Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc.
ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010
Developing tomorrow’s potential in today’s children and youth
President’s Report
We examined the concepts of trauma and resilience in relation to children’s mental health, and affirmed kidsLINK’s shift to focus on those areas for the long term. As a first-time chair on kidsLINK’s Board of Directors, I have drawn on the guidance of our experienced Board members and the knowledge of our executive director, Sonia Pouyat, in taking on the challenges that come with the 2017 vision. The Board is accountable for strategies that will help kidsLINK continue to expand its capacity to adapt to and develop the steady sources of funds and resources it will need to realize its vision. This year, to support kidsLINK the vision, the Board has also worked on expanding its own capacity. That has included sharpening the skills of its members, refining its methods and recruiting new members. The Board tested the concept of using “generative conversations” as a regular element of our meetings. These take the form of informative presentations and discussions about important issues relevant to kidsLINK’s future. Because the conversations involve the Board, sometimes guests and staff both listening and talking to develop a new and shared understanding, they have allowed the Board to develop deeper insights into kidsLINK’s work and its environment. Through generative conversation, the Board followed the development of the business plan for kidsLINK’s social enterprise, Tools for Life™ and
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approved it with a clear picture of the challenges involved. In a similar conversation, we examined the concepts of trauma and resilience in relation to children’s mental health, and affirmed kidsLINK’s shift to focus on those areas for the long term. We also focused on the difficult question of how to sustain kidsLINK for the future through a generative conversation with Children’s Mental Health Ontario CEO Gordon Floyd. These conversations have made us a better informed and better prepared board.
diligence of succession planning for our CEO, an important challenge for every Board in today’s changing not-for-profit world.
As well, the Board once again refreshed its policy governance skills in a one-day study session. We do this every two years to ensure we use this very effective governance method to get better and better results.
Judith Chopra President & Chair – Board of Directors
Four new Board members now bring their talents to our table, and we continue to seek out and invite others to work with us in the year ahead. Next year, Bill Schmidt, our former Chair and President and current Secretary / Treasurer retires from the Board after 15 years of dedicated service. The Board has always benefited from his wisdom and kindness and we will miss him. We are grateful to Bill and send him our best wishes. Our workload also included the standard due
I am proud to support the work of kidsLINK, whose people are so skilled, loving and committed to the vision of making the lives of children and families better. This is important and difficult work, and the 2017 vision is designed to allow kidsLINK’s impact to be felt wherever there are children and families who need support.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President - Judith Chopra Secretary / Treasurer - Bill Schmidt
DIRECTORS
David Cornwall Josie R. d’Avernas Yaacov Iland Stefano Picone Richard Steinmann John Vieth
CEO’s report In 2009 - 2010 we were successful in extending effective support to thousands of children and youth, while laying a solid foundation for future growth and development. At the beginning of fiscal year 2009-2010, the world faced an unprecedented economic crisis and we stepped into the year with a heightened concern for children and youth and their families. We expected that the additional strain on families would result in an increased demand for kidsLINK’s services at a time when increased funding support would be difficult to obtain. We also knew that our clients and our funding partners counted on us to meet the challenge, to continue to make our mission a reality, to continue to improve the lives of children and youth. I am very pleased to report that we were successful in maintaining base funding for all of our services, extending effective support to thousands of children and youth experiencing mental health and other challenges. We not only weathered the storm but we continued to innovate and improve kidsLINK’s services, laying the foundation for future growth and development. As of the end of this second year of the 3-year strategic plan, we have met our objectives to move forward in all 6 strategic priorities areas:
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Focus on Trauma & Resilience We continued to sharpen our already existing skills to be recognized specialists in trauma and resilience, and to shift our practice to be wellnessbased. We now screen for trauma at intake, we offer trauma-specific treatment and are committed to shifting the organization to be “trauma-informed” across all its client services and operations.
Developing a Training Centre This year, we refined our training methodology and the skills of our staff that deliver professional training, reviewed our student internship program and rebranded our practitioners’ journal Child & Family Professional, shifting its focus to align with linking practice, research and training.
