More than 400 professionals from across the human services and justice sector came together this week for the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee’s 2019 conference to share best practices, build cross-sector networks and develop new solutions for the people they serve.
Over three days (Nov. 4-6), conference participants heard four keynote addresses and two keynote panels and engaged in 35 breakout sessions that included case studies, projects and research covering the spectrum of topics and issues facing the justice and human services sector.
Ontario’s Solicitor General Sylvia Jones opened the conference with remarks that coincided with an announcement from her ministry of a new Corporate Health Care and Wellness Branch. Jones said this new branch will provide strategic oversight and health care knowledge expertise within correctional services, and to centralize all health-related roles and responsibilities for adult correctional facilities.
Keynote speakers included workplace mental health innovator Stéphane Grenier, Aboriginal Legal Services program director Jonathan Rudin, documentary filmmaker Phil Borges and former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant. Additionally, two keynote panels during the conference included a discussion with Ontario Deputy Premiers and a conversation on the importance of collecting race-based data across health care and justice systems.
In addition to those in attendance, the conference garnered significant interest on social media. Over the two and a half days, the Provincial HSJCC reached more than 91,000 social media accounts with more than 200,000 impressions.
The Provincial HSJCC Secretariat is housed at Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. To learn more, visit hsjcc.on.ca.