2011-2012 annual sss report with financials attached › ... › 11 ›...

SSS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP REPORT 2011-2012

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SSS Annual Report

2011 -‐ 2012

2011 – 2012 Board of Directors Dean Ast – President, Regina

Pat Bryson – Vice President, Young

Joan Baylis – Treasurer, Regina

Maria Alvarez, Regina

Mick Ellis, Saskatoon

Diane Blue, Prince Albert

Carla Bolen-‐Anderson, Regina

Ev McCormack, Moose Jaw

Scott Masson, Regina

Gladys Perepeluk, Yorkton

Fran Walmsley-‐Kambeitz, Weyburn

Staff Anita Hopfauf, Executive Director Ann Walker, Executive Assistant Jackie Hadiken, Partnership Program Coordinator: Regina Curtis Harman, Partnership Program Coordinator: Saskatoon Erica Honoway, Bookkeeper Kyle Bender, Support Worker Chet Hembroff, Support Worker Alana Mazurkewich, Summer Student

The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan (SSS) is pleased to work with our 2 Chapters, Regina and Saskatoon. We work together: To improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs public policy and research.

Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan

Award Winners 2011-‐2012

Rays of Hope Awards • Maria Alvarez -‐ Regina • Erika Grude -‐ Regina

Dr. Lionel and Mrs. Mary Hastings Award

• Dave Nelson -‐ Regina Community Spirit Award

• Suncor Energy -‐ Calgary

Schizophrenia Society of Canada

Award Winners 2011-‐2012

Outstanding Staff Award • Curtis Harman – Saskatoon

Recovery of Hope Award

• Maritza Tello -‐ Regina


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Table of Contents

Proposed Agenda 3

Meeting Minutes from September 14, 2011 4

Provincial Presidents Report 6

Executive Directors Report 7

Chapter Reports

Saskatoon Chapter Report 9

Regina Chapter Report 10

Treasurer’s Report 12

Auditor’s Report 13

National Board Representatives Report 14

Strengthening Families Together Program Report 16

Partnership Program Report 17

Your Recovery Journey Program Report 19

Committees Update Report 20

Nominations Committee Report 21


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ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN, INC.

JUNE 15, 2012

REGINA INN HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTRE

PROPOSED AGENDA

1. Welcome and call to Order

2. Accept September 14, 2011 minutes as circulated

3. Business arising out of old minutes

4. Call for other business to be added to the agenda

5. Reports – One motion to accept all reports

5.1 Provincial President’s Report

5.2 Chapter President’s Reports

i. Saskatoon

ii. Regina

5.3 Executive Director’s Report

5.4 Treasurer’s Report

5.5 Auditor’s Report

Motion to appoint auditor for 2012-‐13 year

5.6 National Representative’s Report

5.7 Partnership Program Report

5.8 Strengthening Families Together Program Report

5.9 Your Recovery Journey Report

5.10 Committees Update Report

6. Nominations Committee Report – Bios

7. Other Business

8. Adjournment


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ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

SCHIZOPHRENIA SOCIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN, INC.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

REGINA INN HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTRE

MEETING MINUTES

1. Welcome and call to Order: Meeting called at 8:20 am by Acting President Dean Ast.

*note: A moment was observed in remembrance of the passing of Aurelia Beach the President of the SSS Inc. on September 12th/2011.

2. Accept June 11, 2010 minutes as circulated-‐ Motion to accept meeting minutes as circulated. Marie Knutson, Fran Walmsley-‐Kambeitz. Carried

3. Business arising out of old minutes – nothing to add

4. Call for other business to be added to the agenda – Motion to accept the agenda. Pat Bryson, Ev McCormack. Carried

5. Reports – Motion to accept all reports as presented. Maria Alvarez, Mick Ellis. Carried

5.1 Provincial President’s Report – Dean Ast

5.2 Chapter President’s Reports

i. Saskatoon -‐ Kevin Cricket

ii. Regina – Mike Gardiner

5.3 Executive Director’s Report – Anita Hopfauf

5.4 Treasurer’s Report-‐ Joan Baylis

i. Joan also presented the Schizophrenia Research Foundation Saskatchewan financial report at this time.

ii. Motion to approve the financial report for the SSS. Joan Baylis, Mick Ellis. Carried

iii. Motion to approve the financial report for the Schizophrenia Research Foundation Saskatchewan. Joan Baylis, Ev McCormack. Carried.

