2015-2016 COMMUNITY REPORT Macdonald Youth Services (MYS) Is a United Way Member Organization That Receives Private Donations and Public CONTENTS Funding
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MACDONALD YOUTH SERVICES 2015-2016 COMMUNITY REPORT Macdonald Youth Services (MYS) is a United Way member organization that receives private donations and public CONTENTS funding. MYS employs over 700 casual, full- and part-time staff and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. This Message from the President community report covers agency activities and financials from 4 April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Message from the CEO 6 ON THE COVER Agency Overview 7 The cover features the winner of our 2016 art and photography contest. This artist, who is ten years old, created a hand drawn Placement Services 9 zentangle, which is an image created by drawing structured patterns. Second and third place winners are also featured Community Services 12 in the report. Our sincerest congratulations to these talented young artists and photographers. We are proud to feature Clinical Services 18 their work. (To ensure privacy, we cannot print names.) Indigenous Cultural Services 25 MYS by the Numbers 26 A Year to Remember 28 Sponsorship and Donors 34 Grants 35 Financial Report 36 Board of Directors 38 2 | Macdonald Youth Services MISSION STATEMENT MYS fosters hope and opportunities to empower children, youth and families throughout Manitoba to grow and heal through safe, caring, respectful and collaborative relationships. ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS APH Alternative Parent Home Service ARCH Adolescent Resources in Community Homes BTT Brief Therapy Team CSU Crisis Stabilization Units ICS Indigenous Cultural Services ILS Independent Living with Supports MCT Mobile Crisis Teams MYS Macdonald Youth Services OCN Opaskwayak Cree Nation PAY Positive Alternatives for Youth SIP Specialized Individual Placement Service TMC Therapeutic Model of Care YCSS Youth Crisis Stabilization System YRC Youth Resource Centre/Shelter art and photography contest submission 2015–2016 Community Report | 3 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Senator Murray Sinclair, author of the to improve collaboration and efficiency—better focusing our financial Truth and Reconciliation Report, said in a resources and time on our clients. recent speech that a successful person can In 2017, we plan to be fully operational in the new facility. Making confidently answer three questions: Where did this happen will require strong support from the community who, I come from? Who am I? Where am I going? we believe, understand and deeply value what we do. Macdonald Youth Services helps the young Our new facility is important but the heart and soul of MYS is people: people we serve to answer those life-defining the youth and families we serve and our employees. We work hard to questions. Our amazing staff provide crisis counselling, a homeless attract and retain the very best employees. We will continue to make shelter, group homes, family support and educational programs the case to governments that people serving traumatized youth in this to nourish potential for youth and their families. province deserve better remuneration. We can attract great people. Our We are proud to say that MYS is a leading organization in Manitoba challenge is to retain and develop them when the funding formulas we making a difference in one of our province’s biggest opportunities: operate under do not offer equitable compensation for the work they do. helping young people who experience trauma get their feet on the Finally, I want to recognize our dedicated board members who bring ground and grow into mature, capable adults. their passion and diverse skills to the table. It is a privilege to serve with Over the past year, the MYS board of directors guided the successful them. I also wish to sincerely thank the many caring members of our execution of our strategy developed in 2014–2015 with input from community who help us: individual donors, all levels of government, the MYS employees, community organizations and the youth and families United Way, businesses, schools, hospitals and our sister organizations. we serve. Continued implementation of our Therapeutic Model of Every day this community makes a huge difference nourishing hope Care is core to our mission. Each young person in our care has an and opportunity. individualized plan that provides culturally appropriate support The challenges are great but our opportunity is compelling. We look and activities to help them heal and thrive. to the future with optimism. One of our biggest undertakings this past year has been the beginning of construction of our new therapeutic and administrative centre on Mayfair Avenue. This new space will help us deliver excellent therapeutic services while bringing all of our Winnipeg people together Ian Gillies President, MYS Board of Directors 4 | Macdonald Youth Services NEW THERAPEUTIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE This state-of-the-art, 33,000-square-foot facility will replace three older buildings and centralize staff currently in six locations throughout Winnipeg. One-third of the space will be devoted to therapeutic programs such as art, music and cultural activities, as well as individual and family counselling. The centre is scheduled for completion in 2017. 