Wood’s Homes

Wood’s Homes
Report to the Community
For the year ended March 31, 2013
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
– Peter Drucker
As 2014 draws near, Wood’s Homes
looks toward our next Century of Services!
www.woodshomes.ca
99 Years:
Looking Back to See Ahead
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As we draw closer to celebrating
100 years of service to the community in 2014,
we visit the history of this remarkable place
called Wood’s Homes.
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Table of Contents
2-4
Our Story Began in Misfortune
5
Message from our CEO, Board Chair
6
Top 10 Facts About Wood’s Homes!
8
Board of Directors
9
What is Mental Health?
10
Yesterday and Today
11
Our Volunteers
12-16
Our Programs Through the Decades
17
Research Chair in
Children’s Mental Health
19
The Demographics of our Clients
20
We Celebrate Diversity
21
Understanding Why Youth Run Away
22
Evolution of Outcome Tracking
23
The Child and Adolescent
Functional Assessment Scale
24
EXIT Community Outreach:
Research in Action
25
Satisfaction Survey Results
26-27
Outcomes-Based Service Delivery
28-29
2012: What a Year!
30-33
Our History of Caring
34
Our Vision, Our Mission,
Our Core Values
35
Wood’s Homes Financial Results
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Reverend George and Annie Wood
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Our Story Began in Misfortune
Wood’s Christian Homes was founded in the Innisfail/Olds area by Reverend George Wood, a Scot
and a Presbyterian minister who moved to Canada with his wife Elizabeth in 1907. They settled in
Saskatchewan. In 1914, tragedy struck when his wife lit a lamp in their home with what she thought was
kerosene. She had been sold gasoline by mistake. The lamp exploded, the house burnt into flames. Anne,
the couple’s three-year-old daughter, was saved from the burning house by a passerby, but her mother
perished.
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Wood’s Homes Financial Results
April 1, 2012 – March 31, 2013
Revenue
NWT Child & Family Services..................... $1,050,545
Child & Family Services.......................... $10,962,869
Alberta Health Services.............................. $3,499,832
Calgary Board of Education......................... $1,567,603
Calgary Catholic School District................ $1,336,668
Calgary Homeless Foundation.......................... $508,422
Fee for Service............................................. $5,454,347
United Way......................................................... $594,367
Family & Community Support Service.............. $260,835
Other............................................................. $1,419,273
Wood’s Homes Foundation................................. $469,740
Expenses
Support Salaries & Benefits......................... $2,954,263
Clinical Salaries & Benefits..................... $15,826,839
Amortization...................................................... $640,095
Administrative............................................. $2,026,690
Direct Client................................................ $4,042,542
Facility.......................................................... $1,407,185
The above information is extracted from the March 31, 2013 audited consolidated financial statements
of Wood’s Homes Society. For the complete set of audited financial statements, including notes,
visit http://www.woodshomes.ca/annual-reports.htm
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kOur Vision:
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Locally and nationally known and respected as a centre of excellence for child and
family treatment, research and training, a workplace of choice and a leader in the
development of innovative service choices.
Our Mission:
To promote and assist the development and well-being of children, youth and
families within their community.
Our Core Values:
Commitment - An unwavering persistence in situations most difficult and guided by
a call to service and expectations of excellence.
Respect - An appreciation of differences and a belief in the inherent good of each
and every individual.
Belonging - Acceptance and encouragement of the very basic human need to be connected
with others and the development of a collective and inclusive organizational culture.
Responsibility - Combining the courage to be accountable with the power of
vulnerability and forgiveness.
Leadership - Strive for excellence, work with others and lead by example.
Trustworthiness - Tell the truth with compassion; be honest, open and dependable.
We Never Say No
We Never Give Up
We Never Turn Anyone Away
Original Wood’s Homes –
Innisfail, Alberta
In a special way, this tragedy charted the course of caring and challenge. Now alone with a daughter,
George Wood requested a transfer from his ministry to a place with less painful memories. His mother
accompanied him to help raise Anne and together they made their way to Innisfail in central Alberta. While
still grieving, George Wood was approached by a young soldier whose wife had also died. The soldier begged
the minister to care for his children because he had been called to war.
Reverend Wood agreed and some years later became these children’s guardian when their father was killed.
More children were eventually brought to him and Wood’s reputation grew as a caregiver for children whose
parents were either deceased or financially unable in struggling times. His family became too large for the
Innisfail house so they moved to an acreage near Olds.
Annie, a Scot, a social worker and good friend married George and assisted him in his work becoming
Mother Wood to many.
By 1925, the Olds structure was also overcrowded and the Hextall Estate in Bowness, west of Calgary, was
purchased for $18,000 using Reverend Wood’s insurance policy as security. In November, 1926, 32 children
accompanied their benefactors to the new home in Bowness.
Wood’s Homes
805 37 Street N.W.
Calgary, AB T2N 4N8
403.270.4102
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George, Annie and the children were constantly dependent upon the goodwill of others for donations,
food and clothing. The story goes that George would talk people into driving him back to Bowness from
meetings in Calgary because he had no car. His real intent, however, was for them to see the beautiful
grounds and happy children as an inspiration to donate money and goods. It seems he was quite successful.
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In 1927, a member of the Calgary Oddfellows Lodge played golf with George and came away from the match
determined that George and his family would have greater security.
So began the Oddfellows undertaking to raise money that would guarantee the success of the charity.
Unfortunately, George did not live to see the fruits of his labour in easier circumstance. He died on
November 27, 1928 after a short illness. Mother Annie Wood survived him by 11 years, and ably maintained
direction for the Wood’s orphanage.
Today, Wood’s Homes continues to provide services to children and their families in that same Bowness
location as well as other locations in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Wood’s Homes strives to
continue the legacy of Reverend and Mother Wood by caring for families and their children – especially
those abandoned, abused or with significant troubles in their lives.
See Pages 12-16 for a History of Our Programs and services and Pages 30-33 for a History of Our Caring.
Visit www.woodshomes.ca for more information.
1995
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Dr. Perry leaves to work on Vancouver Island and Wood’s Christian Homes becomes Wood’s Homes, as
Jane Matheson becomes the Executive Director we identify ourselves as being a non-denominational
and eventually the CEO.
organization that serves all faiths.
1997
2008
First Capital Campaign in more than 40 years Construction and renovations begin on our
begins. Schools are renovated on both sites.
Parkdale campus. A new administration building,
2000
a playground area and improved grounds as well
The Wood’s Homes Foundation is created. Bill as the Tuer Children’s Mental Health Centre are
Roberts, previously Director of Finance, becomes developed.
the Executive Director.