5.5 Auditors Report – Joan Baylis

Motion to appoint Virtus as the auditor for 2011-‐12 fiscal year. Joan Baylis, Carla Bolen Anderson. Carried.

5.6 National Representatives Report – Joan Baylis


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5.7 Partnership Program Report – Curtis Harman

5.8 Strengthening Families Together Report – Anita Hopfauf

5.9 Your Recovery Journey Report – Anita Hopfauf

5.10 Committees Update Report – Anita Hopfauf

6. Presentation of Slate of Board of Directors for 2011/12. Past President-‐Laura Enick presented the Board of Directors for the 2011-‐2012 year. Called for additions from the floor. None. The board was declared as presented. Carried.

7. Other Business

8. Adjournment – meeting adjourned by Laura Enick at 9:00 am.


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Provincial President’s Report

This past year, 2011-‐2012, was another busy year for the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan. It included the hosting of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada National Conference in September 2011 which was a wonderful opportunity for our Society to more closely connect with sister organizations from across the country.

This past year has also reminded us of the challenges that still exist of increasing public awareness and, in particular, the understanding of Schizophrenia. The advocacy role as well as providing education & support to families & people with Schizophrenia and other serious & persistent mental illnesses continues to be one of our most important initiatives.

Our dedicated staff & volunteers have worked towards our mandate with a number of initiatives including representation at the Disability Income Support Coalition as well as advocacy efforts regarding Saskatchewan Hospital – North Battleford (SHNB) and also the Irene and Leslie Dube Mental Health Centre at the Royal University Hospital (RUH) in Saskatoon. We believe there were successes in all the above resulting in improvements to the Saskatchewan Assured Income for People with Disabilities (SAID) program, the promise of a replacement for SHNB and an appropriate decision regarding patient access at the Mental Health Centre at RUH.

The Partnership Program continues to educate so many individuals regarding Schizophrenia and brings an understanding of what it is like to live with the illness. I can’t stress enough the importance of this program in helping to break down the stigma that is attached to Schizophrenia.

The board continues its stewardship & guidance role for the Society. I am very thankful for the dedication & talents of the board members and what they provide to the ongoing success of the Society. The Board has taken steps to ensure financial accountability to members of the Society and will continue its efforts to review its governance role and also to ensure that the work of the Society is aligned with its mandate.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-‐you to all of the staff of the SSS for their dedication, support & enthusiasm to continue the work of our organization.

Respectfully submitted,

Dean Ast, President


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Executive Directors Report

This has been a year of changes, both happy and sad. We lost our president, Aurelia Beach who had been on our Board of Directors since 2003. Aurelia had served as our President for the past five years. I miss her dearly and I know I can speak for many at the respect and admiration we all had for Aurelia. Aurelia had vision, worked hard, and was graceful, strong and intelligent. She truly was a leader and a mentor to many, including myself.

Aurelia passed away a couple of days before the National Conference we hosted this past September. It was a very difficult time for all of the board members and staff. It is during these hard times you see how people come together to help each other to pick up the pieces. This makes me happy. We have an extraordinary board. We are so fortunate to have Dean Ast as President; he has done an incredible job. Joan Baylis, our treasurer has worked incredibly hard over the many years she has been a part of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan. Each and every board member we have brought their special talents and gifts to our board table. I admire you all. Thank-‐you for being wonderful volunteers!

This past year we were involved with many successful advocacy efforts including the announcement by the Premiere regarding rebuilding of the Saskatchewan North Battleford Hospital, and the implementation of the second phase of the SAID (Saskatchewan Assured Income for People with Disabilities) program through our continued work with DISC (Disability Income Support Coalition). I was also privileged in my work serving on the Council of the National Council of Welfare to work on a sub-‐committee to develop the document, ‘The Dollars and Sense of Solving Poverty’. As we know many of the individuals we support must deal with inadequate mental health services, poverty and homelessness. These are important issues for us to be working on. We had great fun in planning and promoting the Triple ‘S’ Scavenger Hunt fundraiser again for the 2nd year in a row. We believe consistency and providing awareness in the community through the media and also using social media will help to build this into a well-‐attended and successful event. The Schizophrenia Society Executive Directors have been working collaboratively this past year on promoting a National Schizophrenia Awareness Day on May 24th in each of our provinces. May 24th is also International Schizophrenia Awareness Day. This year we used our social media to promote National Schizophrenia Awareness day, but next year we have plans to do this on a bigger scale. We have also had some staffing changes and some additions of new people to our team. I am very happy to welcome our new Executive Assistant, Ann Walker to our organization, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her position. We hired University


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students Kyle Bender and Chet Hembroff before the National Conference last year and have been happy to have their on-‐going support on a casual basis. Ian Morrison has been a wonderful addition to our office as he holds his “Healing Thru Humour” meetings in the provincial office.