Integrating Research into Practice Our investment in hiring a professional researcher is paying off. In 2009-2010, we developed an enthusiastic research working group comprised of staff interested in expediting research at kidsLINK. Our goal is for research findings from multiple disciplines to inform every program. Each program
area did some exploration of the literature that supports an aspect of their service to ensure that the work is research-supported. Evaluation of our Walk-In Service and Tools for Life™ continued through the year.
Attracting Talented Professionals We revamped our recruiting process to align with our emerging business focus. As well, I engaged all of our employees in a process to identify how their talents and passion align with kidsLINK’s future aspirations. This effort resulted in each person committing to a personal action that would help realize our 2017 vision. It was an energizing process that pulled us together as One Team with One Goal, and has resulted in new assignments and development opportunities for several employees.
State of the Art Facilities This year, we refined our corporate structure so it will better support our future direction, acquired new facilities at 1770 King Street in Kitchener for our programs delivered jointly with Lutherwood,
updated our training facilities, assesed our future information technology needs and identified capacity challenges to be addressed in the coming year. We received approval for $750,000 in infrastructure stimulus money towards building a new day treatment facility in the summer of 2010.
Financial Sustainability Without government commitment to adequately funding children’s mental health, kidsLINK must find other ways to define, resource and expedite the work we were established to do. We addressed the financial challenge by doing a comprehensive review of costs and cost allocations across programs, re-assessing the viability of our Comprehensive Residential Service operating as a social enterprise, and clarifying our approach to raising funds for the next few years. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, thanks to all of our talented and committed staff, we laid the foundation for organizational growth and development but, more importantly, we offered children and youth a foundation on which to build the rest of their lives, by reducing the impact of debilitating life experiences and strengthening their resilience. In the coming year we will continue to work towards becoming certified as a trauma-informed organization and to shift our service focus in order to achieve even better outcomes for children and youth.
Sonia Pouyat Chief Executive Officer
Practice accomplishments Stronger Foundation, Brighter Future
150 year history working trauma began with the veryresilience first children we cared for, Our therapies not onlyofreduce thewith impact of trauma, we support in children traumatized devastating fireproductive that left them orphaned. The kidsLINK legacy, left to us to help them by to alead healthy and lives. from the School Sisters of Notre Dame, is to build resilience in children and to help to lessen the devastating effects of trauma. Building Resilience The need for kidsLINK’s services is ever growing. This year, when combined, we touched children and youth through 12,037 service offerings. Our programming strengthened internal “protective” factors in children and youth to develop their resilience. We drew from our partners – families, schools, and community – so that all are involved in the process of fostering healthy, positive environments for children and youth. Not only is our holistic approach to supporting resilience philosophically sound, our research indicates that it works. Last year 88.7 per cent of children served in our Child and Family Therapy, Residential Treatment, School Treatment and in Per Diem Programs showed “clinically meaningful improvement” of 20 points or better on the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) at discharge. Similar results were obtained in the Partners Program where 90.7 per cent of children showed “clinically meaningful improvement.”
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Sharing Our Expertise Through Web-based Training Thousands of children and youth have benefited from the knowledge and expertise that kidsLINK has gained over the years. However, there are many other children, families and professionals in our province and country who do not currently have access to the kidsLINK approach. This year, we have made significant strides in developing materials and a web-based platform to deliver training to professionals, parents and teachers concerned about children’s mental and emotional wellness. Our successful Tools for Life™ training resources were developed for the Web this year and will be launched in the new fiscal year. Now that we have the technical infrastructure in place, we anticipate many other training tools will be developed and shared across the internet. Increasing our footprint on the world of children’s mental wellness will broaden the numbers of children and families that we can serve, and income from the distribution of these resources will ensure that this important outreach continues.
Becoming Trauma-Informed This year we redoubled our efforts to identify and effectively respond to the trauma experienced by the children and youth who come through our doors. Program by program we became more expertly informed about the impact of trauma and adopted an evidencebased methodology, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TFCBT) to better assess and treat it. We chose and have decided to use a “trauma informed” approach that will recognize that behaviours are often a way of coping with painful situations or past trauma, and we will consider this in all of our work. While in the past one might have asked, “What is wrong?” at kidsLINK we now ask “What has happened?”
