A Newsletter Concerning the Amalgamation of Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Children’s Aid Societies August 2011 Issue #2 Amalgamation Update AMALGAMATION NEWS At the end of March, the Children’s Aid Societies of Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Counties submitted their Amalgamation Plan to the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare in Ontario. The Commission was extremely complimentary about the document and in a letter received from Barry Lewis, the lead Commissioner for the analysis of the Plan, the agencies were told that the document was “both thorough and thoughtful in relation to planning for a new organization and establishing the processes required to achieve it.” The Commission was especially impressed by the client focus reflected in the Plan and the emphasis that was placed on services to clients across the entire region that would be served by the new agency. The Plan was forwarded by the Commission to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services on April 21st. While the Ministry continues to review the Plan, work on the proposed amalgamation is proceeding within the three Societies. A Management Steering Committee consisting of the three Executive Directors meets regularly to guide the work during the transition period. Regular meetings of the Joint Management Leadership Group, comprised of representatives of Finance/Information Technology, Human Resources, Services and Communications areas, as well as the Joint Board Steering Committee, which includes members from the Board of Directors of all three Societies, have been taking place over the past several months. The Executive Directors and management staff continue to meet with Ministry representatives to discuss our Plan. In early July, we were advised that a first installment of up to $150,000 in transition funding would be provided to the Societies in order to cover initial costs associated with activities to support the achievement of amalgamation. A pre-amalgamation agreement was signed by all three Societies in July. This document will guide the amalgamation process up until the time that an actual Amalgamation Agreement is signed by all three parties. It will also guide the work of the Transition Board. This Board, which includes representatives from the Boards of Directors of all three Societies, took over from the Joint Board Steering Committee as of July 13th. It has been agreed that the headquarters for the new corporation will be 363 Dundas St. in Belleville. Incorporation papers for the new Society will be filed this summer through legal counsel selected to support this process. The Transition Board will guide the amalgamation process until such time as the new Board of Directors is chosen for the amalgamated agency. The Board includes the following members from each of the current Boards of the Societies: Children’s Aid Society of Northumberland Marilyn Curson, Jacqueline Juranics, Karyn Kennedy, Rosaleen Cutler (ED) Children’s Aid Society of the County of Prince Edward Al Law, Elaine Phillip, Steven Ward, Bill Sweet (ED) Hastings Children’s Aid Society Anya-Deane Best, Darcey French, Peter Knudsen, Len Kennedy (ED) A New Name and Look for an Emerging Society Over the last few months a small group of representatives from each of the Societies and the Quinte Children's Foundation have met to review and choose a marketing firm to assist in the development of a visual identity for the new amalgamated Society. We are pleased to announce that as a result of a vigorous review and evaluation, Floating-Point has been awarded the contract to assist in the creation of a new name and logo for the emerging Society. Floating-Point is a Belleville-based creative agency with 15 years experience in assisting many clients in the non-profit sector with brand identity, website design and supporting marketing materials. Floating-Point will be working in a collaborative manner with each of the Societies and their representatives in order to create a new identity that represents all parties involved in the amalgamation process. Transition Board Membership
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A Newsletter Concerning the Amalgamation of Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Children’s Aid SocietiesAugust 2011 Issue #2
Amalgamation Update
AMALGAMATION NEWS
At the end of March, the Children’s Aid Societies of Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Counties submitted their Amalgamation Plan to the Commission to Promote Sustainable Child Welfare in Ontario. The Commission was extremely complimentary about the document and in a letter received from Barry Lewis, the lead Commissioner for the analysis of the Plan, the agencies were told that the document was “both thorough and thoughtful in relation to planning for a new organization and establishing the processes required to achieve it.” The Commission was especially impressed by the client focus reflected in the Plan and the emphasis that was placed on services to clients across the entire region that would be served by the new agency.
The Plan was forwarded by the Commission to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services on April 21st. While the Ministry continues to review the Plan, work on the proposed amalgamation is proceeding within the three Societies. A Management Steering Committee consisting of the three Executive Directors meets regularly to guide the work during the transition period. Regular meetings of the Joint Management Leadership Group, comprised of representatives of Finance/Information Technology, Human Resources, Services and Communications areas, as well as the Joint Board Steering Committee, which includes members from the Board of Directors of all three Societies, have been taking place over the past several months.
The Executive Directors and management staff continue to meet with Ministry representatives to discuss our Plan. In early July, we were advised that a first installment of up to $150,000 in transition funding would be provided to the Societies in order to cover initial costs associated with activities to support the achievement of amalgamation.
A pre-amalgamation agreement was signed by all three Societies in July. This document will guide the amalgamation process up until the time that an actual Amalgamation Agreement is signed by all three parties. It will also guide the work of the Transition Board. This Board, which includes representatives from the Boards of Directors of all three Societies, took over from the Joint Board Steering Committee as of July 13th.
It has been agreed that the headquarters for the new corporation will be 363 Dundas St. in Belleville. Incorporation papers for the new Society will be filed this summer through legal counsel selected to support this process.
