A Message from our CEO – Fall 2024

With winter quickly approaching, along with the typical busyness of the season, I’m pleased to share an update on the recent activities at CMHA TVAMHS.

Last month we held our Year in Review event, where we highlighted programs and services from 2023-2024 and recognized employees for their incredible contributions throughout the past year. We then shifted our focus to sharing details on our new 3-year Strategic Plan and its four Strategic Priorities.

The Strategic Plan is a product of collaboration from several of our key stakeholders. In total, we had 165 survey responses and we held 11 focus groups where we facilitated conversations on the work we do and to hear about emerging priorities. The combination of this feedback helped identify our direction for the next three years and we thank everyone who shared their insights. The four priorities include Access to Client-Centred Care; Supporting First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous Priorities; Supportive Housing and; Fostering Growth and Development in our Leadership.

For a more fulsome overview of the Strategic Plan, the accomplishments achieved to date, and what’s next, please read our full summary here.

I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge that the goals of our Strategic Plan and the work we must do to achieve them are only possible with the dedication of our hard-working staff. We have the most compassionate, resourceful, and skilled staff supporting some of the most vulnerable individuals throughout our region. It is only with their commitment and expertise that we can continue to support resilience and hope in an individual’s recovery journey. For this, I thank each and every one of our employees.

At our Year in Review, the 2023-2024 Employee Recognition Awards were presented. These Awards recognize staff who go above and beyond in their roles, and are nominated by their peers.

The CMHA TVAMHS Innovation Award recognizes a group of CMHA TVAMHS employees who have collaborated and introduced new ideas, services or practices to improve the quality of service, advocacy, administration, or overall functioning of CMHA TVAMHS. This year’s recipient is Elgin Withdrawal Management Services.

The CMHA TVAMHS Open Arms Award recognizes an employee who demonstrates the values of inclusion and choice by taking positive action every day, embracing, respecting and celebrating the diversity of both the CMHA TVAMHS team and the communities we serve while empowering individual choice. This year’s recipient is Cristin Vanderhoek, First Contact, Strathroy.

The CMHA TVAMHS Excellence in Relief Award recognizes a Relief employee who demonstrates the values of Compassion and Excellence. Awarded to a relief staff who is passionate about the work they do and who is professional and responsible in their performance. This year’s recipient is Susan McIntee, Strathroy Relief.

The CMHA TVAMHS Heart Award is awarded to an employee who demonstrates the values of compassion and respect by providing above and beyond service to clients, their families, staff, and the community and serves as a champion of respect, empathy and mental health for all. This year’s recipient is Frances Hickmott.

The CMHA TVAMHS Beth Patterson Leadership Award, recognizes exceptional dedication, advocacy and compassion to those we serve and to CMHA TVAMHS. Awarded to a leader who demonstrates leadership by example with enthusiasm, humour and caring and who demonstrates the values of inclusion and collaboration through teamwork. This year’s recipient is Caroline Schneider.

We are also excited to welcome Hardeep Sadra as our new Board Chair. Hardeep has been a Board member since 2017 and transitioned in the position of Chair at our Annual General Meeting in September.  Hardeep brings extensive experience in non-profit leadership and we are excited to work with, and learn from, Hardeep’s expertise. We are also thrilled to welcome two new Board members- Tess Corriveau and Rosilee Peto.  We look forward to working together to achieve our goals.

A huge thank-you to our outgoing Board Chair, Heather Bishop. Heather has been a part of the CMHA family for many years and we cannot thank her enough for everything she has contributed to this organization. Heather has graciously agreed to continue on our Board as a Director for the next year.

As we look ahead to the end of the year, we are thoughtfully preparing for the onset of winter and the start of the cold weather. It is our goal to be a part of the region’s Cold Weather Response along with other opportunities to ensue services are provided to the most vulnerable individuals in the region we serve.

Please know we appreciate the community’s continued support of our organization. We remain dedicated to our vision of promoting resilience for all through mental health and addiction services.

Sincerely,

Pam Tobin, CEO