MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
 It's the busiest time of the year here at OCSA, as we gear up for our 2016 OCSA Conference: Prepare, Adapt, Thrive! and celebrate Community Support Month in October.
Community Support Month is a special opportunity for community support providers to celebrate their accomplishments and raise awareness in their local communities. This year, we're focusing on #CommunitySupportStories - we want to hear about the profound ways your services impact your clients and their families, your volunteers and your communities. Those stories are powerful, so let's raise our voices together this October.
By now, you've already heard a lot from me about what you can learn at the conference. So let me take a moment to tell you what I'm excited to learn from you and your fellow delegates. I'm looking forward to hearing about your successes, your pilot projects, the newest research that applies to your services, what has you feeling optimistic. I also want to hear about members' challenges, and what OCSA can do to help. The conference is my favourite time of the year because it gives us that opportunity to connect in person. See you there!
- Deborah Simon, CEO
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Don't miss out on the 2016 OCSA Conference!
Our conference program is now complete! We're thrilled with the content we have lined up - and so are delegates, since we're just a handful of registrations away from our biggest turnout ever.
Our conference speakers, workshop leaders and poster presenters are ready to speak to some of our sector's most pressing issues, including integration, collaboration, caregiver support, health equity and much more! We'll also specifically address policy changes on the horizon, including subLHINS, new tools based on interRAI data, and PSS regulatory amendments. There's no easier way to boost your knowledge (and your energy!) after a restful summer.
So what are you waiting for? Visit www.ocsaconference.com to register before it's too late.
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OCTOBER IS COMMUNITY SUPPORT MONTH!
Share your #CommunitySupportStories!
Community Support Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your service achievements, increase awareness of your services among potential clients and caregivers, recruit volunteers, or raise funds.
This year, we are placing particular emphasis on stories which demonstrate the impact of CSS – on our clients, their families, our volunteers and our communities. These stories can be told through words, photos, images, clients or volunteer testimonials, or even statistics which demonstrate the impact CSS has in your community. As you plan events or approach local media, focus on telling the story of your organization, your clients, and the importance of community support services to Ontario’s health care system.
OCSA Members can find event planning and promotion tips, a media release template, and social media graphics that make marking the occasion easy on the Members Only website. Don't forget to use #CommunitySupportStories on social media so we can celebrate together!
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PSWs Power-Up At Our 10th Training Conference
October 20, 2016 - Markham
This year marks the 10th Annual PSW Training Conference. Our conference is the most efficient and affordable way for PSWs to maintain and upgrade their skills. This year, we're proud to offer in-depth training sessions in five areas that are a priority to home and community care providers, and to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care:
- Dementia Care
- Falls Management
- Mental Health
- Palliative Care
- Person-Centred Care.
Full session information is now available at psnoconference.com. Don't miss out on this once-a-year opportunity!
The 2016 PSNO Training Conference meets the eligibility criteria for the province's 2016/17 PSW Training Fund, in terms of training duration and subject matter. Contact your lead agency to check your application deadline!
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MEMBERS GET MORE
Make your voice heard on provincial policy issues!
This month, on behalf of our members, OCSA submitted policy positions and recommendations on both the recently introduced Patients First Act and the Levels of Care framework being developed as part of the Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care. Thanks to the many members who provided input that informed these submissions.
If your organization isn't an OCSA member, your voice is missing from the conversation. To learn about the many benefits of membership, contact kim.prince@ocsa.on.ca.
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Welcome to OCSA!
New Full OCSA Members
Alzheime r Society of Durham Region is a non-profit, charitable organization founded in 1979, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors of community professionals and caregivers, funded by the Central East LHIN as well as through fundraising activities, donations and grants. One of 38 chapters of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario (ASO), ASDR works with local and regional agencies to meet the needs of people with dementia as well as provide support and education programs to people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia, and their family and professional care partners. Denyse Newton is Executive Director.
