The Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs (Federation), Addictions Ontario and the Ontario Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA Ontario) are joining with the Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA) to build on past experience in accrediting programs and create a CCA Community Mental Health and Addiction Services Module. This module will focus on program and service–specific standards that reflect leading practices in this sector and promote the highest quality of service. The development process will include working with leaders from across these sectors through an Advisory Group and consultation process.
They are seeking community mental health and addiction service leaders who are interested in contributing to the development of accreditation standards for their sector.
There are a couple of ways in which you can contribute:
- Module Advisory Group: The work of this Advisory Group will start in September 2012 and conclude early in 2013. The process will involve up to three full-day meetings at key points, as well as some work in between to review and comment on drafts, and work in sub-groups over e-mail, phone or video conference. It is anticipated that the first meeting of the Group would take place at the time of the Federation’s annual conference at the end of September and the next two meetings in late October and November; dates to be confirmed.
- Critical Readers: The input of critical readers in late 2012 and early 2013 will also be crucial to the development process. This task involves reading and commenting on a “close to final” draft of the standards – if preferred, participants can focus on certain parts of the standards.
If you are interested in getting involved in this initiative – in either of these roles – please contact Stephanie Gardiner, System Initiatives Planner at the Federation. She can be reached at (416) 490-8900 ext. 30 or by e-mail atprojects@ofcmhap.on.ca by August 27, 2012.