Empowering clients and families

CAMH Annual Report

The Client and Family Reference Group for the Queen Street site redevelopment has worked with staff and the redevelopment architects for over two years to ensure the plans reflect clients and families’ needs.

Family members take part in an education and counselling session run by CAMH's Family Addiction Service.

Growing evidence suggests that collaborating with families significantly improves client outcomes, hastens recovery and results in greater satisfaction with health care for clients, families and treatment professionals.

Clients and families are now involved in every major initiative at CAMH and provide input on clinical programs. For over five years, CAMH has funded the Empowerment Project, which includes the Empowerment (Client) Council and the Family Council. These councils, which are both separately incorporated and staffed independently from CAMH, play an important role advocating on behalf of clients and families, representing clients and families on committees, and providing information and support.

This year, the CAMH Board of Trustees adopted the Bill of Client Rights, which had been jointly developed with the Empowerment Council. The bill has been recognized as a model document for client rights, protection and respect. In October 2005, the council received an award from the Ontario Association of Patient Councils in recognition of its pioneering work on the bill.

Like client empowerment, family empowerment is high on CAMH’s agenda. A new Family-Centred Care initiative is a priority for the organization. This joint project of the Family Council and CAMH is designed to involve families in client care, enhance professional services available to families and help families support each other.

“Family support is a vital ingredient in the treatment, long-term care and day-to-day living of clients with addictions and mental illnesses,” says CAMH President and ceo Dr. Paul Garfinkel.

Family members help caregivers tailor services to fit clients’ needs and preferences, including services appropriate for the family’s culture and traditions.

A steering committee of family members and staff is leading the initiative to promote family-centred care. It has developed resources, including a tool kit, family survey and best practices document, to help CAMH programs embed family-centred care in daily operations.

The beneficial effect of family empowerment has been experienced by CAMH’s Family Addiction Service, which has run education and counselling sessions for family members for many years. In 2005, close to 500 people enrolled in courses, including a two-hour substance use information workshop and an eight-week group program on ways to support recovery of family members with substance use problems while caring for yourself, as well as couple and family counselling.

Program Supervisor Joanne Shenfeld says, “Clients are encouraged to stick with their program and generally have better outcomes when families are involved.”

Clients, relatives and staff enthusiastically embrace family-centred care.

In 2005, 52 teams within CAMH's nine clinical programs developed family-centred care action plans. These included a Family Initiative working group in the Addictions Program and the Schizophrenia First Episode Clinic's Family Guide. Family members are meeting with front-line staff in all clinical programs to share their experiences and discuss ways to work more collaboratively.

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