I also want to highlight our long running and successful Partnership Program, as demonstrated by our positive outcome measures. We are lucky to have two long term staff, Curtis Harman who has been a staff of the Provincial office since 2004 and Jackie Hadiken who joined us in 2007. (Curtis also worked for the Saskatoon Chapter office for six years, since 2001 in the same role). Jackie and Curtis continue to do wonderful work with their Partnership teams to deliver many presentations in Regina, Saskatoon and surrounding areas. I also want to thank the team in North Battleford that has begun to do presentations in that area. Plus, a huge thank-‐you goes out to all of our wonderful facilitators of the Strengthening Families Together, the Your Recovery Journey Programs, and the Peer Support and Rec groups.

I would like to thank our staff for all their hard work and endurance over the past year. It is very difficult to get everything done in a day and can be very overwhelming; however they keep trying their best. I want to give a very special thank-‐you to Dr. Kathleen Thompson for filling in for me as Acting Executive Director this past November and December while I was away from the office. Kathleen’s past experience as our Executive Director in 2007 was invaluable. Kathleen did a wonderful job in my absence and was incredibly helpful to the board and staff. Kathleen will continue to work with us as a consultant on other initiatives.

I also want to say thank-‐you to our wonderful practicum students and summer students. We love working with our students to help them gain valuable experiences to take forward with them. Last, but not least I want to say thank-‐you to our Regina and Saskatoon Chapters for their continued hard work and commitment to our mandate, and to all of our wonderful volunteers; we would not be able to do everything we do without their assistance.

Sincerely, Anita Hopfauf Executive Director Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan


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Chapter Reports

Saskatoon Chapter

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Greetings members, family, and friends. We have another year of successes and change behind us and a bright future ahead. I am a mental health consumer with the diagnosis of Schizophrenia. I am reminded of how awful and condemning a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, historically, was. In the past few years, like-‐minded people have worked dauntlessly to break the stigma of being on a fringe of a closed minded group, namely society. Through education and breakthroughs in attitude and medication a person that has Schizophrenia, in this time, is not told to stay in the corner and can be said to be, “Living well with mental illness”. Because of people’s efforts in local, provincial, and national arenas, stigma busting has allowed many people to find a place to complete themselves and those around them. I welcome our new employee, Barb Zintel, as an excellent complement to our organization.

We have recently gone through a Strategic Planning process, and have applied our Chapter’s mission statement, ‘to educate and show support to our community’, by giving such services as our REC group and Family Support Group. Our board members are dedicated to our programs and their effectiveness.

Our board has gone through many changes over the past year, so we have many new members and have had some members leave us. There are many opportunities for us to succeed in the coming months, and we are committed to having another Walk this September 16th, with the theme of, “Open Minds”. Our board members have taken on the roles of leadership in the facilitation of our groups. Lindsay Katz, has gracefully taken over the facilitation of our Family Support Group. Lindsay Walker and Crystal Normand have enthusiastically taken over the planning of the REC group.

I am hopeful for our organization’s continued success. I pray for all to be well and happy in everyone’s lives. Through education and perseverance we can bring living with mental illness to a place of understanding instead of misgiving.

Submitted by Kevin Crickett


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Regina Chapter

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Activities for this year started off slowly, but ended with a very successful fundraising event. We were able to continue with our summer hot dog sales with the support of the Sobeys grocery store chain. Sales that were held at the East end and South end stores did not raise as much as we have had in the past when we were able to work the North end location on Rochdale. We will be working with this location on a couple of hot dog sales this summer, so we hope to see some improvement in fundraising dollars. We continue to raise some funds by way of coin boxes that are distributed throughout the city.

We continued with our Calendar sales as we have in the past and we were able to raise about the same amount of money as in past years, which is around $280.00. We will have to give some thought regarding our support of the calendar initiative for the coming year.

Board members were able to put up an informational table at the 13th Avenue Safeway where we held a draw for a gift basket and handed out educational brochures regarding the illness of schizophrenia and bi-‐polar. The generous management and staff provided free coffee and cookies for those who stopped by and donated to the event. We found this project to have more of an educational component as well as raising some money and thought it very worthwhile in exploring the development of this kind of project in the future.

We attended an open house of the new Phoenix Residential Society housing project. Carole Eaton gave us a tour of the facility and thanked the Regina Chapter for their generous donation that was used to furnish all of the bedrooms and the common room area. Many years of fundraising by past Regina Chapter Boards and the members/volunteers resulted in a donation of $100,000.00 towards this residential project.

Our fundraising efforts concluded in very successful fashion with a second attempt at a dinner theatre production. This event included a silent auction and sold out very quickly. We probably could have had a second show since demand was still quite high. The entire event was very well organized by Treasurer Joan Lang and Secretary Lynn Janzen and raised around $6,000.00.

We continue to assist the Canadian Mental Health Association, Regina Branch, with seasonal activities, such as Christmas care packages and summer barbeque as well as assisting with the Peer Support Recreation Club in their social events. Once again we provided a donation to the Triple “S” Scavenger Hunt held in April, which sponsored a team of consumers to participate in the event.

Our Caring & Sharing support group continues to meet on a monthly basis with a good turnout of both old and new members at each of our meetings. Our focus this year has been on hearing from those individuals who are with the Partnership Program including Maria Alvarez, Bryce Martin and Jackie Hadiken. Some of our regular members attended the Strengthening Families Together sessions and found it to be very beneficial and plan on attending more classes in the future. Most of our board members have come through the Strengthening Families Together sessions.


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Many of our board members attended the National Convention held here in Regina in September and will be attending the Provincial AGM on June 15th as well.

The Board of Directors has been brainstorming at our meetings this year to come up with new fundraising ideas as well as new projects to put our fundraising dollars to good use. I would like to thank everyone on the board, as well as our volunteers, for making the past year a very enjoyable and charitable success.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael Gardiner

President


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Treasurer’s Report

I am pleased with the results that are reflected in Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan financial statements for the year ending March 31, 2012.

Financial statements for 2011-‐2012 will reflect a slight increase in revenues of $11,209. The revenue in our operating funds is through a combination of funds from United Way of Regina, pharmaceuticals, corporate and private grants with the major portion of our operating funds from Saskatchewan Health. Our Triple “S” Scavenger Hunt fundraiser continues to grow in creating pubic awareness and funds to profit our organization.

We continue to demonstrate fiscal conservatism through 2011-‐2012 in our expenses management with a decrease in expenses from 2011-‐2012 of $69,444. Our Society will continue to remain in a stable financial position for the upcoming year of 2012-‐2013. The Society Reserved Funding continues to be invested in diversified long term and medium funding and is designed to increase our revenue over time. Our approved Investment Strategy is to ensure that we continue to have a balanced portfolio of cash and cash equivalents, fixed income and equities. Through this long range financial plan the SSS will continue to achieve its goal of developing and delivering services for family members in the future.

While the world economy continues to remain fragile and we continue to see this fragility impact on Canadian markets, to ensure that we remain strong, we continue to monitor our investments with our Financial Advisor on a regular basis. We will continue to ensure that our “Reserved Funding” remains sustainable for years to come.

Our Executive Director, Anita Hopfauf and her staff continue to show strong fiscal managements with all expenditures while exploring all opportunity to increase revenues.

The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan continues to remain strong because of ties of solidarity that we -‐ clients, family members, staff, stakeholders and the Board of Directors – forge among ourselves and because of the care we show toward one another.

The staff and the board of directors continue to remain committed to the Society’s Mission Statement; to improve the quality of life for those affected by Schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support programs, public policy and research.

Submitted by:

Joan Baylis,

Treasurer, Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan


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Auditor’s Report

Please see attached documents.


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National Board Representatives Report

The mission of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada is to “improve the quality of life for those affected by schizophrenia and psychosis through education, support

programs, public policy and research”.

The Schizophrenia Society of Canada is committed to:

Ø Raising awareness and educating the public to help reduce stigma and discrimination Ø Supporting families and individuals Ø Advocating for legislative change and improved treatment and services, and Ø Supporting research through the S.S.C. Foundation and other independent efforts.

Some of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada’s ( S.S.C.’s) activities 2011 -‐2012

• Florence Budden (President of the S.S.C.) and Chris Summerville (Chief Executive Officer of the S.S.C.) have had contact with the majority of the provincial societies as a way to increase collaboration and to explore provincial issues in relation to the mentally ill. Some of these issues include – public education, lack of capacity to do work, only a few chapters, police training, Mental Health care in Correctional Services, prevention, promotion, pro-‐recovery message, peer support workers, advocacy, public policy issues, social assistance, provincial Mental Health Strategy, housing, decriminalization of the mentally ill, emphasis on family needs and concerns, federal transfer of health dollars and the Mental Health Act.

• It was requested that provincial representatives interested in sitting on the Advocacy, Education and Research Committees of the S.S.C. be submitted to the S.S.C. for consideration.

• Florence Budden and Chris Summerville have expressed concern in regard to Bill C-‐10 the Safe Streets and Communities Act to Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator of Canada. Although this bill does state the need for enhanced Mental Health Services within corrections, there is a concern that adequate Mental Health Services and supports within the system will be appropriately addressed. CAMIMH (Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health), of which the S.S.C. is a member, has sent a letter to the Honorable Toews, Minister of Public Safety in the House of Commons to also express these concerns. Within this letter, CAMIMH requested information on the government’s strategy for dealing with mentally ill prisoners as well as specific Mental Health programs for Aboriginal Peoples.


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• Peer Support Pilot Training – One of the research projects of the M.H.C.C. (Mental Health Commission of Canada) is the Peer Support Worker Project. The Manitoba Schizophrenia Society was asked and hosted the first pilot training site the last week of February. The purpose was to test curriculum developed for training peer support workers.

• Web Site Development Update – The live site has been updated with content migrated over from the old site.

• The S.S.C. was obliged to confirm its list of members to comply with the Canada Not-‐for-‐Profit Corporations Act 2009 which came into force on October 17, 2011. Letters of explanation and membership application forms were sent to all Provincial Schizophrenia Society members to invite a decision on whether or not they wanted to continue as a member of the National Schizophrenia Society or join now if not a previous member. There is no fee associated with membership in the S.S.C. at this time.

• Cannabis/Psychosis Project – This three year project has now been extended an additional year by Health Canada.

• Rays of Hope – The English grammar editing is now complete. The French translation should be finished by May 2012. It will then be sent for both English and French printing.

• Florence Budden and Chris Summerville have been granted an opportunity to give a 20 minute oral presentation titled “The Experiential Knowledge and Wisdom of Family Members” at the Mental Health Commission of Canada Conference on Stigma being held in Ottawa June 3 – 6, 2012.

• There will be a National and Provincial Schizophrenia Societies Leadership Summit June 7, 2012 in Ottawa following the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s Conference.

I would like to acknowledge the dedication, hard-‐work and determination of Florence Budden, Chris Summerville, Provincial Presidents and Executive Directors, and Board Members from both the National and Provincial Schizophrenia Societies. As well, a thank you to all staff and volunteers associated with the Schizophrenia Societies for their dedication and hard-‐work.

Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as the Saskatchewan Schizophrenia Society representative to the Schizophrenia Society of Canada National Board.

Respectfully submitted,

Ev McCormack


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Strengthening Families Together Program Report

Strengthening Families Together is a National 10-‐session program about issues that impact people and their families who are living with a mental illness on a daily basis. The program not only talks about schizophrenia, but also clinical depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-‐compulsive disorders. The program is designed to provide support, awareness and tools to cope with these mental illnesses.

The primary target group for SFT has traditionally been parents of adult children with schizophrenia. However, with the increase of early psychosis intervention programs throughout Canada, many of the provincial societies are working with more and more families and friends of young people who have recently developed a psychotic illness. The needs of this group are substantially different from the needs of those for whom the original program was developed. Because of the effectiveness of early intervention and the growing understanding of psychotic illnesses, the focus of SFT has shifted from managing illness to recovery.

This year’s class in Regina was well attended. The participants share their concerns and learned new tools to help their loved one. There were good group discussions and they were able to learn to also take care of themselves as well as their loved one. Jackie Hadiken was able to have a Partnership Program team make a presentation attend at one of the SFT classes in Swift Current. The participants were very happy to have these sessions in their community. They are planning to continue meeting as a support group. Prior to attending the classes they were lacking in some fundamental understanding and knowledge. They also expressed that they had a new sense of hope that their loved one could experience recovery.

The Strengthening Families Together Program is being offered in Regina, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and the McKerracher Center in Saskatoon uses an adapted version of the SFT program. We plan to start our own SFT Program in Saskatoon in the near future.

Please feel free to call our office if you would be interested in participating or facilitating this program in your area. We hope to see this program grow all across Saskatchewan.

Sincerely,

Jackie Hadiken

Strengthening Families Together Facilitator -‐ Regina Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, Inc.


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Partnership Program Report

The Partnership Program continues to go strong into its fourteenth year. The Partnership Program gave 257 presentations to 6,696 people over the past fiscal year in Regina, Saskatoon, and other areas of the province. As of March 31/2012 the Provincial total since the program began in 1998 is 2,507 presentations given to 68,417 people.

The Partnership Program is the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan’s public awareness program that gives informative presentations about schizophrenia and related disorders to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and provide a positive face to mental illness. We present as a team which includes people directly affected by schizophrenia and related psychosis, family members of people with mental illness, and health professionals.

Jackie Hadiken is into her fifth year as Regina Program Coordinator and has given countless presentations in and around Regina. We have developed a new evaluation form and have improved our outcome measures. This year the United Way of Regina acknowledged the change and improvement. Curtis Harman is into his tenth season coordinating the Partnership Program in Saskatoon and his thirteenth year as a member of the Partnership Program team.

High School students and youth are the Partnership Program’s first target audience. There have been 80 presentations given at 33 high schools and elementary schools over the past fiscal year. Youth are a priority audience for us so we can be proactive in getting information to them as symptoms of schizophrenia and other mental illnesses began to occur at this time.

Through a concerted effort of both the Regina and Saskatoon programs, we have continued to raise awareness in aboriginal communities. Some places the Partnership Program has presented to over the past year include: White Bear reserve, Rainbow Youth Center Muscowpetung Mental Health Center, Saskatoon Indian Institute of Technology, Oskayak First Nations High School, and the Northern Inter-‐Tribal Health Care Workers in Prince Albert.

Presentations have been given to all classes in the Department of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan and at the University of Regina over the past fiscal year. Presentations have also been given to the College of Medicine, College of Kinesiology, Department of Social Work, College of Pharmacy & Nutrition, and the College of Nursing. We have given numerous presentations at SIAST to rehabilitation students; youth care worker students, dental assistants, practical nursing students, recreation therapy students, addictions students, and corrections students in Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

The Saskatoon team has continued to present at Brief & Social Detox on a weekly basis to people with addictions. Presentations have also been given at Calder Centre on a monthly basis to clients with chemical dependency. The Partnership Program presents on a monthly basis to the YWCA women’s crisis shelter residents as many of these women suffer from a host of mental illnesses.

The Regina team continues to do presentations on a regular basis to RCMP recruits and this year we will also be seeing youth organizations such as Carmichael Outreach Center and Rainbow Youth Center. The Regina team continues to go to the Regina General Hospital inpatient ward. All of our audiences have appreciated our continued awareness in their programming.


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The Saskatoon team presented to hundreds of frontline police and patrol officers this spring. They also presented at the Regional Psychiatric Centre, the Service Employee International Union, City of Saskatoon Employee Family Assistance Program, the West Side Clinic, Child & Hunger Education Program, McKerracher Centre to families and people living with mental illness, and various church organizations.

Several presentations have been given in rural areas and communities outside of Regina and Saskatoon which include, Swift Current, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Clavet, Aberdeen, Warman, Melfort, and Viscount.

There are currently 74 Partnership Program team members in Saskatchewan. They are working diligently to reduce the stigma and misconceptions associated with the disorder. The team effort and the time everyone has put into this program is tremendous. Public response has been positive. Thank you to everyone who has given their talents and their time in giving presentations throughout the province.

As successful as our year has been some losses have occurred. Former Partnership team member and President of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan Aurelia Beach passed away just as our National Conference began in Regina in September of 2011. Fellow Saskatoon Partnership team member Helen Johanson passed away in early 2012. Last but not least Gordon Bruce who assisted his wife Lois and Jennie Dickson in founding the Schizophrenia Society in Saskatoon passed away in the fall of 2011. He will be remembered as someone who played an important role in ensuring there was a Chapter and Partnership Program office in Saskatoon as Gordon and Lois opened their home to the public.

The Partnership Program is constantly looking to recruit more presenters to join our team as long time members retire. We are currently expanding the program to include individuals with depression and family members that have a loved one with depression. We encourage people to join our team. You don’t have to be a professional speaker as any training needed is provided by our program coordinators. The Partnership is an important step in recovery for those directly affected by the illness and their family members. It gives those with mental illness, family members, and mental health professionals a chance to network and work as equals in our plight to change the way the public views mental illness.

