Save the Dates!
The Door is Open
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awakening our collective power!
The ACDS Spring Conference - April 24-26, 2017
Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre - Calgary
(Registration and session information available soon...)
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ACDS Notes
Revised CET Standards - Information Sessions
The new 2016 Creating Excellence Together (CET) Standards are here!
- Do you work in Community Disability Services or Family Support for Children with Disabilities?
- Are you interested in learning about the revised standards?
Each of the sessions will review the new 2016 version of the:
* CET Accreditation Standards for Adults with Disabilities
* The Additional indicators for:
o Services for Children with Disabilities
o Complex Support Needs Review
o Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities <-- NEW to CET
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February 21 in Grande Prairie
Signature Support Services Society
8702 - 113 Street
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6K5
Parking - available
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February 22 in Edmonton
Chrysalis: An Alberta Society for Citizens with Disabilities
13325 - St Albert Trail
Edmonton, AB T5L 4R3
Parking - plenty of available parking |
February 23 in Red Deer
Cosmos Community Support Services Ltd.
1, 7428 - 49 Avenue
Red Deer, AB T4P 1M2
Parking - in back or along roads |
February 28 in Lethbridge
Ability Resource Centre
A Division of Rehabilitation Society of Southwestern Alberta
1610 - 29 Street North, Lethbridge T1H 5L3
Parking - North side of building only |
There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so register soon
Posititive Behaviour Supports - Levels 1 & 2 and Train the Trainer
PBS training is designed for staff supporting individuals with complex behavioural needs. The underlying philosophy of PBS is to focus upon the individual and develop supports that are unique to an individual's needs. This PBS session has been subsidized by Disability Services (PDD).
Video Testimonial
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<---- Click on the graphic for information on how to apply the Canada-Alberta Job Grant to ACDS training.
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The ACDS Training Calendar is regularly updated with training events from ACDS, and other organizations that are relevant to the disability sector.
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News, Links, and Events
Assault at youth ranch prompts OHS investigation
Occupational Health and Safety investigators have been gathering evidence at the Elk Island Child and Youth Ranch near Lamont, where a caregiver was seriously injured while at work Saturday night.
'What happened to this woman should not happen to any Alberta employee,' Minister says after Elk Island youth worker attacked
An OHS investigation can take months, but Gray said the government will apply everything it learns from that report "to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Albertans thrilled with door-to-door energy sales ban
Albertans widely approve of the provincial government's decision to ban doorstep sales of home energy products, according to a new poll.
Complaints about potential violations of the sales ban can be made by calling
1-877-427-4088, or filed online (Complaints for communities north of Red Deer can be emailed to ciu.north@gov.ab.ca. For Red Deer and southern Alberta, ciu.south@gov.ab.ca)
The Leilani O'Malley Award for Self Advocacy
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"Are you a self-advocate who is interested in activism? Are you doing something cool in the community? Are you breaking down barriers? We want to hear about it!"
"The Self Advocacy Federation will be awarding one major $300 bursary and two runners up awards of $100 each to self -advocates who best represents Leilani O'Malley's activism and the Self Advocacy Federation's vision of Leadership, Development, Education and Advocacy.
To submit your nominee, email us at: saf@selfadvocacyfederation.com and tell us what you are doing. Be creative. We like videos, presentations, stories, poems, etc..."
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Canadians with Disabilities Act to focus on employment: minister
Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, says removing accessibility barriers will be crucial to tackling long-standing high jobless rates among the country's disabled population.
Slide and Ride program gives Edmontonians with disabilities a ski experience
Slide and Ride is an introduction to skiing and snowboarding program organized by the
Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing
(CADS). CADS organizes the programs for those with disabilities ranging from physical and visual to hearing and cognitive.
Why Funding Overhead Is Not the Real Issue: The Case to Cover Full Costs
Herein lies the danger of the focus on funding overhead: we may think we've arrived once nonprofits "gain control of their paycheck," and forget that resilient nonprofits need a safety net. Nonprofits need to be paid for their full costs
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Alberta volunteer organizations seek to preserve lobbying exemption
Alberta's volunteer organizations are protesting recommendations by the ethics commissioner that would strip them of an exemption under the Lobbying Act.
Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations - 2017 #ABnonprofit survey
"How is your nonprofit faring in these challenging times?"
Non-Profit Energy Efficiency Transition Program
The NEET Program will provide funding to help non-profit organizations determine how efficient their current lighting, heating, cooling and hot water systems are, and explore efficiency opportunities to reduce energy use and costs.
Complex Needs Initiative Learning Series
By using a high school as a backdrop, this documentary reveals how complex trauma affects brain development and behaviour and how trauma informed care and practices can have positive outcomes. Paper Tigers follows a year in the life of an alternative high school that radically changed its approach to interacting with students; becoming a promising model for how to break the cycles of inappropriate behaviour, poverty, violence, and disease.
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March 2, 2017
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March 9, 2017
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"The Complex Needs Initiative Learning Series will focus on important skills for front line service provider staff to deliver excellent services for individuals with complex needs. Most sessions will be delivered in either Edmonton or Calgary as well as available via video conference - all session descriptions & registration details will be posted on the Complex Needs Website."
Sessions are:
- Targeted learning opportunities which focus on skill building for staff who work with individuals with dual diagnosis and complex service needs.
- Free to attend and resources will be available for staff to continue learning in each topic area.
- Developing staff competencies as defined by a diverse group of contributors with experience with complex needs and as listed within the Complex Need Learning Framework.
Contacts:
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Gloria Wesley, Manager
Provincial Complex Needs Coordinator
Disabilities, Inclusion and Accessibility Division
Community and Social Services
780-644-4677
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Sandy Marcynuk, Consultant
Provincial Complex Needs Coordinator
Provincial Planning and Capacity Management
Community, Seniors and Addiction & Mental Health
587-773-5242
Sandy.Marcynuk@ahs.ca |
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19 Year-Old Ernie - An investigative review
"This review highlights the importance of seamless transitions in service delivery
between child welfare and adult disability systems, continuity of relationships and
incorporating the voice of a young person in decision-making. It is my sincere hope that
the recommendations arising from this review will be acted upon to improve services
for Alberta's children and youth."
Recommendations of the Advocate:
1. The Ministry of Human Services should develop processes to ensure that
consistent services and supports are in place when young people transition
from Child Intervention Services to the adult disability system.
2. The Ministry of Human Services should ensure that the voice of the young person is included in case planning. If a young person is unable to voice an opinion, caseworkers need to access all avenues to ensure that the young person's rights, interests and viewpoints are considered.
The Advocate also includes his support for the recommendations of the
In September 2015, the Ministry of Human Services began an engagement process to examine the standards of safety for individuals receiving supports through PDD. Feedback from stakeholders consistently indicated a need to develop a relational aspect to PDD service delivery along with open communication.
The final report was released by the Government of Alberta in October 2016 with 11 recommendations under 5 broad areas:
* Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program
* Staff Training and Education
* Accreditation Standards for Agencies
* Safety Codes Act Interpretation
* Other Ideas to Support Safety
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Better care transitions urged after disabled First Nations teen dies
Graff is charged with investigating the deaths of children and youth who have received child intervention services, and making recommendations to improve the system.
Graff's reports usually stick to child services and related supports.
This one branches out into the Persons with Developmental Disabilities program, pointing to a lack of consistency for young people transitioning from child intervention to the adult disability system.
Children's Services Minister responds to OCYA report
"The health, safety, and well-being of children are at the heart of the work we do in Children's Services. But we continue to hear that we need to listen to and be more responsive to the needs of the children we care for. While a Child Intervention and Disability Services protocol is being developed following previous recommendations, it is clear that we need to take a closer look at how we are listening to the members of the disability community we care for.
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Valerie Wolski Fatality Inquiry
Final report and recommendations
Now six years since her death, the report from last year's inquiry has been released, providing detailed recommendations from the presiding judge for the Government of Alberta (PDD), Centennial Centre, and Service Providers.
