Connect ions Leading the way in compassion and discovery.

January 2015 Vol. 13 Issue 1

Southeastern Ontario’s leading provider of

AGING, MENTAL HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE CARE

Our ValuesRespect. Dignity. Compassion. Stewardship.

Our MissionTrusting in Providence and strengthened by the spirit and tradition of our Founders, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, we enhance the quality of life by meeting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each person.

We work with our partners to innovate and excel in education and research.

We treat each person with respect, dignity and compassion.

What’s Inside Providence Care runs record breaking staff United Way campaign

Providing information for patients and families on spinal cord injuries

VOCEC honours friends and community partners while celebrating 21 years in business

Community forum addresses topic of depression and anxiety

Providence Care and UHKF thank you for your donations

www.providencecare.ca

info@providencecare.ca

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www.youtube.com/ProvidenceCareCA

www.facebook.com/ProvidenceCareCA

ca.linkedin.com/company/providence-care

Providence Care Board of Directors and Senior Leadership participate in Missioning Service

Our Providence Care Board and Senior Leadership Team have a unique role in Living the Legacy established by the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. The Missioning Service held in December is an important annual event where the members of the Board and Senior Leadership affirm their commitment to the Mission and Values of Providence Care.

Our Founders, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul came to Kingston in 1861, from Montreal, to establish a community to serve the elderly, the poor, and orphaned children at the House of Providence (now Providence Manor).

Providence Care Connections January 2015 Vol. 13 Issue 1

Providence Care runs record breaking Staff United Way Campaign In 2014, Providence Care officially broke a 14 year record for our Staff United Way Campaign, raising more money than ever. We were also the highest health care contributor in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington. We have been supporting the United Way since 2001 and we do this through payroll deductions and special fundraising events and activities.

The work of the United Way directly aligns with the Mission and Values of Providence Care. They fund programs and agencies in the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington area and last year they helped over 74,000 people, right here in our community.

Our Staff United Way Campaign blitz ran throughout the month of October.

Last November, Andrea Andrecyk, Peer Support Coordinator from Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCI ON) hosted the monthly Peer Connections dinner in the cafeteria at Providence Care St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital. There was a great turnout of new patients, old friends and SCI Ontario volunteers. A delicious meal was provided from Greek Town and some decadent desserts and coffee were offered to everyone as well.

The topic for the evening was Bowel and Bladder care. The presenter was Tracy Chiswell from Coloplast. She informed the audience of all of the latest and greatest bowel and bladder management products on the market.

A big thank you goes out to all of the volunteers that provided their time for the evening, the maintenance staff, the

dietary staff (FANS leaders) and Dr. Susan Askaris for all of their help with a very successful evening. There will be another dinner in mid December.

Every month SCI Ontario hosts a FREE dinner for anyone with an spinal cord injury to attend. It is a great networking opportunity and an excellent way to meet new people with spinal cord injuries.

Details on dates and locations for upcoming meetings and further information on SCI ON can be found on their website at:

http://www.sciontario.org

- Andrea Andrecyk Peer Support Coordinator Spinal Cord Injury Ontario

Providing information for patients and families on spinal cord injuries

SCI Dinner Education Group The Spinal Cord Injury Dinner Education Group has been in operation since March 2000. It was formed after a need was identified for a therapeutic group process that would meet psychosocial, spiritual and recreational client centered needs outside of the regular hospital routine.

The group event has evolved and become a highly anticipated community of care function.

Patients, family members and friends are invited monthly to participate. Former patients and representatives of related community services have standing invitations.

A home cooked meal is provided as well as an educational component with a speaker.

Fun facts about our campaign: Over $3,000 in donations were received the first day. A 50/50 draw at our Annual Staff Golf Tournament raised $220 within one hour. 65 cakes donated to two cake raffles/auctions, raised $1,900. Staff who donated received a free chili lunch. Chili was made by Sodexo and the cost covered by OPSEU 483. Two sisters, Providence Manor staff members, made and donated homemade spring rolls and noodles. They raised $575. A back-to-school basket raised $225. Homemade cupcakes, cinnamon buns and cookies made by chef Michael Almeida raised $354. 280 candy apples, homemade by our Human Resources team with special thanks to Sodexo and the Deodatos for donating the apples, raised $500.

Providence Care started off with a goal of $50,000. Thank you to everyone’s efforts, we were able to raise a whopping $64,416!

Providence Care Connections January 2015 Vol. 13 Issue 1

VOCEC (Voices, Opportunities & Choices Employment Club) held its Annual General Meeting at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library in November. VOCEC’s business associates, board of directors, community partners and support workers came together to celebrate its achievements in 2013/14.

VOCEC succeeded in meeting both its bottom lines: creating employment and earning a modest profit that will be reinvested to create more jobs. One of VOCEC’s key deliverables, total payroll expense, rose 27% while net income rose by over $20,000. VOCEC succeeded in creating over 20 new positions making it one of its most successful years in its 21-year history.

During the meeting VOCEC honored two business associates who have made significant contributions to the corporation. One business associate explained her sincere appreciation to VOCEC in a touching speech that had nearly everyone in tears. This business associate’s part-time positions with VOCEC have changed her life as prior to them, she had been unemployed. She explained that, “It is thanks to the VOCEC initiative that I know I can. Working at VOCEC has had and continues to have a profound effect on my life. It is not just a job, but in a remarkable manner, this opportunity afforded to me by VOCEC has radiated throughout and mobilized me to be greater in many different aspects of my life.” Most important of all, her positions have provided her with a sense of belonging and self-confidence. For her, it is recovery

VOCEC honours friends and community partners while celebrating 21 years in business

through employment, not recovery THEN employment.

VOCEC’s success through the year was also made possible through contributions from its dedicated friends and community partners. In grateful appreciation for their support, the Board of Directors named Peter Lovett - from New York Air Brake and Jeff Amaral - from Metroland Media Group ‘Friends of VOCEC’. The ‘Friends of VOCEC’ award is bestowed on those who exhibit outstanding service, leadership, and contributions to VOCEC’s mission, outcomes and goals.The ‘Community Collaborator’ award was presented to the YMCA of Kingston. VOCEC honored the YMCA with a plaque for their dedication and commitment in fostering an environment of inclusion and acceptance.

Sincerest thanks to all of VOCEC’s business associates, Providence Care support staff, friends, community partners, and the Board of Directors for another successful year.

- Ben Gooch Manager Affirmative Business Operations

VOCEC (Voices, Opportunities & Choices Employment Club) is a non-profit corporation, established to create and provide employment for consumers of mental health services.

It is run by a community volunteer Board of Directors and supported by Vocational Rehab Services staff.

VOCEC businesses provide excellent services and products and their business associates experience the recovery benefits of meaningful employment.

VOCEC businesses include:

Ecoporium - features environmentally friendly products such as KD Microfiber Cloths and Essential Relaxation Bath and Body Care Products.

VOCEC Print- services range from graphic design, professional printing, finishing services and packing and shipping services.

Cafés & Catering- VOCEC operates two cafés and a canteen in Kingston:1) Bookends Café, Central Branch Kingston Frontenac Public Library, 130 Johnson Street2) Treasure Café, Providence Care Community Support Services, 525 Montreal Street3) Westwood Canteen, Providence Care Mental Health Services, 752 King Street West.

Little Green Thumb- provides gardening services with expertise in garden designs, perennial care, and pruning of ornamental shrubs.

Hands On Car Wash- offers quality hand wash and dry car care, interior cleaning, wax and polish.

www.vocec.com

Providence Care Connections January 2015 Vol. 13 Issue 1

Connections - Published by: Providence Care Communications DepartmentEmail: clarkc@providencecare.ca Tel: 613-548-5567, ext. 5995

Providence Care and UHKF thank you for your donations

“Because of you...we can give great care!”

There is a very personal and passionate connection for why many people donate to Providence Care, Kingston General Hospital and Hotel Dieu Hospital, and University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) wants to show donors how well-appreciated their gifts are. So they’ve enlisted the help of the three organizations to develop a YouTube video sharing the message about the importance of donations in support of equipment, care, research, education and infrastructure. Check it out at:

http://youtu.be/4C85zY_aUYo

Thank you to everyone for your donations!

Providence Care celebrated a first in November in the Sydenham area by holding an educational community forum on the topics of depression and anxiety. We partnered with physicians and specialists at Verona and Sydenham Medical Clinics, Frontenac Community Mental Health and Addictions Services, L&A Addictions and Community Mental Health Services and also South Frontenac Community Services to offer this presentation. Sue Ablack, a social worker with our Providence Care community outreach program explains: “This is not something new and out of the blue. It is another development that is spreading into other areas. We have been offering similar public educational activities in Sharbot Lake for over 20 years – I’m excited to see us start the same practice in Verona.” The event was held for clients served by the Rural Kingston Health Link. The benefit to this type of offering is to ensure that those who live with anxiety and depression or have family who do are aware of the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Community forum addresses topics of depression and anxiety

“We had the opportunity to introduce them to and make the community aware of the various providers who can help them across the entire spectrum of services. We at Providence Care are the specialty provider, but it doesn’t stop there,” says Yola Oczkowski, Director, Adult Outreach Psychiatry.

This kind of partnership with other providers in rural areas is also important to identify the health care needs of the local community and to plan services if there are any gaps. By providing an opportunity for educational discussion that the public is invited to, it begins to break down the barrier and stigma that mental health often holds.

“Bringing these types of events to local communities provides a forum for people

to learn as well as have their concerns and questions answered,” says Yola. Bringing specialty services such as this to rural areas ensures that individuals are not denied access to our services by virtue of geography.” Providence Care is currently providing Specialty Adult Mental Health Outreach to Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox &Addington County, Northern Frontenac County & Hastings and Prince Edward County. Our role is to provide intake and triage, assessment, time limited treatment and intervention, program development and evaluation and community development. We continue developing new collaborations with community partners to ensure that needs are identified and met in a timely manner.

“Bringing these types of events to local communities provides a forum for people to learn as well as have their concerns and

questions answered. Bringing specialty services such as this to rural areas ensures that individuals are not denied access to our services

by virtue of geography.”