Waterloo Children & Youth Services Planning ... - Social Services

June 2012
Appendix 2
Email to Service Providers for Intake Workers Focus Group
I have been contracted by the Waterloo Region Children and Youth Services Planning Council
(CYSPC) to complete a review of the process and experience of accessing services for vulnerable
children and youth in Waterloo Region. The Council is made up of over 30 major service
providers funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. The Council’s mission is to…
“…plan for, promote and continually improve a local system of
services and supports for vulnerable children, youth and their
families.”
The project is called the Integrated Access to Services Project. The design of the project is to
gather feedback on what is working for families and service providers seeking, and connecting
to services. The main objective of the project is to look for practical ways to enhance current
strengths, and continue building a system that is welcoming, easy to navigate, well
coordinated and efficient! The information will be gathered through a combination of parent
surveys, focus groups and face-to-face interviews guided by a list of questions.
The Council is very committed to gathering the views of service providers. As a result, we are
hosting a focus group for Intake staff with experience working with families who are seeking
access services. The focus group will be held on January 13, 2012 at 1770 Kings St. E. in the
kidsLINK Early Intervention Services Office, Training Room.
With the permission of the participants, the meeting will be audio taped and used to ensure the
accuracy of information. Of course, no names or other personal identifiers will be used in the
reporting, and all taped recordings will be destroyed after their use. The final summarized
information gathered during the project will be written in a report, with recommendations that
will be submitted and reviewed by the Integrated Access to Services Advisory Committee and a
final report forwarded to the Council. All those who participate in the project will be provided
full access to the final report. The final report is due back to the committee by March 1, 2012.
The participating of intake staff at your organization is considered key to the Council’s ability to
represent their views and ideas for enhancing the system for accessing services for vulnerable
children and youth in Waterloo Region. If your staff are able to participate in the review,
please send me their contact information I will forward the details (copied to you) in the
coming weeks. If you wish to discuss the project with me directly, please call me at
519.635.6719, or email me at laurie_robinson@rogers.com
Sincerely,
Laurie Robinson
26 | P a g e