The Transition Board will guide the amalgamation process until such time as the new Board of Directors is chosen for the amalgamated agency. The Board includes the following members from each of the current Boards of the Societies:
Children’s Aid Society of NorthumberlandMarilyn Curson, Jacqueline Juranics,
Karyn Kennedy, Rosaleen Cutler (ED)
Children’s Aid Society ofthe County of Prince Edward
Al Law, Elaine Phillip,Steven Ward, Bill Sweet (ED)
Hastings Children’s Aid SocietyAnya-Deane Best, Darcey French,Peter Knudsen, Len Kennedy (ED)
A New Name and Look for an
Emerging SocietyOver the last few months a small group of representatives from each of the Societies and the Quinte Children's Foundation have met to review and choose a marketing firm to assist in the development of a visual identity for the new amalgamated Society. We are pleased to announce that as a result of a vigorous review and evaluation, Floating-Point has been awarded the contract to assist in the creation of a new name and logo for the emerging Society.
Floating-Point is a Belleville-based creative agency with 15 years experience in assisting many clients in the non-profit sector with brand identity, website design and supporting marketing materials. Floating-Point will be working in a collaborative manner with each of the Societies and their representatives in order to create a new identity that represents all parties involved in the amalgamation process.
Transition Board
Membership
The Work ProcessRob Crawford and Karen Beitel from KTA and Associates are providing Project Management services to the three Societies. This is an interim step to support our work until a candidate for the position of Project Manager has been chosen.
This diagram describes the responsibilities of the various committees and project teams and the flow of information with regard to the amalgamation planning process.
In each Newsletter we will turn the spotlight on one agency or branch location in order to provide you with insight into the organization and the work they do. In this issue, we are highlighting the Children’s Aid Society of Northumberland.
CASN has been serving Northumberland County since 1895. Northumberland County has a population of over 81,000 people within the following communities: Alderville First Nation; Township of Alnwick/Haldimand; Municipality of Brighton; Township of Cramahe; Township of Hamilton; Municipality of Port Hope; Municipality of Trent Hills and The Town of Cobourg. Our nearly 100 staff provide a range of services within our child welfare mandate: Child Protection services to children living with their biological families or with relatives in our community; Prevention Services such as pregnancy counseling, group counseling in local secondary schools, WrapAround intervention to provide intense support to families and Parent Education for caregivers who request assistance; Resources for children in care, such as Foster Care, Customary Care, Treatment Foster Care, Volunteer drives, Managed Access, preparation for independence and Adoption services. CASN participates in planning with the Northumberland Children’s Services Committee and the Developmental Services Network of Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District and has created many service partnerships with our community partners such as Northumberland Services for Women, Northumberland United Way, the Kawartha Pine Ridge and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington District School Boards and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit. We work collaboratively with our community partners as well as with our neighbouring Children’s Aid Societies in sharing Regional Adoption and Treatment Foster Care services. In 2010-2011 CASN served 1,191 families. There were 116 children provided with in care services through 60 foster and kinship care homes.
Agency/Branch Spotlight
Interim Joint Management Committee
JointManagementLeadership
Group
Project Manager
• Approves project team resource allocation, e.g. engaging subject matter experts, business process analysis
• Receives recommendations from JMLG that support achievement of project team targets
• Ensures all projects and associated activities are aligned with the Amalgamation Plan
• Provides approval, or recommendations for changes to recommendations
• Identifies need for approval ofTransition Board and ensuresopportunity to achieve approval
Project Manager reports to IJMC and is primarily responsible for: • Monitoring progress and
achievements of project teams • Recommending staging and
sequencing of project teams • Recommending allocation of
resources required by project teams to achieve targets, e.g. spending, procurement of subject matter experts, business process analysis etc.
• Identifying project issues and recommending solutions
• Recommending approval of work arising from project teams
• Communicating and recognizing achievement of targets
• Receives project proposals for discussion & recommendation for approval
• Recommends project staging plans and deliverables, ensuring coordination of all inter-dependent projects
• Ensures appropriate inclusion of stakeholders • Addresses issues / barriers identified by project teams • Approves project life-cycle communication plan
Project Teams • Organizes integration activities into projects • Team leadership will vary; not all team leaders will be
members of JMLG • Individual members provide leadership to projects ensuring
alignment with Amalgamation Plan • Engages stakeholders as appropriate • Identifies issues / barriers to achieving project outcomes
Finance & IT
Human Resources
Communications Management
Services
Proposed Integration Project Management Structure
We are looking for your suggestions for a new name for the amalgamated Society. Send your ideas to [email protected]. You may become part of history!
You Can Help!
Services Project Teams, which include staff and union representatives from each of the three Societies as well as representatives from the various Foster Parent Associations, have been formed. These groups will detail plans and complete tasks to successfully implement the new service model developed as part of the Amalgamation Plan. The teams will be working on the following project areas:
