Copy
Share Share
Share Share
Forward Forward
November 3, 2020
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
This November will be the first year many can't attend in-person Remembrance Day Ceremonies due to the pandemic. Remembrance Day, for me, reminds me of the importance of being present, showing respect and connecting with my community. Although this year will be different, military and veteran organizations are helping communities stay connected and getting creative with virtual events. For example, the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre will be launching a Virtual Wall of Remembrance on November 11th. 

Something I value in OFCAN is our philosophy of partnership and our connection to a community of stakeholders who share the goal of empowering family caregivers. One thing I want to keep from the experience of the pandemic is finding new ways to meet people and connect with a community. I have found now, more than ever, people are more open and willing to connect, partner, and share learnings. With this in mind, I have two questions for our e-bulletin readers to consider: Who is missing from our List of Stakeholders and, more locally, are there organizations you want to connect with to build your local network? 

We always welcome your questions and ideas at familycaregivers@ofcan.org  
Sincerely, 
  
Ashley Bowe
OFCAN Chair
NEWS
Building a Framework Supporting Meaningful Family Caregiver Engagement Research Surveys  
 

Hi Everyone,

The Building a Framework Supporting Meaningful Family Caregiver Engagement research surveys were launched on October 15th. As seasoned advisors, it would be wonderful if you could take a few minutes to share your experiences and perspectives.
Here is the survey link
 
We are also seeking input from caregivers who “might one day be advisors”, as well as service providers who might or might not have worked with advisors.
The full invitation poster is on The Royal’s website  
 
When sharing this invitation with others, I remind people that their input will result in the development of knowledge products that will support the work of advisors who provide a strong family voice for change.
 
Thank you,
Cynthia Clark
Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (2015-2017) 

Substance use in Canada cost almost $46 billion in 2017.  This equals almost $1,258 for every Canadian, regardless of age.  Read this report published in 2020 to learn the costs associated with a range of different substances and how they impacted health care, lost productivity, criminal justice and other direct costs. Read the Report 
 
Patient and Family Engagement in Primary Care:
Building effective patient and family advisory councils in three Ontario Communities

The voices of patients and families are increasingly being heard at healthcare council meetings across the province.  Find out how healthcare organizations have embraced the approach and have seen the benefits of meaningful engagement and collaboration in this report from The Change Foundation. Read More
Common Challenges, Shared Priorities:  Measuring Access to Home and Community Care and to Mental Health and Addiction Services in Canada

Timely access to mental health and addiction services is a growing concern for many Canadians. The Canadian Institute for Health Information has been working with the provinces and territories to develop indicators that measure access to mental and addiction services and identify system gaps. Read More
Special Announcement from The Change Foundation

The Change Foundation plans a strategic re-set and will align with the Ontario Hospital Association. Read More
Ontario's Initial Pandemic Response Created Gaps in Mental Health and Addictions Care - We Must Close Them Now

Years of underfunding, especially for community-based resources, has significantly contributed to a fragmented mental health and addictions system. The pandemic exposed and worsened these challenges, and patients are falling through the cracks. With COVID-19 expected to be with us for some time, we must close these gaps in care immediately, or we risk simply replacing COVID-19 with a crisis in mental health and addictions instead.  Read More
RESOURCES 
Alcohol Use and Suicide Webinar

November 12, 2020, 11:00am 

Join Drs. Norman Giesbrecht, Heather Orpana, Sarah Konefal, and Robert Gabrys as they outline the pathways between alcohol use and suicide, the data and terminology used to discuss alcohol-related suicide, and how policies on alcohol relate to the prevention of suicide deaths.

Each presentation will also touch on the past and potential impacts of COVID-19 on alcohol-related deaths and suicide. Register Here
Suicide Prevention Mobile App
 
Hope by CAMH is a free smartphone app that provides suicide prevention information, tools and crisis resources to support and guide individuals when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Read More
The Support for Caregiver Awareness, Learning & Empowerment (SCALE) Program
 
The SCALE Program is a series of free weekly webinars for unpaid caregivers every Tuesday from October 13th to December 1st through the Ontario Caregiver Organization. SCALE empowers caregivers with practical information, and skills to enhance self-awareness with a focus on the caregivers needs and well-being. Free and confidential coaching sessions with healthcare providers can be accessed after each weekly webinar. 
To register and view weekly topics click here
EVENTS
ISAM-CSAM 2020 
Now a Fully Virtual Conference

 
The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) and the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine (CSAM) will host their 2020 conference as a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The World of Addiction:  Now & The Future will be held on Nov 12-14, 2020 and will provide unprecedented global access to industry-leading addiction medicine education.
 
Date: Nov. 12 - 14, 2020
Click for event details
The Conference Board of Canada: Value based Healthcare Canada
2nd Annual Summit

 
With the increasing impact of COVID-19 in Canada, the health and safety of our conference delegates, staff and partners comes first. We have therefore made the decision to postpone the Value-based Healthcare Conference originally scheduled for April 23 in Toronto. We are working to identify a future date for this event, and we will communicate any updates directly to all registered attendees and exhibitors.
 
Date: Postponed TBA - Toronto  
Click for event updates
The 2020 Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference
 
In light of the rapidly changing situation related to the spread of COVID-19, we are cancelling the 2020 Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care conference, which had been scheduled for June 5th and 6th in Halifax. Our plan is to postpone the conference for a year, re-scheduling it for late spring 2021, also in Halifax. We will let you know about new dates as soon as they are confirmed, and will be directly contacting everyone who had an abstract accepted over the coming weeks.

If you have already registered for the conference, we will be contacting you, and you will receive a full refund.
If you have any questions about the conference, please contact Jane Harris at  Jane.Harris@dal.ca.  
2020 OFCAN MEETINGS 
November 17 
Website
Website
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Subscribe
Subscribe
© OFCAN 2020
All rights reserved


Contact Us:
familycaregivers@ofcan.org 


Would you like to change how you receive these emails?
update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list


Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp