2011 Annual Report, English - Montreal Fluency

2011
ANNUAL
REPORT
We care for Families
Les familles nous tiennent à coeur

Table of Contents
What move us
Executive Summary
History
Challenges
Volunteer’s Experience
Community Innovation
Achievements
A Successful Story
Thank You
Donors
Fundraising
Financial Report
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“Instilling a sense of confidence and self worth in a young child is critical.
The ability to speak without fear of ridicule or being ostracized is key to
their development. What The Montreal Fluency Centre does goes beyond
speech therapy, it goes to instilling a feeling of pride and confidence in the
child.”
~ Peter J. Guidote, MFC Board of Directors

What
moves
us
Mission Statement
Children at the Summer Camp 2011
The Montreal Fluency Centre is a bilingual not-for-profit clinic working in partnership with the
community to serve the needs of children with difficulties in communication, stuttering, learning
and literacy. Through Speech-Language Therapy and Psycho-Educational services, our goal is to
reduce the long-term risks of these difficulties and minimize the impact that they may have on
children’s lives.
Our Vision
Each child becomes a confident, adaptive and vibrant individual who contributes to the
community at the fullest potential.
We believe in the potential of every child.
Our Guiding Values and Principles
We believe that better outcomes are achieved by supporting and mentoring families and
educators, by working with community partners, and by collaborating with professionals from
other disciplines.
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Executive
Summary
Turning small steps into giant
leaps!
15% of Quebec Children have a hearing, language or
communication problem and 25-33% of kindergarten to Grade
2 students are judged by their teachers to be at risk for
academic failure due to delays in speech/language and other
aspects of development. This affects an average of 3 children
in every classroom. As one would predict, there is a strong link
between language delay and low socioeconomic status.
Literacy skills are the greatest predictor of educational
attainment for children and those with persistent speech and
language problems at age 5 are more likely to require academic
support throughout school. Lack of support may partially
account for the large school droupout rate in the province of
Quebec. At the moment long waiting lists for evaluation and
treatment of children with Communication and Learning
Disorders continues to place these youngsters at risk.
Giant leaps!
Michael E. Raynor, the author of ‘The Innovator’s Manifesto’ broadly defines Innovation as
breaking traditional constraints in order to provide greater output at a lower cost. The Montreal
Fluency Centre has been following this path as part of its’ identified mission to provide early
intervention services that will benefit more children. With no major funding for this strategic plan
the MFC is doing more with less!
The Centre has targeted literacy and oral language skills as a major focus, breaking traditional
constraints to achieve a greater output at a lower cost to the consumer and using technology to
provide services to remote communities.
Our innovative program to introduce emergent literacy skills to preschool age children has
continued with the French version of ‘Read it Again!’, ‘Relis-moi une histoire !’, a program
administered by teachers in their classroom, used in 2011 at École Camille Laurin (CSM).
Continuing to develop the ‘train the trainer’ model, the MFC has provided the second phase of an
Oral Narrative program to Rawdon Elementary School (Sir Wilfred Laurier School Board), via video
conferencing that can go directly into the classroom. This year, ‘Read it Again’ was adapted in
the Cree language for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children at Maquatua Eeyou School in
Wemindji.
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In the past year the MFC has also provided specialist services
in the treatment of early stuttering to families as far away
from Montreal as Aman (Jordan) using a parent training model
that is telehealth adaptable and efficacious. The outcome of
these projects has been extremely positive, showing significant
progress in targeted skills. Once these phased projects are
sustained in the communities they will touch the lives of an
infinite number of children, providing creative and low cost
solutions to current service delivery models.
Rosalee C. Shenker
Founder & Executive
Director
Our focus at MFC is on using technology in innovative ways
through development of e-learning on a larger scale. In the next
year the MFC will expand its’ services to the Cree Territories,
provide parent training in a ‘what to do while you are on the
wait list’ webinar, and initiate services within the community
through screening assessments that identify children who are
at-risk as early as 18 months. None of this would be
accomplished if it were not for the dedicated and talented
team of professionals, support staff, volunteers and Board of
Directors that surround us.
To do more we need your help. With no government or
sustainability funding to provide a buffer for the development
of these new projects we need to find alternative ways of
meeting our costs. If you are already part of our community of
donors we cannot thank you enough for your support. If you
would like to ‘give the gift of speech’ please visit our website
to receive more information or phone the clinic to arrange for a
visit.
Rosalee C. Shenker
Founder and Executive Director
Mary L. Hebert
Chairperson, Board of Directors
Mary L. Hebert
Chairperson
Board Directors
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History
The Montreal Fluency Centre (MFC) was incorporated as a
charitable institution in 1998, but the vision was born in 1987
out of a private practice established to treat children who
stutter by Rosalee C. Shenker.
Subsequently, clinicians with expertise in other areas of
Speech Pathology formed a private practice group, which
became known for excellence in treatment of some of the
lesser-known speech and language disorders, including
stuttering and childhood apraxia of speech.
In 2001, thanks to a leadership gift from the J.W. McConnell Foundation the Centre developed
its first strategic plan. The focus of the plan was on the development and implementation of the
unique programs of the MFC as well as the clinic infrastructure. Eleven years later we continue to
be clinical innovators in speech-language pathology and educational therapy.
Our 2010-2013 strategic plan focuses on the following areas:
1. Sustaining clinical services at 100% capacity by providing in-clinic speech and language services
for children and their families.
2. Expanding the bursary program to cover more families and more services of the MFC.
3. Highlighting early intervention programming by intensifying and broadening programs in at-risk
Quebec communities.
4. Creating a bilingual Centre of Excellence through focused on increased services to French and
bilingual families.
5. Increasing service delivery to remote communities, through distance programming using a
combination of telehealth and on-site visits we provided professional speech, language, and
literacy interventions.
6. Ensuring long-term sustainability, through a mix of in-clinic and community programs.
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Challenges
Innovation
Innovation implies doing things better, smarter and more efficiently. *
The Montreal Fluency Centre continues to be an innovator in all the areas of service development
and delivery for children with communication and learning differences. In the past year the MFC
has begun to provide services through telehealth to educators, students and parents. The Centre
has also created new programs for the community at large that encourage and develop emerging
language and literacy skills in children as Young as 18 months. The MFC has begun to develop
templates for evaluation and treatment of multilingual/multicultural children that truly represent
the demographic of Quebec.
This type of innovation presents a large challenge to a small not-for-profit organization such as
the MFC. Support for innovation is a difficult to achieve goal, with funders more apt to support
the ‘safe projects’. Innovation comes at a cost, both financial and emotional, and the organization
must be able to accept some ‘failure’ as the part of the price of being an innovator.
During the past year the MFC has continued to meet these challenges, and with the support of
its’ board, the community at large and its’ funders, the Centre continues to challenge itself by
bringing new programs, new ideas that make a difference in the lives of the children we treat.
This report highlighted these projects.
* The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, March 2012 newsletter.
Kids being challenged at a chess
game.
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A Volunteer’s
Experience
I am extremely grateful for my time at MFC. I am working towards becoming a certified Speech-
Language Pathologists (SLP), and the MFC was instrumental in inspiring that decision and helping
me achieve my goals.
I started volunteering at the Centre in 2010 because I was considering my future career options
and wanted to see what speech-language pathology was all about. As a volunteer, I helped with
office work, prepared materials, and sometimes transcribed recorded therapy sessions. Even this
preliminary work was influential - I gained a much greater understanding of what SLPs do and I saw
the day-to-day workings of a clinic. That summer, I volunteered at the summer program, which led
me to decide without a doubt that I had to pursue a career as an SLP. I worked side-by-side with
MFC’s incredibly skilled, dedicated clinicians, assisting with therapy for small groups of children. I
learned many useful techniques to scaffold language development and saw first-hand the
difference these interventions made. The next summer, I worked at the camp again, this time as
the Music and Movement leader. I learned how to design and implement activities which
incorporated social language practice appropriate for each group and each child but which were
still engaging and manageable for the group as a whole. All the while, I had the support, advice,
and encouragement of MFC’s amazing trained clinicians.
At the MFC, I also had the opportunity to assist the executive director, Dr. Rosalee Shenker, with
stuttering research. Working with her was inspiring, and I feel blessed to have had such a wonderful
mentor.
All of my experiences at the Montreal Fluency Centre have been extremely positive, and I know
that the opportunities afforded to me there gave me a huge advantage when applying to graduate
school and likely played a major role in my being awarded a scholarship. But more important, those
experiences nurtured skills that I will use
throughout my career. I can never fully
express my gratitude to each and every
clinician and staff member of the MFC not
only for their inspiring mentorship, but for
their dedication to the important work
they do each day.
Hannah Pinsky
Graduate Student
University of Vermont
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Hannah volunteering at Summer
Camp 2011

Community
Innovation
• Early intervention project targeting speech, social and emotional assessment of children
between 18 months and 3 years. The project is a collaboration between a Speech-
Language Pathologist from our Centre and a Psychologist from Agence Ometz
• Phase One of the Narrative project via telehealth in collaboration with the teachers at
Rawdon Elementary School (Sir Wilfred Laurier School Board)
• Speech Aide training program at Kateri School in Khanawake
• Development of ‘Read it Again’ program for emerging literacy in Wemindji, James Bay
• Development and Phase One of‘Relis moi une histoire’ for preschool literacy in partnership
with CSSS de la Montagne, at École Camille Laurin (CSDM)
• Early Intervention assessment and treatment in collaboration with Step by Step, an early
learning centre in Khanawake
• Therapy for stuttering delivered by telehealth to families in Canada and Internationally
• Workshops for teachers and educators in day cares in Quebec.
• Quebec training site for the Hanen Early Language Program
A
child
receiving
telehealth
(distance
therapy)
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Services
Achievements
• Increased our French services to preschool
and young children by 30%
• The MFC became the home base for the
Taylor Adolescent Program (TAP) after
merging their objectives. Additionally the
program was expanded from two to four
days per week
• Increased services to remote communities
Fundraising
• The Bursary Program paid for over 700
treatment sessions
• Implemented the CanadaHelps online
donations tool as a new option for donors
Continuing Education
• Offered interactive webinars to Speech-
Language Pathologists
• More than 100 speech-language
pathologists trained in the Lidcombe
Program for stuttering across North
America in 2011
• First Lidcombe Program workshop in
France
• Presentations by MFC clinicians at
conferences in North America and Europe
Publications
• Shenker, R.C. (2011). Treating bilingual
stuttering in early childhood: Clinical
updates and applications
• In Howell, P. & Van Borsel, J. (Eds.)
Fluency Disorders and Linguistic Diversity,
Multilingual Matters, Bristol, UK
• Shenker, R.C. (2011). Linguistic diversity
in children who stutter. Is bilingualism a
risk factor Journal of Fluency Disorders
Development &
Communications
• Established a development office
• Improvement of our website and creation
of seasonal e-newsletters
• Increased the Centre’s online presence
through the development of social media
channels in Facebook and twitter
• Created a new informative brochure for
the Montreal Fluency Centre
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Our son Alexandre was diagnosed in early 2010 with a Mixed
Dyslexia. Our son at the time was 11 years old and unable to
read and write despite the help he received at school and the
private tutors we provided for him. For many years his
problems were blamed on him not being very attentive in class
or being lazy. We saw the struggle and the pain that our son
faced every day. It broke our hearts because we did not know
how to help him.
In May of 2011, Dante Elementary School (where he attends)
suggested to us to look into The Montreal Fluency Center. At
first, we were skeptical because Alexandre did not have a
speech problem and we didn’t understand how they could help
Alexandre
and
his
mom
Mary
him with his learning disability. From the first moment we met
the staff at the MFC we felt very comfortable and at ease
there. They genuinely wanted to help our son.
For one year, every week, Alexandre attended the center. We saw an enormous change in our
son. His Speech and Language Pathologist, was able to take our son under her wing and teach him
methods and give him the proper tools to be able to read on his own. The change was incredible.
Our son could not even make the sounds of letters when he started and by the end of the year he
was able to read complex words and texts. It was a true miracle. The clinician not only taught him
how to read but she gave him back his self-esteem and his self-confidence. School is not as
overwhelming for him and reading does not scare him anymore. It is wonderful to see how he uses
the methods and tools taught to him when he reads. We see the look on his face when he
accomplishes his reading work. We are so proud of all the hard work he did. He will be able to
conquer anything he wants to do in life. The MFC gave us back hope when there was no hope left!
Today, Alexandre is 13 years old and getting ready to enter High School. He has no fear anymore
because he knows he will be fine with all that he has learnt from the MFC. Thank you seems so
small to say compared to what the staff at the MFC did for our son. They will always hold a very
special place in our hearts.
To all the parents that are experiencing the same situation as we did, remember never to give up
hope, believe in your children, believe in the MFC and support them. They make miracles happen.
They give these special children a better chance at a brighter future.
