CAMH Strategic Plan 2003 - 2006: Implementation

In order to be successful in pursuing our vision and achieving the goals set out in this plan, CAMH has instituted an implementation, evaluation and monitoring process for this three-year strategic plan. As part of the plan, strategic initiatives have been identified. They are:

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Centre
The PET Centre involves the production and the distribution of the PET imaging agent Fluorodeoyglucose (FDG) to other health facilities in the Toronto area. CAMH has the only cyclotron in the Greater Toronto Area. This service will support and expand the existing radiochemistry infrastructure at CAMH. The Pet Centre is planning on acquiring a whole-body PET scanner to expand its research capabilities.

Centre of Excellence for Problem Gambling
Currently, CAMH operates the Problem Gambling Service, the Problem Gambling Project and produces the publication eGambling: the Electronic Journal of Gambling Issues, the first publication of its kind. The Centre of Excellence for Problem Gambling will consolidate and expand the current resources at CAMH so those affected by gambling problems are better served, through more treatment services including those that reach out to people affected by gambling problems in new ways, such as telephone counseling and online services. This single integrated unit will allow the organization to play a national and international role in scientific research, knowledge generation and dissemination, and evidence-based practices in the area of problem gambling.

Public Policy Development
Over the coming years infrastructure will be enhanced to support CAMH's goal of becoming a leading voice in public policy and advocacy. Early priorities include creating new positions and hiring staff so that new public policy priorities can be initiated and to provide greater support to CAMH staff participating in public policy work. An ad hoc mental health policy group will be convened to begin to build a mental health policy agenda for CAMH. In addition, basic monitoring, coordinating and planning infrastructure will be put in place. Linkages between CAMH and other stakeholders will be enhanced so that CAMH can bring both a leadership and collaborating voice to key public policy and advocacy initiatives.

Employer of Choice
The Human Resources and Organizational Development Department is in the process of creating a Human Resources Plan that will ensure that the Employer of Choice mandate is consistently and efficiently applied. Committees that will feed information, activities and indicators to be used as benchmarks for success into the overall plan have been created in the areas of Wellness, Recruitment and Retention, Education and Communication. A Wellness committee that consists of employees from across CAMH has been formed to work on strategies that address issues around Workplace Health. And an Employee Relations coordinator has been appointed with the overall responsibility of ensuring that all Rewards and Recognition activities are communicated and accessible to all staff.

Client Employment Initiative
Through the client employment initiative CAMH will maximize employment and training opportunities for people with addiction and mental health issues both within CAMH and in the community. Efforts will be focused on ensuring access to a continuum of client-centred services, recruiting and hiring people who have experienced substance use and mental health issues, developing and sharing research, implementing advocacy strategies that address the barriers to employment and providing support to community economic development initiatives. To accomplish these goals a centre wide infrastructure will be put in place that will provide leadership related to client employment issues, Human Resources outreach capacity and the enhancement of internal support capacity.

Housing and Community Development
The Community Support and Research Unit (CSRU) provides housing and community support services to CAMH programs. In the past, these services did not include the Addictions Program. Under the 2003/06 Strategic Plan, the Addictions Program will now be included and a process is currently underway to finalize a deployment strategy. Areas of focus will include housing support, assessing community needs, program development and planning support.

Early Intervention
Identifying and treating mental health problems in a timely fashion is an emerging area of interest in mental health practice. CAMH provides leadership for early intervention in psychosis and now plans to extend this to other diagnoses. A range of conditions can be treated more effectively and in a shorter period of time if they are diagnosed quickly. CAMH will employ unique strategies in a variety of program areas to continue to build our leadership in this area.

CAMH Aboriginal Services
In response to the unique service needs of Aboriginal people living in Canada, CAMH has established its Aboriginal Services Unit. Working in partnership with the Aboriginal community, CAMH Aboriginal Services provides appropriate services using a holistic approach that is based on Aboriginal values, beliefs and traditions that promote self-determination in service design and delivery. CAMH Aboriginal Health Services is committed to creating accessible addiction and mental health treatment services, education, research and capacity building efforts for aboriginal people.

• Print