Thank you to all our membership, volunteers, staff, and board members for supporting our program throughout the years. It is truly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Curtis Harman – Partnership Program Coordinator – Saskatoon

Jackie Hadiken – Partnership Program Coordinator – Regina


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Your Recovery Journey Program Report

Your Recovery Journey Program is intended to serve the needs of all people who have had experience with mental illness, regardless of their diagnosis or the stage they are at in their recovery. There are significant differences in the symptoms, course of illness, and treatment of different mental illnesses—but the recovery journey cuts across all of these. Almost everyone who is recovering from mental illness is striving to:

• Identify and reach personal goals • Find meaning and fulfillment in the face of a new reality • Deal with the effects of stigma • Establish a positive sense of self and a sense of belonging • Manage symptoms and medication • Stay well

Your Recovery Journey is important for several reasons. It builds on the now well-‐established literature and evidence base for recovery from mental illness, and contributes to the growing number of programs that focus on empowering people to manage their own treatment and recovery journey.

Major topics covered are explaining what recovery is, quality of life, self-‐management, medication as a tool for recovery, and personal action planning.

The program is designed to be facilitated or co-‐facilitated by people who themselves have experience with mental illness and have also experienced recovery in their own lives. This “hope in action” approach is a fundamental principle of the program.

The participant and facilitator manuals have been sponsored by Janssen-‐Ortho Pharmaceuticals. Your Recovery Journey is into its third year in Saskatchewan. The program has run in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Melfort, and Whitewood. The program can be completed in 8 to 10 sessions. We hope to see the program expand throughout Saskatchewan.

A special thanks to Maria Alvarez, Caryl Gardiner, and Tracey Mitchell for facilitating the program in 2012 in Regina and Saskatoon.

Sincerely,

Curtis Harman Your Recovery Journey Program Facilitator -‐ Saskatoon Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, Inc.


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Committees Update

The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan continues to work closely with many other community partners on a variety of different initiatives and advocacy issues. Over the past year the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan staff has served on 10 different committees. Each committee is very important to the work of raising awareness and improving Mental Health Services and the quality of life for those living with a mental illness. The following list is the committees we currently are members of:

§ National Council of Welfare (NCW)

• Poverty Document Sub-‐Committee

§ Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC)

• DISC Media Committee

• (SAID) Saskatchewan Assured Income for People with Disabilities Training Committee

§ The Mental Health Services Act Advisory Committee

§ Saskatchewan Mental Health Coalition

§ Schizophrenia Society’s ED’s Meetings

§ Provincial Interagency Network on Disabilities (PIND)

§ Healing Through Humour Planning Meetings

§ United Way of Regina Funded Partner Meetings

Sincerely, Anita Hopfauf Executive Director Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan, Inc.


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Nominations Committee Report Nominations and Election of Board of Directors The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of six (6) members and a maximum of eleven (11) members, each of whom at the time of his/her election or within ten (10) days thereafter and throughout his/her term of office shall be a member of the Society. Slate of Board of Directors for the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan for 2012-‐2013

1. Dean Ast 2. Pat Bryson 3. Joan Baylis 4. Maria Alvarez 5. Ev McCormack 6. Scott Masson 7. Gladys Perepeluk 8. Melanie McLeod 9. Marie Knutson 10. Vonni Widdis 11. Sharon Staseson

Current Board members whose terms are continuing:

• Dean Ast (will be serving the second year of his third term) • Maria Alvarez (will be serving the second year of her third term) • Ev McCormack (will be serving the second year of her third term) • Scott Masson (will be serving the second year of his first term) • Pat Bryson (will be serving the second year of her third term)

Current Board members Seeking Re-‐election for a 2-‐Year Term:

• Gladys Perepeluk

Resolution: To authorize director Joan Baylis to stand for a fourth 2-‐year term of office.

*(The maximum board membership shall be for three continuous two-‐year terms unless at an annual general meeting, a resolution approved by the membership allows the term of office or the maximum number of terms of a director or directors beyond these limits).

It is the opinion of the SSS Board of Directors that Joan Baylis’ financial expertise and her historical knowledge of the organization is integral to the organizations continued growth so the board is requesting a resolution be passed to extend Joan Baylis’ terms of office for a fourth 2 year term.


