Pursuing Excellence Through Accreditation

Inside Page

Kits 4 Kids 3

Annual General Meeting 4,5

Staff Celebrating Service 6

Employee Nominated for Award 7

for the Children is published quarterly by Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas & Elgin County.

We can be contacted at:410 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas, ON N5R 3C7Tel.: 519-631-1492 • Fax: 519-631-0596

Comments and suggestions can be forwarded to the Editor:Tel.: 519-539-9762 • Fax: 519-539-7063E-mail: carly@oxfordmediagroup.com

Spring 2006The Newsletter of Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas & Elgin, & Elgin Children’s Foundation

In their continued eff ort to exceed expectations and provide the best possible quality of care, FACS-Elgin is again pursuing accreditation.

One of the major components of the accreditation process is Quality Assurance.

Th e Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies has a set of best practice standards that is developed jointly within the fi eld, to determine the criteria for accreditation.

Th e Agency has been successful at this endeavour in the past and continues to strive for excellence.

Th rough the accreditation process the Agency must demonstrate they meet standards in 10 diff erent areas - quality assurance, adoption, family service, agency in community, children in care, volunteers, human resource, board governance, fi nance and foster care.

Dawn Flegel, Director of Service, said the process is extensive and held in high regard.

“Th e accreditation designation is valid for four years then must be renewed. We previously received approval but our allotted time has expired so we are again working through this process,” Flegel said. “Th e quality assurance standard component is a category that is added only for the re-accreditation process and not the original one. Th is is a new experience for us.”

She said the quality assurance process is important as it provides internal and external parties confi dence the Agency will consistently meet the requirements for quality.

“It also assists in the identifi cation of gaps and provides a means for improvement and maintaining a record of excellence,” she said.

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Dawn FlegelDirector of Service

Pursuing Excellence Through Accreditation.....continued

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As part of FACS-Elgin’s emphasis on quality of service, the Agency has a strategic plan that is reviewed regularly and potential areas of improvement are examined.

“For example, we reviewed all children who were in care for less than 30 days during the 2004-2005 fiscal year. The purpose was to determine if there were any trends and if services could be developed to avoid these admissions to care,” Flegel said. “The results were presented to the staff, management team as well as the Board of Directors and no concerning trends emerged. The use of our foster homes for respite purposes is one strategy being used at times to prevent a more permanent admission to care.”

The Agency is working with Elgin Respite Network to develop a protocol for respite services.

ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETIESNOTICE TO PUBLIC

Accreditation Review

Children’s Aid Societies in Ontario are committed to the provision of high quality child welfare services. In order to ensure that services meet consistently high standards across the province, Children’s Aid Societies, through their provincial association, have established standards in 10 areas of service and administration and developed a process to review individual Agency compliance with the standards. Those Agencies which meet or exceed the required standards will be accredited, and this designation publicized.

Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas & Elgin fully supports this initiative and has requested accreditation.

A team of experienced child welfare professionals will be visiting the agency from April 24 to April 28, 2006 to review its compliance with the established standards.

Reviewers will be reading agency files and other documentation and interviewing board and staff members, volunteers, foster parents, persons who receive agency services and community service providers.

Please contact Rod Potgieter, Executive Director-631-1492 Ext. 211 if you wish further information about this process.

Th e Elgin Children’s Foundation needs your assistance in providing some special items for children who come into the care of FACS-Elgin. While the Agency provides for basic necessities and clothing, the Foundation would like to provide some additional comfort items in an attractive kit to the child at the time they enter into care. Th e kits may help them cope with the transition of coming into care, by reminding each child they are special.

We need to purchase enough items to fi ll 100 kits for the children coming into care over the course of one year. We are asking people donate enough for individual items or provide a $75 donation to purchase one complete kit. We would be pleased to provide a charitable receipt for donations of $10 or more.

Formet Industries recently donated an additional 25 Kits for Kids, to assist the Elgin Children’s Foundation in providing some special items for children who come into the care of FACS-Elgin. Alaina Hern, a member of the Community Involvement Committee at Formet, presented the donation on behalf of the business.

Special thanks to everyone who is helping us make a diff erence in the life of a child. We so appreciate your kindness as it brings a smile to a child’s face

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Andrée Cazabon is using her life’s experience to advocate on behalf of children

This year’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for June 21 2006 at the Pt. Stanley Wharf, will feature keynote speaker Andrée Cazabon.

Andrée, a former youth in care of Ottawa CAS, is a filmmaker whose work is inspired by her own experiences on the streets and in group homes at the age of 13.

Advocating for youth-at-risk, the director has brought her films on a cross-country tour, leading over a hundred public discussions for youth, families, the public at large, policy makers and the media. Her films have been screened at the Vancouver Film Festival, at the ExCentris theatre in Montreal and broadcast to close to a million viewers on national television.

Her films and her community work for youth-at-risk have received much attention in the media as well, such as the Vicky Gabereau Show, Canada AM, The Globe and Mail, CBC Radio, Faze magazine, and The Toronto Star.

Her latest film, Wards of the Crown (Les enfants de la couronne) (CBC – Rough Cuts), reveals the impact of growing up in government care in the lives of four young people. Due to her personal experiences in group homes, Andrée continues to advocate for youth-at-risk, this time focusing on the young people growing up in the child welfare system.

In addition to her filmmaking experience, Andrée has been a peer group leader for the girl’s group at the Rideauwood Institute, a one-on-one mentor for hard-to-reach street youth for five years and the inspiration for the Letters to a Street Child trust fund whose aim is to build a youth residential treatment centre with family support services. A Toronto-based organization composed of Toronto Rotary Club members, national and local foundations and private sector leaders, the trust fund is the follow-up to her first film, Letters to a Street Child. After having raised over 2.5 million dollars, the treatment centre will open its doors to addicted youth in spring 2006.