Recommendations:
Recommendation #1: I recommend that PDD engage an outside agency to review and assist with any changes necessary to improve the manner in which that organization generates, secures and disseminates information to caregivers relating to developmentally disabled clients.
Recommendation #2: I recommend that CCMHBI
(Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury) engage an outside agency to review and assist with any changes necessary to improve the manner in which that organization generates, secures and disseminates information relating to developmentally disabled clients to PDD or others meeting the needs of those clients.
Recommendation #3: I recommend that PDD, CCMHBI and any organization engaged to provide care to a developmentally disabled person funded via PDD be required to keep a separate inventory, file or record of all information relevant to the issue of safety when dealing with that developmentally disabled person. This would apply both to information generated by those bodies or provided to them.
Recommendation #4: I recommend that PDD refrain from permitting organizations from providing services for which they are not properly accredited until the appropriate body has actually provided that accreditation.
Recommendation #5: I 're-recommend' that, at no time should a careworker be assigned to the care of a resident that the careworker cannot physically manage at that time.
Recommendation #6: I recommend that, at no time should a female careworker be assigned exclusive care of a client who has previously expressed or demonstrated aggression toward females.
Recommendation #7: I recommend that the Government of Alberta prepare an implementation report on the status of implementation of recommendations from all fatality inquiries.
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Fatality report finds errors contributed to death of Alberta mental health worker
A fatality report has found there were failings that contributed to the death of Camrose mental health worker Valerie Wolski, who was killed in a client's home in 2011.
Fatality report into Camrose care worker's death a damning indictment
In Ontario, Rosborough notes, ministries and agencies are required to respond, in writing, within a year, to all fatality inquiry recommendations.
And every year, Ontario's chief coroner has to write a public implementation report, to track the progress of those recommendations. In Alberta, by contrast, no one has to respond to fatality inquiry reports - whether they deal with deaths of foster children or deaths in prisons, or medical errors. No one tracks their recommendations. No one even compiles them.
Premier keen to address problems highlighted in inquiry into Camrose care worker's slaying
"I believe it's long overdue for us to get into a practice for holding ourselves accountable for the recommendations. It doesn't mean we'll accept every recommendation, but if we don't, we'll tell the people of Alberta why," said Notley.
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Latest discussion threads:
ACDS has set up this Community of Practice discussion thread to post articles and discussions from members on the contract. We are also asking members and councils to share budget and business case best practices, including metrics that can be referenced to determine minimum wage and compression projections, cost of living metrics, and other elements of a strong business case presentation for funding.
In the past year an ACDS member has seen multiple ransomware attacks on their systems. A form of digital fraud that is increasingly being used against non-profits and government agencies as the groups behind these attacks seek out bigger paydays from their victims.
Accommodation Licensing Regulation, including the Accommodation Standards. Feedback can be provided by emailing ContinuingCare@gov.ab.ca by February 17th, 2017.
Services falling under the ministry will include disability services, AISH, employment supports, income supports, FSCD, homelessness initiatives, shelter and anti-violence programs, and other family and community supports.
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Pass along a copy of the ACDS Umbrella to a friend or colleague
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| The ACDS Umbrella is a publication of the
Alberta Council of Disability Services
160 3015-12 Street NE
Calgary, Alberta, T2E 7J2
Phone: 403-250-9495 * Fax: 403-291-9864
© 2017 Alberta Council of Disability Services
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The ACDS Umbrella or any of its content?
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Permission to Reprint:
Is there an article or news item in this or any other ACDS Umbrella newsletter that you would like to reprint in your own newsletter or other information circular? Please contact us at jamie@acds.ca , attention Communications and Marketing, and include the title of the article, the issue date (e.g., February 2016), and a brief summary of how the material will be used.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in The ACDS Umbrella is for your information only and links are provided for your convenience. ACDS is not responsible for the content, change in content, accuracy, relevancy, copyright compliance, or legality of the material on external websites.
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