Fall - Reena

Reena Annual Report Reena Annual ReportContinuous Quality Insurance Committeeby Tali Nizic, ChairThe mandateof theContinuousQuality InsuranceCommittee of theBoard (CQI) is tomonitor andpromote thefunction ofReena’s CQI activities and initiatives,with the objective to ensure that thequality of care and services providedby Reena are reviewed on a proactiveand progressive basis to best serve itsclients, their families and thecommunity at large. In that vein thecommittee struck two task groups totackle some important issues Reena iscurrently grappling with. The taskgroups are – CQI-Accreditation TaskGroup and CQI-Kashrut Task Group.These task groups meet regularly andreport to the CQI committee.The CQI – Accreditation Task Groupwas given the task of exploring thevarious accreditation bodies in Ontarioand make recommendations to CQI asto which accrediting body Reenawould engage. With governmentmoving toward individual funding,accreditation of agencies that supportindividuals with a developmentaldisability has become a householdphrase in these times when quality ofservice and supports has becomecentre stage. This task group is now ina process of reviewing two proposalsfrom a short list of accrediting bodies.It is my hope that a recommendationto the Reena Board will be madewithin the next year.The CQI – Kashrut Task Group wasgiven the task to revisit Reena’s corevalues which are based on Jewishtraditions and culture and to ensurethat all Reena group homes as well asall Reena related functions andprograms reflect and observe Kashrut.The task group has recommended thatReena implement a JudaicEnvironmental Audit Standards tool toassist staff and clients in group homesmaintain Kashrut. The JudaicEnvironmental Audit Standards toolwas developed with the assistance ofour sister organisation Tamir based inOttawa. Let me at this point take theopportunity to thank Tamir for theirunreserved support in this area.In addition to the foregoing, CQIcommittee members reviewed all theSerious Occurrences which werereported to the Ministry ofCommunity and Social Services andwhere applicable made observationsand or recommendations to Reenastaff. Also during this past year ourpublications namely the 24 HourIndependent Living Skills Chart, theEmergency Measures PreparednessManual and the Family Handbooknow titled “Reena Handbook forClients and their Families” wereupdated. These publications can beobtained directly from Reena.I thank all committee members forgiving Reena their most preciouscommodity – their time anddedication. On behalf of the CQIcommittee, I extend my gratitude toeveryone at Reena, including thefront-line staff, management, studentsand volunteers, for their on-goingsupport, education, dedication andhard work to ensure the highestquality of care for our clients. I thankall the committee members and Reenastaff for their on going support andoutstanding work during my time asChair and welcome back CarolynnMorrison to CQI, this time as newChair of our CQI Committee of theBoard. Carolynn brings herenthusiasm, commitment andtremendous expertise to CQI inparticular and to Reena in general.I welcome your comments and ideasthat pertain to continuous qualityimprovement of Reena services, pleaseget in touch with me or Carolynnthrough the Reena offices.Report of the Family Involvement Committee by Elaine Norris, ChairThe focus of the Family Involvement Committee isto look at the transformation of developmentalservices. The committee is bringing familiestogether to help them understand the changes and toengage them in planning for the future of their familymember.One of the highlights of the Family InvolvementCommittee was an information evening held on Sept. 24,2008. The topic of the meeting was “What you need toknow about special education in the school system”which drew a large number of families to the Toby andHenry Battle Developmental Centre.Elaine Norris, former Special Education Co-ordinatorfor the Guelph Region, presented on the mandate ofspecial education in the school system. The parents weregiven the opportunity to understand the responsibilitiesof the school system and to understand their role inapproaching the school system. They welcomed thedialogue.Our appreciation to Elaine Norris, Chair, MeredithPerry, Co-Chair, Brenda Rothenberg and ElaineGoldback.10 • Annual Report • September 2009