2012
2003
Construction begins on the renewal of our Bowness
A second Capital Campaign begins.
campus with the construction of the Hextall
Building and added outdoor recreational activity
2005
space. Project is scheduled for completion in 2014
After years of homelessness and less than
– our 100th anniversary.
adequate dwellings, EXIT’s new house is created
in partnership with Central United Church. 2013
$1 million is raised for renovations of the Canadian The new Hextall Building is scheduled to open
Bible Society building on 7th Avenue (downtown late summer.
Calgary) in exchange for 10 years of free rent. 2014
The new Family Centre on the Bowness campus
will open in the summer.
“History should be as a left hand is to a violinist.”
-William Carlos Williams
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Message from our CEO, and Chair of the Board
Dr. Jane Matheson and Kim Hubick
This past year (2012/13) was a ‘Looking Back to See Ahead Year’ for Wood’s Homes. The organization
was on the cusp of its 100th birthday and as a result, the place was a flurry of activity. On top of
the day-to-day excitements that occur in every season, we were also preparing for the approaching year
and beyond.
1972
A whole family treatment model is initiated for
a short period of time (two years) in the newly
created cottages. Then a parented group home
model replaced this. Carol Ann Probert is the
Executive Director.
1982
The Adolescent Care Centre (in planning stages
since 1974) is constructed on government land
in Parkland and opens in March. It, along with
the Bowness campus programs and Hillhurst
group home, is now the responsibility of Dr. Brian
Plowman, Executive Director and a psychiatrist.
1983
A major grounds redevelopment project is
undertaken on the Bowness campus, jointly funded
by the federal and provincial governments and Wood’s
Homes. This project includes the construction of a
trail through the Douglas Fir Forest on the western
portion of Wood’s Homes’ 41-acre property. Today
it is designated as a provincial heritage site.
1984
Dr. Plowman returns to private practice and Dr.
Philip Perry becomes the new Executive Director
of Wood’s Homes.
1984-1988
Bowness residential buildings are completely
renovated and many improvements are made to
the office and school buildings. Wood’s Homes first
fundraiser was hired.
1986
Services start to be offered by Wood’s Homes in
Lethbridge and Red Deer.
1988
The Board of Directors of Wood’s Homes becomes
increasingly concerned over the needs of many
neglected and abused children, as government
funding becomes more restricted. The Board moves
to raise Wood’s Homes’ profile as a charitable
organization.
In the spring - at the Bowness campus, construction of the new Hextall Building began and continued
pretty much on schedule and budget throughout the year. Staff and clients working and living there, and
even our neighbours were exceptionally good sports with the mud, the parking, the vehicles and the odd
mishap and we thank them all!
Also in the spring, the second annual Research Symposium was held, our contract with Northwest
Territories for Trailcross Treatment Centre was renewed. Unfortunately, our long-standing, in-home
support work with the Calgary Separate School District ended.
In the summer we had record attendance at our Stampede breakfasts. We also started new management
processes that resulted in streamlined meetings, a new and successful on-call system and a comprehensive
look at staff turnover.
In the fall, the Westbury award for mentorship in research was presented to Dr. Jane Matheson – for her
work (and the work of our Research Department at Wood’s Homes ) in creating the department 11 years
ago and its growing service and skills.
We also gained a series of new services – a new Foster Care program, a transportation service, a culinary
program, ROOFS for Youth in conjunction with the John Howard Society and a texting program at CRTworking
with the Distress Centre. Outcomes-Based Services had major growth in the number of clients
and cases and we opened the Lotus program – for children under 12 with sexually-intrusive behaviours.
The first provincial Youth Homelessness Symposium was held with more than 100 guests attending - it
was a great success!
And in the winter, the Board began a succession-planning process, assisted by John Galloway of
Framework Partners and with United Way’s financial assistance. This resulted in new documents and
good plans for Board member transition. We also undertook the development of a new Strategic Plan that
will bridge our 100th year and lead us into the future as well. These undertakings fit well with our bylaw
review and also the creation of Wood’s Homes Society (PropertyCo).
Throughout the year, our 100-year anniversary committee was busy making plans for 2014, our training
room was very busy with workshops – both internal and external. Dr. Arnie Slive came home from Texas
in March – to present on a variety of topics as a Fulbright Fellow.
It was a busy and exciting year but not as busy and exciting as the one to come!
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Top 10 Facts About Wood’s Homes!
1
Wood’s Homes works with approximately 20,000 vulnerable people every year from across Canada.
We help infants, children, adolescents, young adults, their families and guardians.
2
We are located in Calgary, Lethbridge, Canmore, Strathmore, Fort McMurray and Fort Smith, N.W.T.
3
We were the first organization in Canada to provide no-charge, single-session, walk-in counselling
services for individuals, couples and families (since 1995).
4
Demand for our services has increased 400% in the past decade.
The annual operating budget in 1984 was $2.6 million. Today it stands at close to $27,124,501.
5
As a nationally recognized organization, we received exemplary standing when accredited by
Accreditation Canada in 2011, and we were awarded with a Leading Practice for
Outcomes-Based Service Delivery.
6
We provide mental health treatment services at one-third the cost of hospital-based programs.
7
We provide non-secure programs and adopted a No-Restraint Policy in 2003. This was to align with
research that suggests restraints could have negative physical and emotional impact on young people.
8
We were named one of the Top 100 Best Workplaces in Canada in 2011 and 2012.
9
Our Research Department has been measuring program and treatment outcomes since 2001.
We are committed to developing innovative methods for monitoring effectiveness.
10
We have two large campuses in Calgary: One in Parkdale (10 acres); the other in Bowness (41 acres).
The latter includes a stand of Douglas Fir trees that were germinated in the late 1500s.
Designated as a Provincial Historic Resource in 1990, the trees are in the eastern extreme of their habitat.
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1939
Mother Wood dies November 4, after a number of
years of poor health. Her successor is Mrs. Agnes
Longair.
1943-1948
Mrs. Longair retires and is replaced by
Mrs. J. Nicholson, Mrs. E. Hutchson and finally
Mrs. L. Blackador.
1953
Mr. A. Bartle, the school superintendent for more
than 25 years, dies.
1954
Mr. David Robertson retires after 26 years and Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur Jeal joins the home as manager
1961
and matron.
A social work department is established at
1956
Wood’s Homes.
A new manager’s residence is built on the
1965
Bowness site.
As part of the 50th anniversary project, three
1957
cottages are built on the site. By this time, about
Mrs. Jeal resigns (succeeded by Mrs. Birch) and half of the children have come to the home
Mr. Jeal becomes the new Superintendent.
privately; the other half from city or provincial
1958
agencies.
One cottage is built on the site, with the intent of 1969
holding 24 children and two staff members. This The home closes to re-evaluate its role in Child
cottage (which today houses our Phoenix program) Welfare work and the 29 children who are left move
is called the Robertson Cottage.
to other homes. This is largely due to changes in
government process. The Board makes a
study of the areas of greatest need in child
care in Calgary, and again decides on serving
troubled children.
1970
Home reopens, operating under the
Department of Health. Staff include a
nurse, social worker, psychologist, child
psychiatrist and their assistants employed
by the University of Calgary and Wood’s
Christian Homes.
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Wood’s Homes is a complex and powerful place. This is because we have an almost 100-year history of
caring for children and families in desperate circumstances and that gently reminds us of three things:
The first is that many have done it all before us, and they were just as committed and just as passionate
about the work.
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The second is that we are responsible for what happens today and tomorrow, just as we are responsible for
what happened yesterday.
The third is that we have consciously and deliberately transformed the details of the workday world and
all of its serious and not-so-serious adventures into what we do each and every day in all of our programs.
Our History of Caring
1914
Reverend George Wood is stopped by a soldier
in Innisfail, Alta., who asks him if he would look
after his two motherless children as he was
headed to service overseas. Reverend Wood,
who had also lost his wife, said yes. Sadly, the
soldier did not return but that pivotal moment
is the foundation for Wood’s Christian Homes.
1916
Reverend Wood proposes to Annie Jarvie,
a social worker, fellow Scot and family
friend. He proposes by telegram as she is
climbing the gangplank of a steamer headed
to Montreal. Annie says yes and soon after takes on
the role of Mother Wood.
1918
Now with other children in their care, the Woods
relocate to Olds. This, after moving three times in
Innisfail in search of increasingly larger homes.
1921
(May 7) marked the incorporation of the Board of
Directors for Wood’s Christian Homes.
1926
The Woods, with 32 children in tow, move into
the Hextall Estate in Bowness (which at the
time was available for a fraction of its original
cost). The property was $65,000 and secured with
$18,000 (without interest) using Reverend Wood’s
insurance policy as collateral.
1928
Reverend Wood dies November 27, following a short
illness. Records show that years of unceasing strain
and anxiety had taken their toll.
1929
Mother Wood takes over the home. Mrs. Wood is
the matron, Mr. David B. Robertson is business
manager. As the number of children increases,
house-parents and cooks are hired to complement
a very small staff group. (An average of 100 children
lived at the home at any given time.) The Board of
Trustees is headed by Mr. W. Snaddon.
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Board of Directors
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RAISING THE ROOF – We witness significant progress on the new Hextall Building on our Bowness
campus (which is undergoing a $7-million renewal set for completion in 2014). The centre will provide
more recreational and clinical space for clients and their families and will include a spiritual room that
serves as a quiet place for reflection and meditation.
WE ARE FIRST – Wood’s Homes drew together 100 professionals from all youth-serving agencies across
the province to share knowledge in serving the homeless youth population, at our first ever Youth
Homelessness Symposium. By working collaboratively, Wood’s Homes strongly believes that agencies
David Arthur
Eric Axford
Terry Cotton
Scott Doupe
have a greater chance of making a change. There are more than 300 young people living on Calgary
streets at any given time.
FOSTER CARE EXPANDS – Wood’s Homes’ Foster Care Network expanded to include foster families
previously working with the Canadian Back Institute’s foster care service. Our agency now offers 120
foster care beds with 55 foster homes across Calgary.
PROGRAM LAUNCHES – Roofs for Youth, in partnership with the Calgary John Howard Society now
works with youth released from the Calgary Young Offender Centre (CYOC). Staff identify youth who
frequently cycle in and out of CYOC as a result of being released into homelessness. Staff work to support
these youth before and after they leave CYOC, guiding them to ensure reintegration into the community
Mark Ferguson
Lisa Fleck
Collin Harris
Heather Heasman
is successful.
NEW LOOK/MANDATE FOR EXIT VAN – The mobile
service (via a van) connected to our Street Services
program travelled throughout the downtown core for
many years providing support to sexually exploited youth.
Today, counsellors travelling in the van visit disadvantaged
communities to assess people’s immediate needs and to
provide on-the-spot crisis counselling.
Kim Hubick,
Chair
Barbara Murray
Dave Olson
Carla Robinson
AT-RISK YOUTH GET COOKING – Our Culinary Arts
program in partnership with the Calgary John Howard Society helps young people living on the street
find work in the culinary field. Youth (16-24) who are homeless or involved with the justice system are
exposed to the culinary field for potential employment in the food service industry.
A volunteer Board of
Directors has governed
Wood’s Homes since
May 7, 1921.
RAISING AWARENESS – Wood’s Homes joined several online
social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
and YouTube.
Dr. Peggy Rodway
Doug Rogan
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John Stankiewicz
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2012 – What a year!
ROYAL CONGRATULATIONS – We were delighted to receive an early letter from Buckingham Palace
congratulating us on our 100th anniversary in 2014. Queen Elizabeth was “pleased to hear about the
successful evolution of your agency from such humble beginnings” and was “excited to hear from one of
the oldest charities in Alberta.” Governor General David Johnston also sent an early message, thanking
“everyone for their tireless work to make the community a better place for all.”
CHIEF OFFERS PRAISE – Calgary Police Chief Rick Hanson
praised our “amazing work” during his address at our Annual
General Meeting. He said: “We don’t need to be building
better security bars on our windows, we need to look closer at
the risk factors for people evolving into a life of crime. Chief
Hanson stressed that early intervention is the key to helping
move at-risk young people toward a better way of life.
PREMIER AWARDS OUR CLIENT – A former client of our
EXIT Community Outreach program received a Diamond
Jubilee Award from Premier Alison Redford. The client
won the award via Advancing Futures, a funding body for
students. She was recognized for her volunteer contributions
and achievements.
PRINCIPALS CANADA’S BEST! – Mike McMahon of
Children’s Village School and Charlotte Arbuckle (formerly)
of William Taylor Learning Centre were named two of Canada’s Most Outstanding Principals. They are
among five principals in Calgary and 51 from across Canada nominated by their peers and staff.
A BUZZ DOWN UNDER – Staff at Eastside Family Centre (EFC) presented at a conference in Australia,
sharing information about our family-centred walk-in therapy services at EFC - the first service of its
kind in Canada.
HERALD CHRISTMAS FUND – As the recipient of the 2012 Calgary Herald Christmas Fund, we were
thrilled to accept a cheque for $126,282.65. We thank the newspaper and all of the generous donors. The
funds have been applied to addictions counselling for youth at EXIT (the only downtown counselling
service for homeless youth in Calgary).
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A Look at Mental Health
Mental health treatment has come a long way from the early days when those who were deemed
‘not normal’ or suffering from ‘mental abnormalities’ were either institutionalized or imprisoned.
Society did not have answers to helping those challenged with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia,
bi-polar disorder, etc.
And although there is no cure for mental illness, decades of research tell us that:
1.With the right combination of services, treatments and supports, many people living with even the most
severe mental illness can experience significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.
2. The earlier an intervention, the more likely a child will return to positive mental health.
3. Programs that help people access treatment early, or help them stay out of hospital or out of the criminal
justice system, are cost-effective.
4. Working with the family as a whole is the most effective approach to ensuring the safety of a child or
young person and encouraging permanency and well-being is to provide services that engage, involve,
strengthen, and support all family members.
The World Health Organization reports that by 2020,
depression will be the second leading cause of
‘disability-adjusted life years’ for all ages and both sexes
(second to heart disease).
Although we have come far in our research and outcomes, stigma remains a concern. The importance of
good mental health is gaining attention, but much more work needs to be done to remove the stigma which
often leads to treatment barriers. Sadly, two out of three people with a diagnosable mental disorder in
Canada do not seek or receive care. Many factors influence the low utilization of services, but these include
the stigma involved in seeking help, availability and accessibility of needed treatment.
We know that children who suffer maltreatment
and mental health problems are at life-long risk and a
significant proportion do not receive help.
For more information about mental health, please visit us at www.woodshomes.ca
CEO WINS AWARD – Dr. Jane Matheson was the recipient of the $25,000 Westbury Legacy Award,
which recognizes Albertans who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the academic and/or
professional growth of individuals working in the areas of child, family and community research. This
award will be used by the Research Department and also to help in our plan to launch a Research Chair
in Children’s Mental Health.
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Yesterday and Today
Clients Served:
1962: 109
2012: 17,845
Donations:
1962: $15,377.17
2013: $1,143,346
Annual Budget:
1962: $96,241
2013: $27,124,501
Salaries and Benefits:
1962: $37,573
2013: $18,781,102
As Submitted to the Annual General
Meeting March 21, 1942: War Toll
The first casualty amongst the former boys
of the Home serving in the Forces, occurred
in May last, when Ordinary Telegrapher Robert
R. McCrindle was lost at sea. Robert was in the
Home during the period 1931-35. As far as can be
learned there are 28 former Home boys serving
in the Armed Forces, 12 of them having gone
overseas to date. Another war feature is that
there are 22 children in the Home at present,
whose fathers are serving in the Armed
Forces. Thirteen of these have no mother and
the mothers of the other nine are sick and
therefore unable to take care of them.
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Preliminary Results:
Based on the regional data over the past three years, our Family Support Network program
(Forest Lawn) has seen the following results:
n More children are staying home with their family
n More children are in family care
n On average, children are provided services for a shorter time
n According to Calgary and Area Child and Family Services staff, their increased presence in the family
home has resulted in a greater understanding of the benefits of keeping the child in the home, fewer
assumptions about risks to child safety, and fewer apprehensions
Regional data, which is collected at the worksite levels and by the Lead Agency,
is compared to other worksites across the province and within regions.
It is collected in seven areas:
1. Front end activity – Assessment files that open
2. Preservation – Children staying home
3. Reunification – Children returning home
4. Permanency – Adoption, private guardianship, transition to adulthood
5. Reoccurrence – Number of children returning to service
6. Placement Mix – Least-intrusive placements
7. Duration for preservation, reunification, and time to permanency
Family Support Network
Year Total Children Seen Average Monthly Caseload
July 2009 – March 2010 100 42
April 2010 – March 2011 189 77
April 2011 – March 2012 310 141
April 2012 – March 2013 509 207
The Voices of Families
(Clients provide us with their feedback)
“We had lots of different programs. Wood’s would check in but was never pushy,
like other people could be.”
“Our therapist believed in us and helped us get our kids back!”
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Outcomes-Based Service Delivery
Wood’s Homes is Helping to Lead the Way
The Alberta Ministry of Human Services (Children and Family Services) is shifting to a new way of
delivering services to children and families who come to the attention of Child Welfare. It is called
Outcomes-Based Service Delivery or OBSD.
kOur Volunteers
OBSD shifts the focus from what and how much service is provided, to what actually improves in the life
of a child and family as a result of receiving a service(s).
The primary goal is to improve outcomes by strengthening both the practice and the Ministry’s business
relationships with service providers. OBSD entails child- and family-serving agencies and community
partners to work more collaboratively in order to enhance service efficiency and effectiveness.
Currently, agencies report on the services they provide to children in care, but under OBSD they report
on the difference the service(s) made. It might be, for example, a decrease in the amount of time a child
is in care, or an increase in the number of children who remain with their families.
In short, OBSD is about focusing all aspects of service delivery on the purpose of the work, with less
emphasis on how, and more on what happens as a result. There is also more emphasis on collecting and
regularly reviewing information on outcomes. OBSD is in line with the Casework Practice Model and
the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act. The ultimate goal is to keep children safe in a caring
environment, as soon as possible, with an emphasis on connections to family, community and culture.
A Brief History:
OBSD emerged from dissatisfaction with current results for children in care and a look toward efforts in
other jurisdictions to improve results. There are many places in the United States and other countries
related to OBSD initiatives but Alberta is leading the way in Canada.
In 2009, the government mandated Child and Youth Services to begin rolling out this new system and
Wood’s Homes was chosen (following a tendering process) as the Lead Agency in Region 3. We began
providing OBSD in July, 2009 at our Forest Lawn office and call our new program there the Family Support
Network. In 2010, we began providing OBSD in Lethbridge: This program is called Family Connections.
The Voices of Families
(Clients provide us with their feedback)
“Our Family Support Worker made it very clear what needed to be done and pushed us
to accomplish these things. “
“She gave us other methods to control our anger with each other.”
26
Acheson, Kata
Anderson, Wendy
Arthur, David
Axford, Eric
Babiuk, Carla
Balog Auction
Services Inc.
Bromley, Leanne
Cain, Amanda
Caracciolo, Rob
Caron, Donna
Chiang, Anita
Chinook High School
(Lethbridge) drama
students
Cordsen, Cheryl
Cotton, Terry
Crooks, Rob
Dawson, Glen
Desaulniers, Robert
Dittrick, Crystal
Doupe, Scott
Dunlop, Dan, Doris
Edwards Land Services
Este, Dr. David
Evans, Charmaine
Ewashen, Dr. Carole
Ferguson, Mark
Fleck, Lisa
Reverend George Wood, his wife Annie (right) and a caregiver (left) are
surrounded by the children in their care.
Friesen, Dan
Forbis, Megan
Getz, April
Giammarino, Rick
Gregory, Neil
Hammond, Dr. Wayne
Harper-Jaques, Sandy
Harris, Collin
Hatfield, Pat
Hayes, Robert
Heasman, Heather
Hiltz, Susan
Holt, Deanne
Howe, Cliff
Hubick, Kim
Hykaway, Cynthia
Hynes, Beverly
Kapitza, Ernie
Kazeil, Pam
Kearns, Nancy, Emily
Ko, Gina
Koot, Al
Kozymk, Tiffany
Kubik, Jerry
Lambert, Anthony
Leschinski, Georgina
Leung, Stephanie, Cindy
Lind, Dr. Candace
Loewen, Sharon, Craig
11
Longpre, Marcel
Loughlin, Alana
Lyons, Kerry
Mate, Susan
McElheran, Dr. Bill
McLeman, Scott
Mikalauskas, Katie
Moynihan, Paul
Munro, Shianne
Murray, Barbara
Neuman, Dale,
Bernice
Nichols, Ron
Oakander, Dr. Margie
Olson, David
Osowski, Joelle
Paquette, Dallas
Pearce, Dr. John
Peat, Sharon
Rae, George
Raivio, Elaine
Ramsay, Doug
Ravensbergen, Judith
Ringseis, Erika
Roberts, Bill
Robinson, Carla
Rodgers, Mark
Rodway, Dr. Peggy
Rogan, Doug
Rogers, Patti
Salek, Chris
Schiavon, Kelsey
Schmaltz, Terry
Screpnechuk, Kevin,
Michelle
Semeniuk, Joanne
Shakotko, Rosalind,
Larry
Shen, Amy
Southwest Steel
Products Ltd.
Stankiewicz, John
Steen, Carol
Stucky, Jon
Sutton, Leslie
Tanguay, Dr. Karen
Taylor, Laura
Umholtz, Noah
Untinen, Rochelle
Walsh, Karen
Wamsteeker, Diane
Wanner, Kirby
Weaver-Dunlop, Jill
Wellicome, Scott
West, Ealaine
Westelmajer, Meghan
Wilson, Ian
Young, Dan
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1950:
Bowness
4 Residential Programs and the Hextall Building
“the big house.”
1954:
Bowness Campus School
Wood’s Homes and the Calgary Board of Education
launched a partnership to provide specialized
education and mental health treatment services
on the Bowness campus.
1973:
Hillhurst
A house in the Hillhurst community is purchased
to provide care for six to eight adolescents
transitioning to adulthood.
1982:
Our Parkdale Campus
The Adolescent Care Centre now includes
residential treatment programs and a school.
1985:
Permanent Care (Evergreen today)
This program has gone through numerous
evolutions since its start. It serves troubled young
people who display violence, substance abuse with
a history of placement breakdowns.
Exceptional Needs
A program developed to meet the needs of
youth (12-18) experiencing multiple biological,
psychological, social and mental health challenges.
This program demonstrates a need for a service
that is a step up from traditional outpatient
community-based services, and a step down from
intensive hospital-based services.
k
Our Programs Through The Decades
For more information please visit us at www.woodshomes.ca
12
Family Focus
A program that worked to engage and unite
families that were struggling with various types
of problems.
Stabilization
Unique in its time, this program offers immediate
help to families in crisis situations by providing a
short-term stay allowing young people and their
guardians, parents and/or caregivers a timeout of
three to five days. It offers opportunity for all to
stabilize and assess next steps to find solutions.
1986:
Parkland Clinical Treatment Centre
A continuum of services including Stabilization,
Family Focus and Exceptional Needs. Based in
Red Deer, it is intended for young people and their
families residing in central Alberta. (In 1997, this
program evolved into a separate legal society and
an autonomous, community-driven organization.)
Community Living Network/Lethbridge
Our therapeutic foster care services begin in
Lethbridge. They include Aboriginal foster homes
on the First Nation Kainai Reservation of the Blood
Tribe and across southern Alberta.
k
Wood’s Homes Research
Satisfaction Survey Results: Research in Action
Wood’s Homes values the feedback of the thousands of children, youth and families we work with
every day.
All children, adolescents, families, guardians and caseworkers who come into contact with any of our
programs and services, are given the opportunity to complete satisfaction surveys upon client discharge.
The graph below shows our overall outcomes for 2012.
Day Treatment Program: Research in Action
We operate a day treatment program at Our Lady of Lourdes School (OLOL). It is designed to meet the
needs of students with complex social, emotional, family and/or academic and behavioural challenges.
School staff works closely with students and parents to address individual learning needs through a
process of integrating educational and therapeutic supports, strategies and goals. Each student’s
educational and therapeutic program is planned and implemented
in partnership with the Calgary Separate School District and
Wood’s Homes, or Society for the Treatment of Autism.
Client outcome measurements from OLOL students are derived
using the National Child Welfare Outcome Indicator Matrix
(NOM). This is a framework for tracking outcomes for clients
and families receiving Child Welfare services. This framework
incorporates a variety of outcome indicators subsumed under four
overall domains (child safety, child well-being, permanence,
and family and community support).
A key aspect of success for clients at OLOL is improvement in math
and literacy. Math skills are assessed using the KeyMath Diagnostic
assessment and literacy skills are assessed using the Developmental
Reading Assessment. Data gathered through these assessments
provides a way to measure progress and also informs the direction
of classroom instruction. Most youth demonstrated improved literacy
and math skills through the program (see charts at right).
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Wood’s Homes Research
EXIT Community Outreach: Research in Action
EXIT Community Outreach has been offering counselling, referral, and basic needs services to atrisk
youth in Calgary since 1989. This program aims to assist in the well-being of youth by offering
life-skills training, resource referrals, mental and sexual health support, and counselling services. Many
EXIT clients may often be experiencing homelessness and lack of social support, and some are also
involved with the legal system or sexual exploitation.
EXIT operates in the heart of downtown Calgary, making it an easy access point for clients, who use this
service more than 16,000 a year. EXIT does not require its clients to abstain from using substances or
to have the desire to leave the streets in order to be able to access the services provided. Instead, EXIT
staff ascribe to a harm-reduction model to support clients in ways in which they are comfortable.
Since EXIT does not require any personal identifiers in order to access its services, it has been
difficult to accurately track demographic information. Despite the difficulties in the feasibility of data
collection with such a large population, this information is essential for the continuation of service
provision as it can help to inform potential and current funders of the necessity of these services.
Also a better understanding of the clients served can contribute to increasing the relevance of, or
modification to services.
In recent years, Wood’s Homes has worked hard to find practical ways to track and measure EXIT client
demographic information and improvement. One example is the implementation of the Check-In Form.
This brief questionnaire is completed by clients who agree to have their information tracked in a highly
confidential manner. They are not required to use personally indentifying information and do not need
to complete the form in order to access the services.
Data from the check-in form was compiled in 2012 and is an example of the type of practical, demographic
information that can be gathered in a non-invasive manner. As a result, Wood’s Homes now has a better
idea of the type of client accessing our services at EXIT Community Outreach.
Check-in form 2012 highlights # % # %
Age:
Substances used in last 24hrs:
18-21 272 39.0 Marijuana 181 25.9
22-24 279 40.0 Alcohol 140 20.0
Gender: Prescription medication 29 4.1
Male 414 59.4 Crack 16 2.3
Female 283 40.6 Frequency of depressed mood:
Ethnicity: Never 195 27.2
Caucasian 368 52.6 Sometimes 191 26.6
Aboriginal 225 32.2 Almost always 74 10.3
Plans for the Day:
Ability to meet basic needs:
Hang out 290 41.5 Almost always 215 30.8
Go to work 135 19.3 Sometimes 214 30.6
Visit with family/friends 134 19.2 Rarely/never 102 14.6
Witness violence in past 24 hours?
Frequency of extra spending money:
Yes 67 9.6 Almost always 52 7.4
Frequency of substance use: Sometimes 180 25.8
Never 192 27.5 Rarely/never 376 53.8
Weekends 112 16.0
Daily 95 13.6
* multiple answers included in data; only most common answers included
24
k
1987:
Community Resource Team (CRT):
CRT is a 24/7 phone and mobile crisis response
service that was started to provide immediate
crisis intervention phone services to families at
risk of breaking down.
Family Restoration Program
A short-term program focusing on restoring family
harmony.
1989:
Exit Community Outreach:
Phoenix
A storefront in downtown Calgary, it provides basic
(formerly CRC - Canadian Resource Centre)
needs as well as skills and hope for the future to
CRC was an open-custody program for young people
homeless youth (12-24) and/or young people at risk
from the Calgary Young Offenders Centre. Phoenix
of sexual exploitation.
developed over time from the CRC program,
Eastside Family Centre
focusing on sexually intrusive behaviours of young
The brainchild of Dr. Arnie Slive and Dr. Philip men. Dr. Philip Perry, former CEO of Wood’s Homes,
Perry, Eastside was the first resource of its kind started Phoenix as it seemed young people with
in Canada, providing a community-based, walkin,
single-session model of mental health service
sexual development issues were being ignored.
1990-1996:
delivery that was affordable, accessible and
Wood’s Homes delivered a series of satellite school
immediate.
programs for work experience. They included
Northern Network of Services
Discovering Choices, New Directions and Turning
The NNS was located in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory Points.
for about six years. It was a residential program
1991:
with stabilization, family focus and exceptional
Canadiana Centre
needs components for 13-17 year-old youth and
Canadiana was a four-part addictions program
their families who lived throughout the YT. In 1994,
operating as a fee-for-service facility for Alberta
the program was taken over by a community board
youth and their families. Canadiana was a
but ended two years later.
partnership with the business community of
1990:
Calgary, operating for three years without
Caregiver Network
government funding (mostly through private
A collection of three foster homes in the northwest donations). Asokina evolved from Canadiana,
of Calgary that assisted with youth transitioning and was a solvent-abuse program supported by a
from residential services.
contribution agreement from Ottawa. This fee-forservice
for substance-abuse treatment program
remained First Nations-based for almost four years.
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kHabitat
A residential program for boys who have
witnessed family violence, this program
incorporates family work as well. It won a
Dare to Dream award.
1999:
Catalyst
A residential program for young people with
complex mental health issues.
EXIT Youth Shelter (Calgary)
EXIT provides shelter to young people
(12-17) who are in conflict with their parents, away
EXIT van
from home or homeless or who have left their Child
Launched as a complement to services provided Welfare placement.
at EXIT Community Outreach, the van provided
2001:
mobile outreach services for many years to
In-Home Support
youth downtown at night. Today, the van visits
The Home Connections program offers a more
disadvantaged communities and offers onsite
convenient way to serve clients who are unable
counselling, referrals and food.
to come to Wood’s Homes. It works with all family
1992:
members, in the home, school or community.
Altadore
In Canmore, there is a satellite program.
Wood’s Homes started a home in this community
Our Lady of Lourdes
for girls struggling with solvent- and sexual-abuse,
A day treatment service offered just at St. Anthony
called Summit Lodge. In 1997, Altadore started
School. In 2005, the program moved to its current
as a transition to adulthood service for males and
location with the new name of Our Lady of Lourdes.
females 12-17.
Over the past few years this program expanded to
1995:
include 8 community classrooms that support both
Eagle Moon Lodge
the educational and treatment needs of students
Derived from the Canadiana Centre in 1991, Eagle from across the city.
Moon Lodge (which at one time was Lone Pipe
Research Department
Lodge, then Summit Lodge) launched in 1995 as its
Wood’s Homes begins measuring program and
own distinct fee-for-service program.
client outcomes by collecting and analyzing data
1997:
throughout the year.
Foster Care Network
A tender for standard foster care became available
and Wood’s Homes applied for this tender in order
to solidify a continuum of care for the children,
youth and families which they served.
14
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Wood’s Homes Research
Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS)
Wood’s Homes has been reporting client outcomes using the Child and Adolescent Functional
Assessment Scale (CAFAS) for over 10 years to guide individual client treatment plans and overall
service provision by programs. CAFAS is a multi-dimensional rating tool that consists of eight subscales:
school/work, home, community, behaviour towards others, moods and emotions, self-harm, substance use
and thinking. Each of the subscales are used to assess the degree of functional impairment in children,
ages (6 to 17), with behavioural, emotional or substance-use problems.
In 2012, Wood’s Homes saw the highest average CAFAS intake score in the past five years. Across all
programs and services that utilize CAFAS, the average intake score was 105.6 which indicates that our
clients were experiencing moderate functional impairments in many aspects of their lives. However, the
average overall change in score was also the highest Wood’s Homes has reported in the last five years.
This demonstrates that the treatment, services, and strategies provided by Wood’s Homes have a positive
impact in the lives of the clients who were discharged in 2012.
On average, 70% of Wood’s Homes clients demonstrated decreased functional impairment at the time
of their discharge (n=159). In addition, 87.5% of the programs at Wood’s Homes demonstrated positive
CAFAS outcomes during this reporting year (n=14).
** denotes a change from Fiscal to Calendar reporting
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Wood’s Homes Research
The Evolution of Outcome Tracking at Eastside Family Centre
Eastside Family Centre (EFC) has been providing no-charge, single-session counselling for individuals,
couples and families since 1990. It was created to address the barriers to accessing mental health
services in northeast Calgary. Clients will typically wait no more than 25 minutes to be seen. The team
of therapists includes a consulting psychiatrist and the use of a two-way mirror (upon client consent).
In 2012, 2,225 clients accessed EFC services.
Since its start, EFC has been tracking data and over approximately six years, data has been recorded
on such things as demographics, referral source, presenting concerns, distress, and satisfaction. Clients
are asked to fill out a form up arrival and after the session, they are asked to complete a follow-up
form – which asks about post-session distress as well as satisfaction with the services received. This
information however, has never been linked to a single client, which means that it has not been possible
to look at interactions between variables or predictors of outcomes. Furthermore, prior to this data
collection, the Research Department had not used software to perform advanced statistical analysis.
In August 2012, Wood’s Homes began tracking information about each individual client who accesses
the single- session therapy. This allows for a better picture of client characteristics, provides a deeper
understanding of the factors that predict a client’s post-session outcomes, and facilitates service follow-up.
In the fall of 2012, a study was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of this pilot project on data-tracking.
For six weeks, data was collected on all clients who attended a walk-in session at EFC (n=194). The
pilot was very successful, and many interesting findings emerged. For example, there was a statistically
significant decrease in distress from pre- to post-session (see graph below), which suggests that a singlesession
of therapy can successfully decrease a client’s perceived distress. The study also led to the
streamlining of data collection, entry, and analysis processes. It has since been determined that the
tracking of client outcomes will continue for an indefinite period. Staff are very excited about what this
will mean for both the clinical practice at EFC, as well as the potential contribution to the academic
literature regarding benefits of single session therapy.
2002:
Home Connections/Lethbridge
This program is a combination of Family
Preservation and Youth Mentoring. Family
Preservation is in-home support given to highneeds
families and Youth Mentoring is provided for
youth (up to 18).
2003:
Collingwood/14th Street
The Collingwood/14th Street program is a
supported, parented home with more supervision
than a foster care setting provides. Youth are
taught how to live independently and successfully
in the community.
Emergency Youth Shelter/Lethbridge
This service began after a youth shelter
committee was formed following a community
forum on homelessness. The shelter is modelled
after the EXIT Youth Shelter in Calgary.
ROMP
The Recreational Opportunities Mentorship
Program (ROMP) developed from a recreational
committee called ACORN that recognized the
benefits of outdoor experiences for troubled youth.
New Outlook
A program in partnership with VRRI (now
Vecova), New Outlook is a transitional program
for young adults (18-24) with complex mental
health concerns and a long history with Children’s
Services and Justice.
2004:
Wheatland County/Strathmore
Crisis stabilization, long-term group care and
in-home family support located in Strathmore in
two parented and staff-supported homes.
k2005:
Exceptional Needs Program (U12)
Short-term residential services for very troubled
children under 12, who cannot manage in the
community, in a foster home or at home.
2007:
Capitol Hill Stabilization
A residential program for children (6-12) in the
community of Capitol Hill, it provides a refuge for
children who have broken down or are at risk of
breaking down, current Child Welfare placements.
2008:
Fort Smith, N.W.T.
(Trailcross Treatment Centre)
Wood’s Homes provides therapeutic residential
treatment for young people living in the North.
Children’s Village School
In a partnership with Calgary Board of Education,
Wood’s Homes provides the treatment component
of learning to elementary students who have
displayed difficulty in community school settings.
Data collected November, 2012 to January 2013
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kFamily Connections (OBSD)
Outcomes-Based Services in Lethbridge
patterned after the Family Support Network
(OBSD) in Calgary.
New Horizon
In partnership with Horizon Housing Society and
the Calgary Homeless Foundation, New Horizon
offers temporary, cost-reduced housing for
young people who might otherwise join the adult
homeless population.
2009:
2012:
Roofs for Youth
Family Support Network (OBSD)
Launched in partnership with the Calgary John
A new business model of delivering services
Howard Society and Calgary Young Offenders
to children and families in conjunction with
Centre, this program provides support to youth
a Children’s Services unit. This system, called
before and after sentencing.
Outcomes-Based Service Delivery, places a stronger
focus on service results. Wood’s Homes is named a Culinary Youth Employment Program
Lead Agency.
In partnership with Calgary John Howard Society,
this program teaches teens how too cook and helps
Stepping Stones (Fort McMurray)
them to prepare for and pursue employment in the
Wood’s Homes was asked by a group of professionals
culinary field.
and concerned citizens to help with the young
homeless population. Stepping Stones provides Foster Care Expansion
temporary shelter and is aimed at helping homeless In 2012, Wood’s Homes acquired another foster
young people find a way off the streets.
care program and now offers up to 120 foster
care beds with 55 foster homes across the Calgary
Helios
community. Our homes now serve a broader age
A program in partnership with VRRI (now Vecova),
range of infants, children and youth.
Helios was designed as an intensive supportive
group home for clients (18-24) who need 24-hour Transportation Services
support to address their mental health needs. A busy service that provides delivery for children
2010:
in care with supervised visitation services for
Aftercare Services
families, children and other agencies.
The first of its kind in Canada, Aftercare fills a
crucial gap in the continued treatment of young
people by accompanying them back home to their
community (often in remote areas) after being
discharged from residential treatment, or orienting
young people and their families to upcoming
treatment services.
16
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Wood’s Homes Research
Understanding Why Youth Run Away
Showcasing the voices of youth is an integral aspect of the agency’s mandate. In 2012, the Research
Department sought to contribute to efforts within the agency to showcase youth’s voices through a pilot
qualitative study. This study focused on running away- an experience that many of our youth can relate
to or have experienced firsthand. We wanted to engage youth in discussions about what running means to
them and how it fits into their lives. We also wanted youth to contribute to the agency debate about how
to best support youth who have run away throughout their lives.
Through qualitative interviews, youth expressed diverse and vivid stories with some important
commonalities. We found that for youth, running is often a way to bond with one another and visit with
family members. We also found that youth often run as a direct response to undesirable or unsafe situations
or as a way to cope with violence, trauma and sadness. One youth explains how running can be a coping
mechanism through difficult times:
“Sometimes it’s about family stuff…if someone’s really sad and they wanna be alone,
they run away.”
At times, running exposed youth to unsafe situations after they left, including criminal behaviour and drug
use. However, running also provided a sense of autonomy and opportunities to explore new environments.
The youth quoted below showcases the appeal of being able to leave home as a way to discover the world
on his own:
“It’s given me a lot of free time. Most kids don’t have that. I’d go do what I want to do.
It’d be a different thing every time I left.”
When asked if there were any issues in how staff perceived their running away, many youth praised staff for
their supportive attitudes but also indicated that at times staff made assumptions about why they run and
too often associated running with risky behaviour. Clients also indicated they would like to have more
opportunities to share their experiences and perspectives with staff in a meaningful way. This feedback will
lead to further discussion within Wood’s Homes about how to best speak with youth about this issue and to
better support them, and how to find new and creative ways to bring their voices forward in future
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Wood’s Homes Research
Diversity
The population of Calgary in 2012 stood at 1,120,225 – an increase of 29,289 over 2011. Two-thirds of
the population growth was from immigration, a trend reversal from two years prior when births
made up the majority of the increase.*
18.3% of Calgarians are youth ages 14 and over (the national rate is 16.7%).
In 2011, Calgary placed fourth in Canada for the number of temporary foreign workers (8,675) and
permanent residents (15,060) moving to our city.
Wood’s Homes, like Calgary, embraces diversity as a community asset. We work with a number of clients
who honour different cultures and we pride ourselves in providing cultural-diversity training. We celebrate
it in many ways in our programs and services.
* The Calgary Foundation/Calgary Vital Signs 2012
27.9%
(n=3,202)
of clients were part of
an ethnic minority*:
*Only includes clients with a
reported ethnicity (n=11,470)
k
History of our Research Department
Wood’s Homes began the formal development of a Research Department in 1989 by creating a
Research Committee staffed with senior leaders interested in research related to children’s
mental health.
In 2000, efforts were made to start the department
with the support of the Wood’s Homes Board of
Directors and minimal budget.
It joined forces with Alberta Family and Children’s
Services, and Alberta Mental Health (at that time)
as these two organizations were exploring more
systematic methods of outcomes evaluation, and
also instituting performance-based funding.
Today the department is funded as a part of each
programs’ operational budget, and has received
several significant grants for outcome measurement
activities over the past number of years. The work of
the department is guided by our Research Advisory
Committee - a subcommittee of our Board Quality
Improvement Committee.
Beginning with just one researcher, the department
today employs four full-time staff with a formal
arrangement with the University of Calgary
Department of Social Work to share one employee.
The goal of our Research Department is to build the knowledge necessary to improve mental health
treatment outcomes in children, youth and their families. There is much to be gained from the
integration of research with practice. Finding out what works for at-risk children and how to make
what works even better is a challenge that Wood’s Homes has embraced since the inception of this
invaluable part of our organization.
7.7%
(n=879)
of clients
were Aboriginal*:
*Only includes clients with a
reported ethnicity (n=11,470)
“The little research department that could!”
– Ann Lawson, the first manager of Research, 2000.
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Research Chair in Children’s Mental Health
$5 million in endowment or $250,000 annually
Research departments are rare among non-profit organizations - Wood’s Homes is proud to be a leader in
this field.
Since 2001, Wood’s Homes has been measuring program outcomes by collecting and analyzing client data
throughout the year.
Our Research Department works to expand the body of knowledge in child, youth, family, and community
well-being. It monitors and evaluates excellence in service delivery within the agency, but also contributes
to the larger service community by sharing successes with others. As well, we gather information about
successful programs developed by similar organizations around the world and benchmark ourselves against
these results.
To this end, Wood’s Homes is seeking support to fund a Research Chair in Children’s Mental Health. It will
be unique in two fundamental ways:
1. Situating the Chair in a Faculty of Social Work (the University of Calgary) in partnership with Wood’s
Homes bridges academic research and education with service delivery.
2. The Chair will lead research that focuses on practice – combining theory and testing with action and
intervention. This work will lead to new strategies that improve outcomes overall and can be shared with
the community.
Our goals are:
n To enhance the existing body of practical and applicable knowledge in the children’s mental health field
n To develop new, innovative and evidence-based interventions that will further help children and their
families with the far-reaching effects of mental illnesses of all types
By achieving these goals, we will create longer lasting interventions for all those working in the field of
children’s mental health and especially improve care for children and their families.
Why this is important…
The entire children’s mental health community, parents and/or caregivers, and the community at large will
benefit from this research initiative by:
n Having access to information about best practices in addressing children’s mental health
n Learning about research practices and outcome measures
n Sharing results and experiences with policy-makers, other agencies, academic institutions and the
general public at the provincial and national level
n Offering families and caregivers the opportunity to learn new skills that can be implemented with
children to enhance relationships and communication
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Wood’s Homes Research
Client Demographics:
In recent years, Wood’s Homes has implemented an electronic tracking system for all clients through
the Kinark Information Database Systems (KIDS). The KIDS database is used to gather and store
confidential information regarding clients and the services they are provided. This database has enabled
programs to obtain quick access to data for case management and enabled the research department to
gather aggregate data regarding clients and services in an unprecedented way. The following detailed
demographics are the result of this shift.
Number of unique children and
families within each program area
(includes repeat clients across program areas)
Crisis and Counselling:
14,802
(includes repeat calls to our crisis line)
Community Residential:
188
Street Services:
1,191
In Home Support and Outcome
Based Service Delivery Programs:
966
Specialized Learning Centres:
417
Intensive Residential Programs:
159
Number of stays at shelters:
708
Number of phone crisis counselling
and mobile visits:
12,702
Number of sessions at Eastside:
3,651
Location*:
85.7%
(n=10,550)
of clients from Calgary
13.4%
(n=1,655)
of clients from outside Calgary,
within AB
0.9%
(n=107)
of clients from outside AB
(within Canada)
*Only includes clients with a
reported location (n=12,312)
18
19
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