Mobile Crisis Response - 152 Served | Respite Services - 127 Served
Financial Report
Number of Kids Served
April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2010
Program/Services Child and Family Therapy School Treatment Program
Where the Money Came From Provincial Government 4,012,519 59.5% Regional Government 918,736 13.6% 1,502,472 22.3% Fees for Service Fundraising / Donations 107,592 1.6% Other Revenue 201,043 3.0% Total 6,742,362 100%
Where the Money Went
Children’s Mental Health 5,055,303 Early Intervention Services 1,261,584 Respite Services 221,412 Other Programs 199,731 Total 6,738,030
75.0% 18.7% 3.3% 3.0% 100.0%
Audit report is available upon request. Auditors: Graham Mathew Professional Corporation, Chartered Accountants.
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110 79
Residential Treatment Services Early Identification Early Intervention
33
Preschool Support Services Respite Services
523
10,681 134
Joint Initiatives Programs Front Door
611
Partners/Intensive Family Services Zero to Six Program Mobile Crisis Response
61 173 155
*In some cases children, youth, and families were served by more than one program.
Funding for New Day Treatment Building
Making Mental Health Services More Accessible
kidsLINK will receive $750,000 in provincial and federal infrastructure stimulus funding towards the construction of a new $1.25 million day treatment facility in St. Agatha. The new building will allow kidsLINK to better serve children in a healthier, more service appropriate environment with increased program capacity. Additional benefits include higher environmental standards and greater energy efficiency.
Children’s Mental Health Access Centre moved in September of 2009 where it took on the new name Front Door: Access to Child and Youth Services. This facility quite literally opens the door for Waterloo Region families and youth looking for mental health assistance and services. Front Door offers a safe, secure environment where children and youth can tell their story and get the help they need to step towards wellness. Knowing where to get help can be confusing and stressful. The intuitive new name and location improve visibility and access.
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Strengthening Frontline Service Through Training
“kidsLINK allowed and encouraged me, to work with a different population than I had before... I had multiple avenues to learn and practice new skills....” - Student Intern
Sharing Ideas This year kidsLINK continued to share our ideas, best practices, skills and tools with professionals (and emerging professionals) and parents. kidsLINK provided more than 100 workshops, where 92% of participants rated the information received “very useful”. In addition to the knowledge-sharing workshops that promoted mental wellness in children and addressed issues of trauma and resiliency, kidsLINK staff mentored student interns from a variety of professional disciplines who reported to benefit greatly from the invigorating and supportive learning environment at kidsLINK. As one intern puts it, “kidsLINK allowed and encouraged me, to work with a different population than I had before....I had multiple avenues to learn and practice new skills.”
Re-tooling the Tool Box Relevant, accessible and content-rich training is vitally important to support the mission of kidsLINK and its emerging role as an internationally
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recognized centre for knowledge sharing and professional development. It is also important that training tools are up-to-date and widely accessible. In an effort to make training and professional development even more effective and accessible, emphasis this year was placed on enhancing kidsLINK trainers’ ability to effectively use digital training tools and web-based training. As a result of these focused efforts kidsLINK trainers have increased competency in managing this technical and very important aspect of providing training.
Sanctuary Model kidsLINK, being committed to shifting its work and learning culture to be trauma-informed, reviewed a number of models for doing so. The decision has been made to train all staff across the organization in the Sanctuary Model (work of Dr. Sandra Bloom) and embark on the 2.5 year certification process. kidsLINK is the first child and youth serving organization in Canada to train in this model and is committed to offering both its child and
youth services, and its professional training and development services, from this platform. The Sanctuary Model is a blueprint for developing trauma-informed therapeutic communities that promote recovery in an environment that is safe for clients and staff.
Child & Family Professional Transferring Knowledge During the year, we reviewed the status and impact of our 10 year old professional practitioners’ Journal and concluded that it continues to be a useful tool for knowledge transfer. We then updated the name, look and feel of the journal. The articles and book reviews serve to link research to practice, while enabling learning for those working with children and youth. Child & Family Professional’s transformation has been well received by subscribers and libraries. Its conversion to an electronic format was delayed to synchronize with launch of the new kidsLINK website that is under construction.
Kids Already Benefiting From New Direction
When a young girl was asked what she had learned after participating in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TFCBT) this year, she simply said, “I’m not as sad any more.”