Thank you MFC!
Mary, Mario and Alexandre Ranallo
A Successful
Story
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Thank You
The MFC wants to recognize the efforts of each individual and organization who has contributed
to work towards our mission by volunteering, supporting or promoting our Centre. Thank You!
Community Partners
Agence Ometz
Cree School Board
Centre de santé et de services sociaux (CSSS)
de la Montagne
Commission Scolaire de Montréal (CSDM)
Kateri School (Kahnawake)
Sir Wilfred Laurier School Commission
Step by Step School (Kahnawake)
MFC Clinicians
Rosalee C. Shenker
Andrea Gingras
Alina Boghen
Antonietta Conte
Catherine Rebellati
Catrine Demers
Emilie Leroux
Gissella Santayana
Marie Bourgault-Côté
Marlene Desjardins
Maria Lisa Bozzo
Patricia Arana
Tammy Saskin
Yael Shaffir
MFC Admin Staff
Betty Marer
Eugenia Siu
Emily Pietrantonio
Amy Binning
Board of Directors
Mary L. Hebert – Chairperson
Katie Kostiuk
Manon Desrosiers
Marie-Francoise Jothy
Maureen Brennan
Peter Guidote
Robert Metcalfe
Rosalee C. Shenker
Sara Price Provencher
TAP
Renée Stevens
Marlene Desjardins
Andrew Pinchefsky
Eva Sokol
Francis Gifuni
Joseph D’Intino
Katie Frasier
Kian Grenier
Sophia Biondi
Volunteers
Andrea Tkalec
Arshdeep Rao
David Fleischer
Hannah Pinsky
Madeleine Tait
Stefania Corneli
Yulia Samoilovitch
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Donors
Honour, respect and a big thank you to those who believe in our cause and support us. To those
who have been there over the years and to those we met this year, thanks to you we can offer
children better opportunities in their lives.
$50,000 +
Louise & Alan Edwards Foundation
Power Corporation of Canada
$5,000 – 49,999
Suzanne Forest
The Elizabeth Greenshields
Foundation
John T. Mappin
Foundation of Greater Montreal
Judith Mappin
William E. Stavert
Susan Fitzpatrick
Stephen Segal
Securium Inc.
Pina Cammalleri
Martha Duffield
Gail Wasserman
Doug Mitchell
Christopher Wiegand
Abraham Fuks
Sandy Rubin
Debra Margles
Andrea Wexler
Lorraine Briscoe
Maria T. Caterina
Lorne R. & Chaya
Lieberman
Jonathan Silver
Denis G. Leduc
Alberto Caporuscio
Thomas R. Burpee
Teresa A. Fedeli
Stacey Werner
Patrick Kelley
Marvin Rosenblatt
Marlene Whittome
Mario Ricci
Marie-Francoise Jothy
Lindsay Maxon Rogers
Kim Thomassin
Kevin Leonard
Howard Schwartz
Haig Poutchigian
Eric Gosselin
Centraide of Greater
Montreal
Christine Lennon
Elizabeth Walcot
$1000 – 4,999
The Hylcan Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen T. Molson
The Hay Foundation
DJS Holdings
Up to $249
Sonia Struthers
Shari R. Baum
Shari Mayerovitch
Anonymous
Marlene J. Desjardins
Kristy Findlay
J. Robert Doyle
George Maziotis
Eugenia Siu Lepe
Diana Tremblay
Anthony Carriero
Leah Freeman
Danit Nitka-Nakash
Clemens Mayr
George Neofotistos
Lynda Hoffman
Sabine Audette-Hall
Richard O'Doherty
Mira Gauvin
$250 - 999
Robert P. Metcalfe
Sara O'Brien
John W. Bennett
McCarthy Tetrault
S.E.N.C.R.L. s.r.l.
Rosalee C. Shenker
Antonio Masella
Maureen C. Brennan
Manon Desrosiers
Katie Fraser
Joan F. Ivory
Dexter Peart
Byron Peart
Miguel Bourbonnais
Mathieu Dubord
Mary Jeanne Phelan
Marie France Gagnon
Laurence Cailbeaux
Donald Bisson
David E. Platts
Daniella Berglas
Christopher Wayland
Benjamin Silver
Andre Payeur
Alain Tardif
Simon Beauchesne-
Paquette
Genevieve Bertrand
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Fundraising
Donation
received
for
the
‘Gift
of
Speech’
Campaign
2011
During 2011, thanks to the generosity of all our supporters we raised a total of:
$194,902.20
Donations were made and applied to the following areas:
$1,540.00
$66,540.00
$60,985.00
$65,837.20
'Gift of Speech' Bursary Fund
Taylor Adolescent Program
Special Projects
Capital
Thanks to our donors, in 2011 the Bursary Fund paid for over 700 treatment sessions. The
bursary program paid 75% for the first 3 blocks of 10 sessions per block and then 50% for any
further blocks of treatment.
The Taylor Adolescent Program (TAP) was extended from 2 to 4 days per week. In addition more
families were able to receive bursaries towards the cost of TAP thanks to your support.
Your donations support the development of special projects, in-service mentoring to the
Montreal Fluency Centre staff, materials, equipment and support the maintenance of our space.
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Financial Report
Table of Content
Independent auditor’s report
Statement of Operations
Statement of changes in net assets
Balance sheet
Statement of cash flows
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18
19
20
21
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Independent auditor’s report

18
Statement of operations

Statement of changes in net assets
19

20
Balance sheet

Statement of cash flows
21

Turning small
steps into giant
leaps!
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
4626 Ste-Catherine St. West
Westmount, QC
H3Z 1S3
514.489.4320
www.montrealfluency.com
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