2015–2016 Community Report | 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO Macdonald Youth Services continued to children’s educational achievement and ability to maintain grow and adjust as we listened to our age-appropriate grade levels. communities’ hopes and needs. Our I am pleased to report that, as of March 2015, approximately 90% Therapeutic Model of Care (TMC) was of school-aged children and youth in MYS care were attending implemented more broadly throughout school, with 84% of these students in age-appropriate grades. MYS. This is helping to develop greater This is a significant achievement that requires collaboration among psychological safety for everyone as we social workers, youth care practitioners, foster parents, and schools, offer opportunities for healing and growth. MYS’ emphasis on not to mention the cooperation of the children and youth in our care. safety—psychological and physical—has resulted in a culture shift. Management established the position of a safety champion. Taken As noted in the president’s message, MYS spent much of the past together—TMC, a culture shift and a designated champion—MYS year evaluating the feasibility of a new facility. When architectural, is moving toward a safer, healthier and happier workplace! financial and city entitlement plans came together, implementation occurred very quickly. With little notice, employees and clients had to Homelessness remained in the spotlight in Manitoba over the past move to new locations so the project could begin. I appreciated the year. MYS participated in Winnipeg’s first street count of homeless cooperation and team spirit that was demonstrated by everyone! individuals. The need to prevent youth from becoming homeless was the first recommendation and we could not agree more. I would like to thank all MYS employees, foster parents and volunteers. It is your passion, dedication and skill that makes MYS The number of youth served in MYS Transition Services, to provide such a tremendous resource to communities throughout Manitoba. youth with job and life skills as well as a supportive and healthy network of family and friends, continued to grow in Winnipeg and Thompson. MYS is currently evaluating the potential to offer a transition program in The Pas. Dr. Erma Chapman A report on the educational outcomes of youth who had been in care Chief Executive Officer affirmed what those of us who work in the system already knew: the indicator of “time spent in CFS care” showed devastating effects on 6 | Macdonald Youth Services AGENCY OVERVIEW Macdonald Youth Services provides placement programming and community services. PLACEMENT SERVICES • Adolescent Resources in Community Homes (including Work Force Venture) • Alternative Parent Home Service • Kisewatisiwin Service • Specialized Individual Placement Service TOTAL NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED 455 TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS IN CARE 101,258 COMMUNITY SERVICES • Youth Crisis Stabilization System • Coach Program (I and II) • Youth Resource Centre/Shelter • Transition Services - Positive Alternatives for Youth - Life Train Program (including Asset Building Program) - Independent Living with Supports TOTAL NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED 9,024 AGENCY OVERVIEW TOTAL NUMBER OF CLIENTS SERVED 9,479* STAFF CASUAL 455 PERMANENT STAFF (part and full time) 309 TOTAL 764 third place - art and photography contest * Total clients served in the 2014–2015 report were underreported at 8,242 instead of 9,870. This discrepancy was the result of a database error. 2015–2016 Community Report | 7 art and photography contest submission 8 | Macdonald Youth Services PLACEMENT SERVICES Placement Services has embraced the MYS Therapeutic Model of Care. Our goal is to meet the individual needs of each child, youth and adult by creating a safe environment that provides support and understanding so each individual can grow, heal and reach their full potential. MYS supported children, youth, adults and families through the Alternative Parent Home Service, Kisewatisiwin, Adolescent Resources in Community Homes and the Specialized Individual Placement Service. KISEWATISIWIN SERVICE (Thompson and The Pas / Opaskwayak Cree Nation) Kisewatisiwin provides individualized therapeutic services to children, youth, adults and families in the communities of Thompson, The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN). Kisewatisiwin is committed to providing services that encourage clients to remain connected to their northern heritage while