 Dundas County Hospice offers a variety of services to anyone suffering from a terminal or life-threatening illness. They support clients and their caregivers through all stages of their illness including bereavement support after the death of the client. Their services are supplementary to those that already exist in Dundas County in the Champlain LHIN. Lisa Casselman is Executive Director.
Welcome and a big thank you to the following new corporate members who are supporting OCSA and our members: Bedford Medical Alert, AlayaCare, CARF Canada and Move Mobility – all of whom will be exhibiting at the Conference, so be sure to stop by their booth to say hi!
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MEMBER LISTINGS
Events and programs hosted by OCSA members.
Are you an OCSA Member who would like to promote an event or program in our next issue? E-mail a link and one-sentence description to bulletin@ocsa.on.ca.
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Capacity Builders Is Your One-Stop-Shop for Training Eligible for the 2016-17 PSW Training Funds
 PSW Training Fund applications are now being accepted by lead agencies (bankers) and deadlines are fast approaching! Be sure to confirm your deadline with the banker in your region, and submit your application with quotes for training as soon possible.
That’s where Capacity Builders comes in! Capacity Builders is OCSA’s training division specializing in PSW training. We’ve been helping NFPs deliver quality, value-added training in the Home & Community Support Services sector since 2001.
All of the PSW Enhancement workshops listed below align with criteria described in the MOH Training Fund information package, and can be delivered in 3 hours (to cover the basics) or 6 hours (allowing for a deeper dive and increased participant interaction). You can copy and paste the “learning objectives” on each link right into your application.
Simply click on the links below and call us for a quote! After submitting your quote and receiving approval, call us to book your training date and we will coordinate a consultation with the trainer so your session can be customized to meet your organization’s needs. Best of all - we deliver onsite training anywhere in Ontario!
Looking at several topics? Need help to put together a more comprehensive training plan? Give us a call. We can help!
Please contact Portia at portia@capacitybuilders.ca or call 1-800-267-6272 or 416-256-3010. ext 229 for a quote or help with your application.
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Two OCSA Members Part of Rural Health Hub Pilot Project
On August 7, the province announced a $2.5 million dollar investment in rural health hubs to enhance service integration at five health care locations to help them become fully integrated health hubs that better meet the unique needs of rural communities, and provide high-quality care for patients. The goal is to connect modern services and coordinate transitions between caregivers and doctors -- and make it easier for patients and their families to understand and access their health care choices.
Two OCSA members, North Shore Health Centre (formerly Blind River District Health Centre) and Haliburton Highlands Health Services are two of the five health care centres involved in the pilot.
Click here to read more.
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Upcoming Training from Capacity Builders:
interRAI Community Health Assessment Workshop
November 22, 23 & 24, 2016 in Toronto
This comprehensive three-day workshop will equip new assessors with the skills and confidence they need to conduct quality interRAI CHA assessments, and use the information to inform and evaluate personalized care plans. In a supportive and engaging environment, participants will learn the general principles of conducting a competent interRAI assessment and learn how to accurately document client information through the interRAI CHA system.
What participants are saying about this training:
Excellent workshop. I’ve had previous training but this is the first workshop that actually related the materials to what I do.
Excellent use of audiovisual, and enough activity to make the learning concrete and usable.
For full workshop information and registration link, please click here. Special reduced pricing for OCSA Members!
Coming this Fall: Preliminary Screener Tool webinar.
Did you know that we deliver interRAI CHA training all across Ontario? If you’d like more information about how we can bring this workshop to your organization, community or Network, please call us at 800-267-6272 or 416-256-3010 ext 229 or email portia@capacitybuilders.ca.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Quick links from around the sector.
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JOB LISTINGS
OCSA is pleased to advertise job opportunities on behalf of our members. To be included in our next issue, please e-mail a link to the posting, job location, and application deadline to bulletin@ocsa.on.ca.
- Joanne Wilson has announced her retirement from PACE Independent Living. Congratulations to Joanne and thanks for her many contributions to OCSA and the home and community support sector. Information regarding the position can be found here; opportunity closes October 12.
Please submit at least 4 weeks before applications close.
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