Trauma Specialization This year kidsLINK embraced the addition of a new comprehensive approach to the assessment and treatment of trauma. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TFCBT) has become an important part of its repertoire. As well, we took the first steps toward becoming a “trauma informed” organization. These decisions were made through a comprehensive process of research, evaluating options, discussion, professional development, and training. Why did kidsLINK embrace a new and comprehensive approach to trauma work with such enthusiasm? “Because” explains kidsLINK child and family therapist, Peter Holden, regarding TFCBT, “... it really works for kids!”
TFCBT Leads the Way It is not just our ‘hunch” that TFCBT works. When we conducted a search this past year for proven approaches to trauma intervention, we discovered that TFCBT received a scientific rating of number 1 by the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse
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as “Well Supported by Research Evidence”, considered the gold standard in Evidence-Based Practice. In fact, TFCBT is referred to as one of the most effective interventions for children and youth who have significant psychological symptoms related to experiences of trauma. So, as an organization committed to offering children and youth and their families the best practice methods available in dealing with trauma, TFCBT quickly rose to the top for older children and youth. A decision will soon be made on a treatment approach for younger children.
New Options for Kids To accommodate this trauma-specific therapy, kidsLINK has developed, and implemented new trauma informed intake, screening and assessment procedures at Front Door, Preschool Support Services and in its Child and Family Therapy program. But perhaps nothing is as gratifying as hearing a child describe the benefits of this new approach.
When a young girl was asked what she had learned after participating in TFCBT this year, she simply said, “I’m not as sad any more.”
More Good for Kids & Families The Zero to Six Program staff began to deliver child-specific consultations to parents out of all the Early Years Centres. We watched with delight, as two children in our residential services experienced the trip of a lifetime through Dreams Take Flight, a whirlwind 24-hour trip to Disneyworld, Florida sponsored by Air Canada. Early Intervention services worked with 4,000 more children than planned by offering “booster sessions” in schools. We also piloted new versions of Tools for Life™, a highly successful curriculum on healthy relationships, expanding this school-based curriculum into the child care sector.
Tools for Life™ Resilience for Everyone
“I was rushing around to get the kids off to pre-school”, explains a young mother, “and my 3-year-old daughter, looked up at me and asked, ‘are you frustrated, Mommy?’ I was humbled. I stepped back, caught my breath and got the kids out the door in a better frame of mind!”
Relationship-building Solutions
Tools for Life™ Builds Resilience in… Everyone!
Putting Tools for Life™ to the Test
Tools for Life ™ is a highly interactive resource that helps children learn positive language and behaviour skills while acquiring foundations for conflict resolution, character development, restorative justice and peacemaking. In a word, Tools for Life™ helps build and support resilience. Resilience, defined by kidsLINK as the ability to show positive adaptation, handle stress, overcome disadvantage, recover from trauma and use opportunities to grow and learn in the face of adversity.
Tools for Life™ does not approach children as if they have “deficits” rather it supports the inherent abilities of children. As Debbie Engel, Manager, Early Intervention Services at kidsLINK explains it, “Children have the ability to develop and continuously improve skills, enabling them to change their thinking and adapt successfully. They bounce back better than most adults.” Perhaps it is not surprising then that this year a threeyear-old child who was learning the Tools for Life™ curriculum became his mother’s “resilience teacher!” “I was rushing around to get the kids off to pre-school”, explains a young mother, “and my three-year-old daughter, looked up at me and asked, ‘are you frustrated, Mommy?’ I was humbled. I stepped back, caught my breath and got the kids out the door in a better frame of mind!”
This year Tools for Life™ completed its first year of a comprehensive 3-year longitudinal evaluation project, funded by Ontario Trillium Foundation. We are committed to carrying on with the rigorous empirical evaluation. We seek to make a difference that is measurable and real in children’s lives.
Successfully implemented in elementary schools and currently being introduced to day care centres in the Waterloo Region Tools for Life™ offers a common language for children and adults (teachers and parents) to communicate with each other building healthy adult and child relationships.
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Beyond Our Borders Tools for Life™ has generated the kind of excitement that compels us to consider ways to share this exciting resource beyond our region. This year kidsLINK designed a web-based Tools for Life™ training module that will allow us to share our expertise across the country and around the world.