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The annual meeting is open to the public but participation is restricted to members of the Children’s Aid Society. Members are able to vote and participate in various decisions, which are made at the meeting. The fees to become a member are minimal - $5 per person and $8 for a family membership and can be purchased at the Agency.

For more information or to obtain a membership application form please contact Rita Withenshaw at Family and Children’s Services, at 631-1492 ext. 210.

Volleying For KidsOrganizers are hoping lucky number seven will bring good fortune to the 7th annual

volleyball tournament, hosted by FACS-Elgin.Plans are in the works for the 2006 Beach Volleyball Fun Classic at GT’s on the beach in Port

Stanley.Organized by FACS-Elgin employees and Foundation volunteers, this annual fund-raising

event draws area organizations together to raise money for children and families assisted by the Agency.

Ron Lidster, Secretary/Treasurer with the Elgin Children’s Foundation, said the tournament continues to bring big crowds and players, helping to raise much-needed funds for families and children connected to FACS-Elgin.

“Last year the final figure on the tourney was $2,058 which was comprised of registration fees, donations, and the sale of raffle prizes,” he said. “We are confident this year’s event will garner the same, if not more support for children.”

Plans are still being finalized for this year’s event, which will likely take place in August. Watch for more details as they unfold to ensure you have the right information to get into the game!

All proceeds will be donated to the Elgin Children’s Foundation Camp Fund, which raises money to send kids involved with the Agency to summer camp.

Please contact FACS-Elgin to register...........continued on next page

FACS Staff Celebrates Long-term Service

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Several staff received long-term recognition awards in December 2005.Left to Right: Marlaine Epple, 25 years, Julie Agius, 5 years, Rita Withenshaw, 15 years.

Cooking up a StormTh e Moms and Tots Program, in collaboration with the Elgin St. Th omas Health Unit,

recently off ered the Food Handler’s Certifi cate Program to mothers attending the Moms and Tots and Mother’s Relief groups.

Th e Food Handler’s Certifi cate Program prepares the participants for employment in the food industry, such as restaurants and hospital kitchens.

Th e program was well received by the women, as evidenced by the fact that out of the 10 women enrolled, the attendance average was 88 per cent and the test average for the group was

82 per cent. In follow-up, the women indicated they learned a great deal about food handling and the information was presented in a clear and concise manner.

Th e work of Wynie Dearlove, Program Co-ordinator; Deb Riddel, Nutritionist; and Martha Giesbrechtthe, Elgin St. Th omas Health Unit is greatly appreciated by all, and especially by the women who have gained yet another stepping stone to self-determination.

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Anne Wall, Child Protection Worker, was selected as one of the nominees for the Mentoring Award at the 15th Annual Krista Sepp Memorial Award, honouring excellence in the field of child and youth work.

Anne was one of 23 people who were nominated for the mentoring Award, which honours the ongoing contributions of front line staff that have been in the field for six or more years.

The award ceremony took place on February 3, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario.

Anne is the Low-German speaking child protection worker for the Agency. In this role, Anne requires a high level of skill with respect to protection issues and at the same time must act as ‘cultural broker’ between the Mennonite community and the Agency. She is able to weave these complex relationships successfully. She implemented a “Mennonite 101” course within the community, introducing the culture in a manner that destroys the stereotypes and builds bridges. The demands placed on Anne are immense. She has encountered children who have suffered varying levels of abuse, severe mental health diagnoses,

developmental disabilities and various oppressive conditions. She works tirelessly to ensure the children in her care are protected, understood and supported. For a period of two years, she has overseen a case of a family of eight children who withstood substantial abuse and neglect. Her dogged

determination has helped to ensure that they are all in loving and culturally appropriate homes and despite not all being placed together; Anne ensures that siblings stay connected. She has been their champion. Anne has taken initiative in developing protocols

with local church leaders to ensure the safety of children and youth and has successfully challenged traditional beliefs regarding abusive child rearing practices. In addition to her demanding work life, Anne has a young family of her own and has recently taken on the challenge of completing her Bachelor of Social Work at a local university. Anne - congratulations on this great honour of being nominated. You are truly an inspiration to us all.

FACS Employee Leads by Example

Pictured from left - Adri Hewitt, Manager, Support Services and award nominee Anne Wall, Child Protection Worker.

— Karen Dunn, County of Elgin Planner

“I remember going to a music camp in Beaverton the most. I took flute and piano with professors from the University of Western Ontario and the London Symphony Orchestra.

At the time it was fun, and I didn’t think I was learning, but I learned a great deal and was a much better person for it. I grew up in a fairly large family so it was a chance to get away from my brothers and sis-ters and be a little bit more independent. It gave me a chance to get out with different people and make decisions on my own.

It was also a really fun time. They had dances every night, and the entertainment was fabulous. And the people… I had pen pals for years afterwards.”

Charitable Registration# BN 89176 6248 RR0001

Elgin Children’s Foundation believes every child should have a carefree summer at camp. Help them in their mission to establish a permanent camp endowment fund to send underprivileged kids to camp.

Visit us on the Web at:www.childrensfoundation.on.ca

Send donations to:Kamping 4 Kidzc/o The Elgin Chil-dren’s Foundation410 Sunset DriveSt. Thomas, ONN5R 3C7Tel: 519-631-1492

Yes, I would like to help Elgin Children’s Foundation in their mission to establish a permanent camp endowment fund to send underprivileged kids to camp.

I wish to donate: � $25 � $50 � $100 � $ _____________

Name: ________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

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Donations not specifi ed for the

camp fund are also warmly accepted.