The Government of Ontario has responded to the Beer Review of theAccessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The response addresses the recommendations to harmonize accessibility standards, renew leadership, establish an Ontario Accessibility Standards Board and repeal the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA), which preceded the AODA. The government agrees with the suggestion to harmonize the standards. The […]Continue readingGovernment of Ontario responds to Charles Beer review of the AODA
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New report on jail and homelessness
“Homeless and Jailed: Jailed and Homeless,” a new report by the John Howard Society of Toronto (JHST), explores the rates of homelessness among adult men serving sentences in jails in the Greater Toronto Area. JHST interviewed 363 sentenced prisoners who had spent a minimum of five consecutive nights in custody and who were within days […]Continue readingNew report on jail and homelessness
Promising principles and practices for Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing (Australia)
A new book, Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice, offers a framework for understanding Aboriginal mental health that acknowledges the importance of cultural identity and resilience and the impacts of racism, colonization and assimilationist policies. Culturally specific clinical mental health assessment processes and treatment interventions are explored. […]Continue readingPromising principles and practices for Aboriginal mental health and wellbeing (Australia)
New report on mental disability and deportation (USA)
Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union have released a new report, Deportation by Default: Mental Disability, Unfair Hearings, and Indefinite Detention in the US Immigration System. Based on 104 interviews with non-citizens with mental disabilities, their family members, social workers, psychiatrists, immigration attorneys, judges and rights advocates, the report indicates that non-citizens with […]Continue readingNew report on mental disability and deportation (USA)
Coalition launches collection of stories about life on ODSP
A collection of personal accounts and stories from 236 people living on income from the Ontario Disability Support Program has been launched by the ODSP Action Coalition. “Telling Our Stories” is a project of the Coalition’s Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee. Stories by ODSP recipients are organized by six themes: issues related to housing, food, […]Continue readingCoalition launches collection of stories about life on ODSP
Personal Support Worker of the Year award
The Personal Support Network of Ontario is currently accepting nominations for the third annual Personal Support Worker (PSW) of the Year award. Deadline for nominations is September 3, 2010. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions PSWs make in the lives of their clients, consumers, patients and caregivers every day across the province. For further information, […]Continue readingPersonal Support Worker of the Year award
The role of health care providers in tobacco control in community mental health
A new paper explores perceptions of health care providers, professionals and paraprofessionals, in relation to the role they play in tobacco control in the community mental health system. See “In the Shadow of a New Smoke Free Policy: A Discourse Analysis of Health Care Providers’ Engagement in Tobacco Control in Community Mental Health,” International Journal of […]Continue readingThe role of health care providers in tobacco control in community mental health
Revised standards for psychology services in correctional facilities (USA)
The International Association of Correctional and Forensic Psychology has published revised standards for correctional facility administrators and clinicians in the areas of administration and operations, roles, services, staffing and professional development, ethical practice guidelines, mental health services and programs, mental health records, and research. See “Standards for Psychology Services in Jails, Prisons, Correctional Facilities and […]Continue readingRevised standards for psychology services in correctional facilities (USA)
New Long-Term Care Homes Act now in effect
Ontario’s new Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 (LTCHA) came into effect on July 1, 2010. The act states that “a long-term care home is primarily the home of its residents and is to be operated so that it is a place where they may live with dignity and in security, safety and comfort and have their physical, […]Continue readingNew Long-Term Care Homes Act now in effect
Matryoshka study reveals unmet needs and gaps in service use for clients of early intervention and court support programs
Early intervention and court support programs in Ontario are meeting client needs for treatment, including medication management, case management and psychotherapy, according to a recent report from the Matryoshka Project. However, the research team found that there continues to be a gap between the need for and use of services that would help individuals to […]Continue readingMatryoshka study reveals unmet needs and gaps in service use for clients of early intervention and court support programs