CAMH’s Mission, Vision, Values, Goals and New Directions

CAMH Strategic Plan 2006-2009

Our Mission

Improving the lives of those affected by addiction and mental health problems and promoting the health of people in Ontario and beyond.

Our Vision

Strong and healthy communities, in which people with addiction and mental health problems can access appropriate and effective services and live as full participants.

We put the client at the centre of what we do. We focus on individual client needs and strengths, showing mutual respect, encouraging client participation and empowerment, developing cultural and clinical competencies, and promoting clients’ rights.

2. Continuous learning

We foster creativity, discovery, learning and the sharing of ideas. We believe in ongoing learning, scholarship and self-scrutiny at all levels in the organization, and sharing the results of our learning with others.

3. Diversity

We respect each person as unique and demonstrate this through inclusive practices, information sharing and access to services. We believe in the principles of equity and access and will respect the diversity of communities we serve by having inclusive practices and policies for our governance, service, and employment.

4. Evaluation and accountability

We will improve, monitor and evaluate our services, and we will be accountable to our stakeholders. We will conduct ourselves in a responsible, transparent and ethical manner and uphold high standards of care and practice. We recognize our responsibility to use our resources efficiently and effectively. We will engage our stakeholders and build relationships based on respect and shared values and interests.

5. Holistic view of health

We believe in understanding and helping the whole person in ways that are holistic and focused on recovery. We believe that health is a complete state of physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being, and are committed to a multi-dimensional view of health and illness. Our approach to service weaves evidence-based practice with wellness and a focus on the broad determinants of health.

6. Partnership

We will build respectful, collaborative and effective partnerships. We are but one participant within the health system and our collective work is strengthened through partnerships characterized by mutual respect, teamwork and open communication.

Our Goals

1. Improve Care and Enhance Health

CAMH will improve client-centred quality care, enhance health and client safety, and improve access to programs and services.

2. Discover, Share and Apply New Knowledge

CAMH will build a culture of integrated and collaborative approaches to discovering, sharing and applying new knowledge.

3. Influence Public Policy and Promote Positive System Change

CAMH will be a leading and collaborative voice in influencing responsive public policy and broad system improvement.

4. Be the Best Place to Work and Learn

CAMH will become the best place to work and learn – attracting, supporting and retaining the best team of staff, physicians, volunteers and students.

5. Ensure Long Term Sustainability and Development

CAMH will ensure the long-term sustainability and development of programs and services by effectively using resources and diversifying our funding sources.

6. Provide Effective Information Management Systems and Technology

CAMH will develop integrated information management systems and technology to support leadership in clinical care, research, health promotion and education.

7. Develop Innovative Facilities

CAMH will transform the Queen Street site into a central hub - an innovative care, health promotion, research and education village linked to the community and satellite locations across the province.

Our New Directions

1. Build an Integrated System

CAMH will work with partners and other providers to build an integrated continuum of services and supports for people with addictions and mental illness.

We will work with community service providers and other hospitals to build a continuum of care that responds to the needs of clients, is evidence-based and creates and incorporates best practice, supports integration and establishes service linkages.

2. Provide Specialized Clinical Services

CAMH will provide specialized clinical services in mental health and addictions, and will differentiate its clinical services from other providers.

As the health system transforms, we will focus on those clinical services that a specialized health care provider can best provide. We will work with our community and health system partners to ensure that changes to the continuum of services are implemented in a transparent and incremental manner, and that system capacity exists before services are changed.

3. Expand Support for Best Clinical Practice, Professional Education and Professional Development

CAMH will expand its scope in supporting best clinical practice, professional education and professional development.

We will widen our clinical role beyond the Toronto area, by extending our professional education efforts to a broader range of health professionals, providing clinical consultations, and developing, evaluating and disseminating evidence-based models of care. With other sector partners, we will enhance the development and dissemination of evidence-based resources to support health promotion and prevention.

4. Maximize the Reach and Impact of Research

CAMH will extend the reach and impact of its research and will increase the application of research to clinical practice, professional and public education, health promotion and public policy.

We will demonstrate how our research applies to clinical practice, and communicate how new knowledge from research can be applied to healthy public policy, professional and public education, and development of healthy communities.

5. Foster a Healthy Workplace

CAMH will foster a healthy workplace for people to excel in a culture that embraces diversity and encourages teamwork, quality improvement, safety, and respect.

We aspire to be a model employer during this period of transition that includes regionalization of the health system and the redevelopment of our Queen Street site– recognizing that CAMH’s valued staff will face significant change and new challenges.