Integrating Research Into Practice
We are not only committed to using assessment tools, we also are committed to “assessing the assessment tools”.
Children and families today face unique and complex problems. To serve them effectively, kidsLINK keeps up to date on the research literature on promising and effective interventions. This year, every program undertook a review of some aspect of its chosen interventions. Our researcher also helped staff to evaluate and integrate service results into practice. An active research group, comprised of staff, is enabling the expansion of kidsLINK’s research informed activity.
Linking Nutrition to Mental Wellness As our work at kidsLINK seeks to address the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing of children and youth, we are paying special attention to the food that we serve them. This year we set out to discover the link between children’s mental wellness and nutrition and to make dietary changes based on our investigation.
As a result of the initial literature reviews, changes
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to food preparation and menus in our Residential Treatment Services have been made. The children are adjusting well to new healthier foods as our cooks develop ingenious and delicious ways to help children eat more healthily.
Always Assessing Outcomes At kidsLINK, we determine the best way to help children and youth who come to us and to ensure that positive outcomes are achieved after they leave. We invest in evidence-supported instruments like the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA), Brief Child and Family Phone Interview (BCFPI) and Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS). This year kidsLINK also offered a new “made at kidsLINK” tool for screening for trauma that we are piloting and will evaluate in the years to come. We are not only committed to using assessment tools, we also are committed to “assessing the assessment tools”. This year, we assessed the cost-benefit of continuing to use DECA in day care
centres in Waterloo Region. We concluded that DECA remains an effective tool that increases kidsLINK’s capability to support child care centres, children, and parents through a holistic and strength-based approach consistent with kidsLINK’s values and priorities. DECA is only available in Waterloo Region through kidsLINK.
Research for Better Results In 2009-2010, we continued our commitment to both evidence-based practice and promising practice. We were rewarded with very promising results. Using provincially approved measurement tools again this year, our clinical outcomes were significantly above target and the desired standardized level. Our resilience measure used with younger children confirmed very good results at the end of our intervention. We initiated an evaluation of the Walk-in Service while continuing to receive very impressive support from teachers involved in the formal evaluation of our Tools for Life™ program.
Our Partnerships and Alliances
Reaching Out to Our Community
kidsLINK works in close collaboration with more than 100 organizations, community groups, government agencies, educational institutions, professional associations and planning bodies.
At kidsLINK, we encourage, support and promote social responsibility as a means of affecting positive change and fostering social awareness and development. We welcome the opportunity to work with businesses, groups, clubs or other organizations to support and strengthen the communities where we live and work.
Key Partners Include: Ministry of Children and Youth Services Regional Municipality of Waterloo Lutherwood Waterloo Catholic District School Board Waterloo Region District School Board Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton Wilfrid Laurier University, Faculty of Social Work Notre Dame (Burlington) Foundation Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Children’s Mental Health Ontario Family Service Canada Social Enterprise Alliance Social Enterprise Council of Canada
The photos in this year’s report feature children from schools within our community photographed at our St. Agatha site. They capture youthful exuberance, energy, and a joyful, playful spirit. These images serve as a reminder of what we at kidsLINK work for and believe every child and youth has a right to. For ideas and suggestions for working together with kidsLINK, please visit us online at www.kidsLINKcares.com.
Head Office 1855 Notre Dame Drive P.O. Box 190 St. Agatha, Ontario Canada N0B 2L0 phone: (519) 746-KIDS (5437) fax: (519) 746-3055 email: communications@kidsLINKcares.com
www.kidsLINKcares.com kidsLINK is the operating name of Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. © Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc., 2010. All rights reserved. kidsLINK and the kidsLINK logo are registered trademarks of Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc.
At kidsLINK, we’re not only committed to helping the children, youth and families we serve enjoy a healthier future, we’re also working towards a healthier future for our environment. To that end, this document is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. FSC certification ensures that the paper in this document contains fibre from well-managed and responsibly-harvested forests that meet strict environmental standards. Want to help? You can assist us in our environmental efforts by requesting to receive future annual reports in electronic PDF format. To participate, simply email communications@kidsLINKcares.com with your request.