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There are 4 board members not continuing terms or seeking reelection

• Diane Blue (completed a 2-‐year term, not seeking reelection) o Position Available: 2-‐year term on the board

• Fran Walmsley-‐Kambeitz (completed a 3-‐year term) o Position Available: 2-‐year term on the board

• Mick Ellis (completed a 2-‐year term, not seeking reelection) o Position Available: 2-‐year term on the board

• Carla Bolen-‐Anderson (completed one year of a 2-‐year term) o Position Available: 1-‐year term on the board

Nominees to the Board of Directors: • Melanie McLeod(Regina) – Seeking a 2-‐year term • Marie Knutson (Eston) – Seeking a 2-‐year term • Vonni Widdis(Regina) – Seeking 2-‐year term • Sharon Staseson(Regina) – Seeking a 1-‐year term • Joan Baylis (Regina) – Seeking a 2-‐year term


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Biographies of Nominees

Dr. Melanie McLeod

Dr. Melanie McLeod is a clinical pharmacist who currently works for the Department of Psychiatry in the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region. She completed a bachelor of pharmacy degree (BSP) from the University of Saskatchewan in 1997 and a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree (PharmD) from the University of Toronto in 2010. Melanie currently splits her time between the Mental Health Clinic and the inpatient psychiatry wards at the Regina General Hospital. Melanie primarily serves as a resource for psychiatrists and provides individual consultation services, on a referral basis, to individual clients. Melanie also provides clinical support to the newly established psychogeriatric assessment team in Regina.

Melanie is very active within the pharmacy profession, having served on several committees and boards over the years. She was president of the Saskatchewan Branch of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy (CSHP) in 2003, served as an elected Council member of the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists (SCP) 2003-‐2005 and currently serves on the SCP Complaints Committee.

Melanie also enjoys teaching. She has served as sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan (College of Pharmacy) and continues to be actively involved as a clinical preceptor of pharmacy students and residents. Melanie is a clinical lecturer of psychopharmacology for the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. Additionally, she is a faculty member for the Part-‐time Distance Doctor of Pharmacy Program (University of Toronto) where she is the Course Coordinator and facilitator for the Advanced Pharmacology Neuropsychiatry Course (PHM615).

Melanie’s primary focus is helping patients get the most benefit out of their medications.

Marie Knutson

Marie Knutson has lived in Eston, Saskatchewan for the past 35 years with her husband Steve, where they raised their five children Marie currently works part time in the lab and x-‐ray department at the Health Centre. Marie volunteers with several different projects and keeps active and busy with her three young grandchildren.

Fifteen years ago, Marie’s son Christopher died, as a result of having Schizophrenia. At that time, Marie had not heard of the SSS (Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan). Marie and her family had a difficult and lonely journey. Marie joined the SSS board in 1998. She also represented Saskatchewan for two years at the national level on the SSC (Schizophrenia Society of Canada) board. Marie currently sits on the SSCF (Schizophrenia Society of Canada Research Foundation) and has been on the SSCF for the last three years.

Marie believes that communication and coming together to raise awareness and helping individuals living with Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses is imperative. Marie’s heart is in rural Saskatchewan and she believes we need a voice in all corners of our province because everyone deserves to have proper information, education and support when they or a family member are ill.


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Vonni Widdis

President of Nextep Consulting, Saskatchewan’s Digital Storytelling Firm

Publisher of The Nextep on-‐line magazine

Formerly MA for the Minister of Health for Saskatchewan

Constituency Assistant for Don McMorris, MLA Indian Head-‐ Milestone for eight years

Served on the Board of Directors for the Scottish Society of Regina for 18 years

Four years in the role of President and eight years as Events Chair

Served on the Board of Directors for the North Central Family Centre for five years, two as President.

Served on the Board of Directors for the Indian Head – Milestone constituency association for 10 years

Served on the Board of Directors as President for prairie provinces for AFS, Interculture Canada for two years

President of Framemaster’s Gallery for four years.

Sharon Staseson

Sharon Staseson, RN, BN MSN is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mental Health Nursing having completed her graduate studies in Leadership at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. She has presented her research across the country and writes regularly for a number of magazines. She was producer and host of Alive and Well from 2003–2011, a weekly television program on Access 7 cable with a focus on community health issues.

Sharon is a Faculty member and Adjunct Professor of the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science Nursing program in partnership with the University of Regina. Sharon teaches Counseling and Mental Health Nursing and is a clinical instructor for year 2/3 students on the Inpatient Mental Health Unit at The Regina General Hospital. She also works as a “casual RN” on the Unit stating “this is really where my passion lies.”

As a former board member of the SSS from 2005-‐2008, Sharon recognizes that while we have done much to “come out of the shadows” we still have far to go in erasing the stigma of mental illness. Her “battle cry” is “money for resources, resources, resources”!


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2011-2012 annual sss report with financials attached › ... › 11 ›...

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