeless.

Through this program culturally appropriate ser-

vices are provided to clients in their own environ-

ment supported by families and friends. They

learn life skills to manage their illness and achieve

their short term goals. Services are provided to

help them navigate the social and community ser-

vices system and link them with appropriate ser-

vices.

Women’s Services

Women’s program at IRCS provides culturally sen-

sitive, short and long term counseling to women in

abusive situations and advocacy for equality of

access for all women in the community .

We provide crisis intervention, settlement ser-

vices, create safety plans, conduct empowerment

educational workshops, organize wellness and sup-

port groups.

Child Youth & Parenting (CYP)

CYP program provides short and long-term sup-

portive counseling for youth and their families

who may be at risk, or are experiencing conflicts,

depression and marginalization related to duality

of cultures, transition to a new country, post war/

disaster trauma, peer to peer and familial conflict,

parenting styles, developmental disabilities, mental

health issues and adolescent norms.

Many newcomer children, youth and parents are

empowered and educated through presentations

and information sessions provided by our staff. In-

depth employment and career guidance are offered

to youth and culturally appropriate information is

provided to parents on navigating Ontario School

system, conditional acceptance, choosing a Col-

lege / University, applying for OSAP / grants, liv-

ing on residence etc.

Day program participants engaged in mental aerobic exercise

Holistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management project

The Guide to Holistic Self-Care is a tool for South Asian sen-

iors to assist in early detection and self-management of dia-

betes and other chronic illnesses. The guide includes aspects

such as understanding the disease, exercise, healthy eating,

proper use of prescription medications and information on

monitoring and managing blood sugar and blood pressure.

This guide is a user friendly, culturally appropriate and lan-

guage specific tool to empower the South Asian seniors and

addresses their physical, mental, emotional, social and fi-

nancial issues. It is a holistic approach needed for self man-

agement of diabetes and chronic disease prevention. The

seniors have been involved in this project by actively par-

ticipating in the two surveys, providing feedback and rec-

ommendations on the guide content as well as being a part

of the advisory committee for the project.

IRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to Caseworks

Caseworks is an all-encompassing software designed to man-

age all aspects of case management from intake to cycle

close. Client file accessibility across all locations will allow

staff to have necessary information at their fingertips for

seamless documented client service, while creating a docu-

mented account of each unit of service provided to clients.

India Rainbow alongside Coyote, has developed an imple-

mentation team and set a tentative launch date in October

2010.

On-going projects and initiatives


Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments ----

HighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlights

• We continue to develop and monitor compliance

of Governance, Finance, IT Operation and Health and Safety policies.

• Have embarked on developing a complete docu-

mented Risk Management Plan by having an

inventory completed by each staff and develop-

ing a methodology for plan development

• Developed a draft Membership Recruitment and

Engagement strategy

• Launched an enhanced Website

• Developed a complete marketing plan in consul-

tation with board, staff, and volunteers

• Reviewing potential risk factors and beginning

proper documentation of accounting procedures

Benchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of Excellence

India Rainbow was selected to participate in a

process called Benchmarks of Excellence as one of

the eight identified agencies out of 53 in the Re-

gion of Peel.

Staff, management, and Board participated in com-

pleting the surveys organized by Ontario Commu-

nity Support Association (OCSA), a division of

Ontario Capacity Builders. This process provided

us the opportunity to better understand, measure,

celebrate, and improve our organizational per-

formance. We have developed certain best prac-

tices, and these have impacted our achievement of

“Benchmarks of Excellence”.

The advisory group – hard at work

Financial Statement

Auditor: James E. Horn Almand Chartered Accountants

The above financial report has been extracted from India Rainbow’s audited financial statements. Detailed financial

statements are available upon request.


Financial Statement


Mississauga (2 locations)

• 3038 Hurontario Street, Suite 206 Mississauga, ON L5B 3B9 Phone: 905-275-2369 Facsimile: 905-275-6799 Email: [email protected] • 415 Matheson Blvd. East, Mississauga, ON L4Z 2H2 Phone: 905-507-6099 Facsimile: 905-507-1787

Brampton (3 locations)

• 9446 McLaughlin Road North, Unit # 1 Brampton, ON L6X 4H9 Phone: 905-454-2598 Facsimile: 905-454-2762 • 21 Regan Road, Unit H & I, Brampton, ON L7A 1C5 Phone: 905-459-4776 Facsimile: 905-459-4347

• 245 Queen Street East, Unit # 2, Brampton ON L6W 2B5

Phone: 905-595-1669 Facsimile: 905-595-1670

India Rainbow Community Services of Peel (IRCS) is a charitable, non-profit, community based organization. Services provided are non-religious and non political.

Board of Directors for 2009—2010

Sheela Joshi President Shivani Sharda Vice-President Charanjit Luthra Treasurer Nazli Rehman Secretary Deepak Anand Joint Secretary Kitty Chadda Executive Director

Members: Ragini Bhat, Bhushan Sood, Rina Kukde, Samuel Malvea, Vandana Nayyar Policy Advisory Committee: Ferzana Chaze, Archana Madhekar, Harish Athale Mission: To provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the Peel immigrant community, enabling integration and supporting their settlement, social services, health and education needs. Our Guiding Principles

• We will apply best practices in our service delivery

• We will be accountable to all our stakeholders

• We are non political and non religious

• We are committed to progress and forward thinking through entrepreneurship

• We are guided by community participation and collaboration

Our objectives

• To assist the immigrant community to integrate into mainstream Canadian society through education, training, counseling, referral, information and bridging barriers (to integration)

• To assist and educate the community on healthcare needs

• To provide family counseling and/or referral services in family crisis situations

• To identify problems associated with the duality of cultures for children of immigrants and to provide opportunities to resolve them through education

• To inform the mainstream Canadian community about the value system of first generation Canadians

• To raise funds for programs and projects related to achieving the objectives of the organization

• To strive for providing language and culture specific services as appropriate

A United Way Funded Agency

Charity Business No: 107505810RR0001

www.indiarainbow.org


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