The Eastern Ontario Intensive Services Network
In 1999, when the Ministry of Community and Social Services (as it was called at the time) first allocated funding to Children's Mental Health agencies to provide Intensive Services, a Steering Committee was struck to oversee the provision of these services. This Committee consisted of lead members of the agencies who met to review models of operation, production of stats, monitoring of service and outcomes, exchange of ideas on training etc.
From this steering committee, a front line network evolved with meetings dedicated to information on cases and work in the clinical service area dedicated to children aged 6 through adolescence. Meetings took place a couple of times a year and were a good collaborative networking tool for workers. It provided a forum for peer support, as well as a training and professional development forum for smaller agencies.
In 2005, the Steering Committee disbanded, yet the Intensive Services network continued at the initiative of the front line workers. Intensive Services was expanded to include the 0-6 age group, and these Early Years Programs were added to the I.S. Network. There has been a core group of participants who have reviewed the planning and structure of the meetings to determine how to best maximize the benefit of these Network meetings. For more information on Network Meetings click on that tab above.
The Eastern Ontario networking group is called The Intensive Services (I.S.) Network and consists of all the Children's mental health agencies providing home-based services in Eastern Ontario, of which there are 7. The current networking group in South Western Ontario is called Home Based Family Service Network and has over 100 members representing over 30 agencies.
The Provincial Home Based Family Services Network is an amalgamation of the two networks. For more information on the Home Based Family Service Network click on their tab above.
The intent of the network is to share knowledge and resources as services develop and to examine best practice approaches to achieve better outcomes.
