WE Winter/Spring 2015 by Venture Publishing

MAGAZINE OF UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION • WINTER/SPRING • 2015

How a cop coped after trauma p.14

PTSD This illness is no longer a four-letter word

Healthy Workplaces

Mental health is everybody’s business

On the Spot Drop-in counselling in a whole new light

How Edmonton’s first lady is working to eliminate poverty

THIS ISSUE OF WE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY EPCOR THIS ISSUE OFMAGAZINE WE MAGAZINE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY

PM#40020055

Plus:

! u o y n k T ha Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to imagine enduring our winter months without the appropriate clothing. For many people living in poverty in our community, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the cold, harsh reality. Because of your incredible generosity, nearly 9,000 adults and children in the Alberta Capital Region were able to stay warm this winter. Thank you for donating to Coats for Kids & Families, and for ensuring no one is left out in the cold.

2014 Presenting Partners

WINTER/SPRING • 2015 SPOTLIGHT Mental Health 10 BRAIN MATTERS The science of mental health is shifting towards early detection and prevention

14 BEYOND THE TRAUMA More details about PTSD are coming to light, thanks to public awareness and treatment

DEPARTMENTS

▲ ON THE COVER: Ron Campbell is facing PTSD head on PHOTO: Curtis Comeau

19 SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT

4 MESSAGE FROM UNITED WAY

An expert panel explores the links between mental illness and poverty

5 COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS Jean Cremer and Larry Derkach celebrate 25 years of being a voice for United Way

22 HEALTHY ON THE JOB How businesses can address the challenges of mental illness in the workplace

FEATURES

6 THIS WAY IN

A look at a handful of United Way’s recent community initiatives

9 TRUTH BE TOLD

18 SPONSOR PROFILE: EPCOR Employee volunteers prove first-hand how giving back can benefit the whole community

Uncovering facts about mental illness

Humanitarian, educator, parent: now Edmonton’s Sarah Chan adds fighting poverty to her resumé

40 BUSINESS WAY Next Digital puts the “fun” into its fundraising

41 LEADING EDGE The Urban Aboriginal Family Resource Centre brings a collaborative approach to helping youth

26 YOUNG INSPIRATION

30 SCORECARD 30

United Way sets clearly defined targets to measure the impact of your investment

32 TEAMING UP Local community organizations have pooled expertise, forming a three-pronged mental health plan

42 MILESTONES The Gateway Association creates the right conditions for its clients to succeed

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36 DO DROP IN 36

Five city organizations have partnered to offer on-the-spot counselling to drop-in clients

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PHOTO: NANCY CRITCHLEY

O UR WAY

WINTER/SPRING 2015 VOL 4 • No. 1 UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Nancy Critchley ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Angela Dorval, Mike Kluttig, David Odumade COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Cindy McDonald EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meredith Bongers, Amy Dixon, Jean Dalton, Sheilah Pittman, Anne Smith Amy Dixon Community Investment Specialist United Way of the Alberta Capital Region

Mental Health Affects Us All THERE IS NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH. We still live in a society that is only beginning to accept mental health as a legitimate concern to our overall health. Stigma is still a barrier for people living with mental health issues and illness. Since many adults spend most of their waking hours at work, the workplace can be a strong contributor to mental well-being. In this issue of WE, we explore the importance of positive mental health and how workers, families, employers and the community at large can work together to support positive mental health. By strengthening people’s knowledge and understanding of mental health, we can decrease stigma and increase our capacity to support one another to become and remain mentally well. At United Way, we know that decreasing barriers to community-based mental health supports for those most vulnerable in our community is key to creating pathways out of poverty. By focusing on public education, as well as a wide-range of counselling and mental health programs, we can ensure community members have access to the crucial supports they need to lead healthy, happy lives. Thank you to EPCOR for sponsoring this issue of WE; it’s through your support we can continue to share these stories.

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SPONSORSHIP AND CORPORATE SUPPORT COMMITTEE Meredith Bongers, Nancy Critchley, Kevin Fitzgerald, Myrna Khan, Mike Kluttig, Stephane Hache VENTURE PUBLISHING INC. PUBLISHER: Ruth Kelly DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT: Mifi Purvis MANAGING EDITORS: Lyndsie Bourgon, Shelley Williamson ART DIRECTOR: Charles Burke ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Andrea deBoer PRODUCTION MANAGER: Betty Feniak Smith PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS: Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover CIRCULATION: Karen Reilly CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robin Brunet, Amy Dixon, Martin Dover, Jen Janzen, Robbie Jeffrey, Jacqueline Louie, Sam Macdonald, Lisa Ostrowski, Séamus Smyth CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS: Curtis Comeau, Nancy Critchley, Kelly Redinger, Raymond Reid, Ben Rude, Amy Senecal ABOUT UNITED WAY The mission of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region is to mobilize collective action to create pathways out of poverty.

WE is published for United Way of the Alberta Capital Region by Venture Publishing Inc., 10259-105 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3 Tel: 780-990-0839 Fax: 780-425-4921 Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 circulation@venturepublishing.ca Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Interweb WE is printed on Forest Stewardship Council ® certified paper Publications Agreement #40020055 ISSN 1925-8690 Contents copyright 2015. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.

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C OMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

Speakers’ Corner United Way relies on volunteers like Jean Cremer and Larry Derkach. They’ve been spreading the word for a quarter of a century JEAN CREMER AND LARRY DERKACH

LARRY DERKACH

United Way is not only a funder,

by MARTIN DOVER

JEAN CREMER

used the 211 service or Support Network

are both shining examples of a

but an active, creative partner in

distress line. These programs build resilience

dedicated volunteer. In addition to

bringing people and resources together

against situations that could make anyone

holding down demanding jobs, each is a

effectively and efficiently. I care deeply

vulnerable to poverty.

25-year United Way volunteer, speaking

about this because not only do I happen

in the community on behalf of United

to work for a funded partner, I’m also

WE: How did you get your start?

Way to local businesses and other

a donor and I live in this community.

JC: I started with the Strathcona Shelter

organizations. “Jean travels all over the

I am convinced that a donation to

Society in the fall of 1989 and began doing

region as a volunteer speaker,” says

United Way is the most effective

presentations about my experiences helping

Tasha Mich, who coordinates speakers

charitable gift a person can make –

battered women and their children. I hardly

for United Way of the Alberta Capital

I guess I can get that message across

knew what to say, but I knew about United

Region. “She and Larry put a human

when I address leaders.

Way and what they did, so it worked out

face to our programs. They volunteer

fine. Over the years my presentations have

not just a couple of times a year, but

WE: What results do you see from

changed, but they’ve always been about our

10, even 20 times. We’re blown away by

your speaking efforts?

women and children and how much they

their commitment.” WE spoke to Larry

LD: I’m fortunate that in my job I get

need A Safe Place – that’s the name of our

and Jean about what motivates them.

to see first-hand what a difference is

organization – and how they’ve used and

achieved with investment in United

appreciated support from United Way.

WE: Why channel your efforts to

Way – the people in the workplaces

speak to corporate leaders about the

where I speak rarely have that chance.

WE: What is the best kind of crowd?

value of engaging them and United

I can deliver the message.

JC: The workplaces I have been to as a

Way as community partners?

United Way-funded programs and

volunteer are truly amazing. From the likes

LD: I’ve had a long career working for

services may have touched people’s

of Dow and Suncor, to small independent

United Way-funded partners, first at the

lives in ways that surprise them. They

businesses – it never matters if I have a

Bissell Centre, then at Jewish Family

may have used the Edmonton Healing

group of 100 or of 10. If one person learns

Services. I’ve seen what remarkable

Centre programs my agency offers

more about A Safe Place and how we

advances can be made when people

at public libraries and community

support families, and about how United

work together. The people at United

locations. They may know children

Way supports our community agencies,

Way knew that, and asked me to speak

who’ve used a YMCA or Boys & Girls

that’s all it takes to make me feel that the

to CEOs and other managers about

Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

presentation was successful.

donorship and corporate leadership.

Maybe they know someone who has

– with files from Sam Macdonald

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by UNITED WAY STAFF

LEADERS FOR CHANGE RUTH KELLY, UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN CHAIR, (right) brought the mayors from 14 cities and towns in the Alberta Capital Region together last September to help solve poverty. The participating mayors included

Beaumont, Calmar, Devon, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Leduc County, Redwater, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Thorsby and Warburg, and the deputy mayor of Stony Plain.

MENTAL ILLNESS UNMASKED OILERS GOALTENDER BEN SCRIVENS IS

WELCOME, BISSELL

sporting a mask that does more than shield fast-moving pucks; he is wearing it to showcase four artists living with schizophrenia. The player’s masks will later be auctioned off to raise money and awareness for the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. The first instalment as part of the Ben’s Netminders program, shown below, was based on the artwork of Richard Boulet. Read more about Richard’s story on page 22.

IN NOVEMBER 2014, UNITED WAY OF THE Alberta Capital Region welcomed Bissell Centre staff to their new satellite office in United Way’s building on Stony Plain Road and 152 Street. The provision of this office space is an in-kind allocation from United Way to Bissell so that they may offer crucial support and services, through Homeless to Homes (H2H) and 24/7 Mobile Assistance Program (MAP). The Stony Plain Road office will house approximately 30 Bissell employees who will address housing issues for people with multiple barriers, as well as offer numerous supports for people with complex needs.

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WARM HEARTS: Crestwood Elementary Grade 1 students were among participants in last year’s Coats for Kids & Families campaign, a United Way campaign that delivers outdoor clothing to thousands of Edmontonians in need.

SAVED BY THE BELL MR. BELL’S GRADE 1 CLASS AT CRESTWOOD

need. Coats for Kids & Families is a United Way initiative Elementary has been involved with Coats for Kids & Families for the that began in 1992 due to overwhelming requests for winter last three years. Each year the class initiates its own coat collection jackets, many of them from families with children. In 2013, within the school to encourage peers to become involved in giving 7,830 coats were collected, cleaned, sorted and distributed. back. This year students collected dozens of coats and other winter The annual 2014 Coats for Kids & Families Campaign ran items for people in need in our community. Coats that are collected from October 1 to December 14, and is expected to distribute are sent to Page the Cleaner before being distributed to people in nearly 9,000 coats this winter.

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A RIGHT WAY TO PLAY LAST FALL, HUNDREDS OF KIDS IN THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION celebrated their Right to Play, as stated in Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Students from Westmount School joined City Councillor Michael Walters, as the City of Edmonton proclaimed November 20 to be National Child Day in Edmonton.

SUPPORT ON THE LINE UNITED WAY OF THE Alberta Capital Region provided one-time emergency funding of $48,000 to the Crisis Support Centre, a program of The Support Network, to ensure the Distress Line is able to remain open 24 hours a day till the end of March 2015. This funding is in step with United Way’s efforts to support community members struggling with many problems related to poverty in the Alberta Capital Region. The Distress Line provides critical support for people experiencing crises such as mental health concerns, suicidal thoughts or coping with abusive situations. For community members in distress – or for those who know someone in distress – the Crisis Support Centre’s Distress Line will be there at 780-482-4357.

PHOTO: NANCY CRITCHLEY

FINDING A VOICE ON OCTOBER 2, 2014, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region, PLANit Sound and Hot 107 FM launched My United Way Voice, a music contest to encourage local singers, rappers and spoken word artists to lend their voices against poverty. With 35 entries to choose from, the selection committee had a very difficult and lengthy task to choose and finally agree upon just five finalists. People were encouraged to vote for their favourite artist daily. Contest voting closed on January 19. Learn more about the winner and the contest at myunitedwayvoice.ca

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TRUTH BE TOLD by MARTIN DOVER

Beneath the Stigma WE magazine uncovers the truth about mental illness and those who live with it MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN be difficult for people experiencing them and are complicated by others’ misconceptions. WE spoke to Ione Challborn, the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region (CMHA-ER), to help clear up some of the misunderstandings about mental illnesses and people living with them. Here’s what she had to say.

PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS CAN LIVE FULL AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES: In my business, we talk a lot about recovery. There was a time when people were diagnosed with mental illness or a mental health problem and they may have felt their life as they knew it was over. It was very hard on the person, but also very hard on family members because they had hopes and dreams for their own future as well as the people close to them. With timely intervention, treatment and support, people are able to start on the recovery journey. With support, they can establish new goals so that they are engaged with community in a way that is meaningful to them, which could include full-time work, part-time work, volunteerism, having a family – all of those things.

So with those extreme feelings, when something isn’t quite right, it’s best to talk with a doctor or a mental health worker and get the appropriate intervention. It could be medication, it could be counselling, it could be a combination. We see what we can do to understand mental illness, see what we can do to get the appropriate treatment for it and make modifications so patients can adjust their lives and still live out their dreams and be involved in their community. It’s just as possible with a mental health issue as it is with a physical health issue.

PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AREN’T VIOLENT: People with mental illness are actually more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. There have been some very well-known cases of violence committed by mentally ill people. Those cases reinforce fears that some people have, when really it’s an example of an illness untreated. That doesn’t mean every illness left untreated is going to result in violence. The social or economic factors that contribute to violent or criminal behaviour are the same for everyone – people with mental illness also fall into that category.

WE TEND TO THINK IN EXTREMES:

PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS DIDN’T CAUSE THEIR SITUATION:

Something is either really good or really bad, either this or that. But not every diagnosis is a life-changing diagnosis.

Mental illness is a brain disorder and a health problem. Something isn’t working, and it is the result of genetic, biological

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and environmental factors. It just happens. There are some social factors – such as ongoing poverty or homelessness – that can contribute to mental and other types of illness. Those crises and health indicators can create circumstances where it’s very difficult for people to maintain positive mental health, and that may lead to depression. People also may selfmedicate and suffer substance abuse. But other than that, it is a brain issue.

NOBODY’S FAULT Stigma or discrimination attached to mental illnesses presents a serious barrier to diagnosis and treatment and to acceptance in the community. Almost half of people who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never seen a doctor about it. The economic cost of mental illnesses in Canada on the health care system was estimated to be at least $7.9 billion in 1998 – $4.7 billion in care, and $3.2 billion in disability and early death. About 20 per cent of Canadians will experience a mental illness. Mental illnesses can be treated effectively. Source: cmha.ca

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Mental Health

BRAIN Matters

The science of mental health shifts towards early detection and prevention

by ROBBIE JEFFREY

Illustration by RAYMOND REID

BE BUCKINGHAM IS QUICK-WITTED and deftly conversational. He speaks openly about harrowing personal experiences, including his first suicide attempt when he was just 12 years old. He spends time surfing for mental health and depression topics on Reddit, a social networking and news site where community members organize posts into discreet areas of interest, and on 7 Cups of Tea, an online forum where listeners communicate with people seeking help. Part of his advocacy around mental health issues means being honest about himself; if strangers ask him how he supports himself, he tells them he receives Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), just as he tells his kids’ teachers at school. And though he doesn’t often leave his Edmonton home and rarely speaks in public, he wants his name out there. At age 12, Abe was hospitalized after he ingested a near-lethal amount of aspirin. But he wasn’t “certified,” meaning he wouldn’t be held at the hospital against his will. By his early-20s he was in the hospital again, after a friend saw he was self-injuring – but he wasn’t yet ready to accept psychiatric treatment, he says. “There

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was still a stigma in my mind, that psychiatry is something I should avoid, and that I didn’t really need the medications,” says Abe, who is now 37. Thus began a decade-long pendulum swing between depression and improvement, during which a good year or two would give way to a relapse, and periods of depression. He lost his job as a computer programmer after spiralling through an episode of depression and paranoia. Estranging himself from his friends and family, he experienced homelessness, briefly living in Edmonton’s river valley. Then things improved. He got re-married and started a family – things so many of us take for granted. But this was followed by a breakdown in 2012, when his family noticed a dramatic shift in his behaviour and called police. Child Protective Services intervened, and Abe was removed from his home. He lost access to his kids for almost a year. He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and his second marriage collapsed. In 2012, Abe was admitted to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and he prepared for an in-patient “stabilization” period, wherein he would eat well, sleep well and get exercise and proper medication. “That’s when I

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FIFTEEN TO 20 YEARS AGO, THE COMMON TEACHING ABOUT an illness like depression, including in medical school, was about chemical imbalances,” says Dr. Glenda MacQueen, a psychiatrist and researcher at the University of Calgary. “And the idea was, as soon as you normalize the chemicals, everything sort of went back to normal.” Glenda’s patients have mood disorders, and she’s interested in why some people face promising outcomes and others don’t. When she began her career, “There was little to nothing known about why you could have the same illness and some people will have an episode and be back to 100 per cent in a highly demanding environment, and other people will struggle to even hold down a job,” she says. The metaphor used to describe mood disorders at that time was that they were “software” problems – that there was nothing wrong with the hardware, or the structure of the brain; it was just misreading the code. But with the advent of new neuroimaging techniques and through research with animals, that binary approach suddenly seemed too simplistic. Researchers looked at the effects of stress on the hippocampus (a part of the brain located under the celebral cortex), and found evidence that chronic stress could create physical changes. The research led to the development of a “brain network approach” to mood disorders, where interconnected brain regions could fail to communicate if one part of the line goes down. By the early-1990s, Robert Post, who worked with the National Institute of Mental Health in the U.S. for years, started talking about the “kindling model” of mood disorders. The kindling model was originally proposed in the 1960s by Graham Goddard, who coined the term after conducting studies on epileptic seizures in animals. The idea was that scientists could induce a brief seizure in an animal by administering an electrical shock, even if there was nothing wrong with the structure of the animal’s brain. But if enough electrical shocks were administered, it would “kindle” the brain in such a way that the animal would spontaneously have seizures afterwards. Robert then applied the connection to his patients: Early on in their mental illnesses, he noted, their episodes required significant external stimulus. But after repeated episodes, there might be no visible, defined trigger. “His work around that time really focused on if there could

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MENTAL NOTE: Abe Buckingham uses online chat forums such as 7 Cups of Tea to help reach out to other like-minded listeners who have struggled with, or are experiencing, mental illness.

possibly be something changing in the brain with each of these episodes that leaves you a little more vulnerable, so that eventually you’ve got a brain that’s really vulnerable to depression,” Glenda says. People began to realize that there might be some structures in the brain where the hardware is actually changed. This connection informed Glenda’s research, which looked at how episodes of an illness might leave a residual marker – a kind of signature or fingerprint – on the brain, and with it, clues as to what method of treatment would be most effective. “The idea was that if you have several episodes of an illness or are hospitalized a few times, maybe each one of the episodes doesn’t in itself leave much of an imprint, but if you amass a certain critical number, you start to see some of these long-term effects,” she says. Glenda describes the shift away from the chemical imbalance model of mental illness as one of the major paradigm shifts in psychiatry. “I think we’ve moved towards a much more detailed focus on the areas of the brain that are involved, what’s happening in those areas and what might happen to make it so they can’t communicate effectively with other areas in the brain,” she says. Researchers hope to predict what kind of treatment fits each patient – what she calls “precision medicine.” It’s a trend at work in other health fields, too, notably cancer treatment, in which researchers and

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PHOTO: SHELLEY WILLIAMSON

realized something was really wrong, and I was going to have to make some changes or get stuck,” he says.

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Mental Health

physicians are moving from treating a particular type, with or without mental illness; that’s just conditioning.” size and stage of tumour, for example, to creating a plan He notes that when he was younger his parents were for a particular patient based on known variables and uncomfortable with psychiatry and medications for their physical markers. son, treatment was of the guess-and-test variety and The implications of precision medicine in mental health Internet support forums were non-existent. place the emphasis on early detection and prevention, This speaks to the compounding effects of social and this is evident across the spectrum of brain research. obstacles, a factor completely absent from the chemical Dr. Signe Bray, assistant professor in the department imbalance model. Dr. Anisa Khaliq, a child psychiatrist of radiology at the University of Calgary and head of in Edmonton, says there’s an increased effort underway the Bray Neuroimaging Lab, is part of a collaborative to understand how early childhood experiences and team of researchers studying how the brain can develop socio-economic status can play a role in mental illness. abnormally. Her team looks for early predictors of “If children have a genetic load that makes them more psychosis to better understand the factors that influence prone to mental illness, and if they’re in a lower sociothe range of outcomes in patients. She agrees the chemical economic status and the amount of resources a parent imbalance model of mental can access is limited, illness is outdated. “I don’t there’s a downward We’re at the moment where we’re think it’s that simple,” she says. spiral,” she says. ready for the conversation about “Disorders that start early in Poverty, she says, is an life can actually alter a lot of indicator, one that can mental illness in a way that we aspects of how the brain is exacerbate mental illness weren’t before. structured and how and increase the triggers – Abe Buckingham it functions.” that turn it into a serious and Her approach is similar to chronic condition. Glenda’s: she looks at networks among brain regions and That’s one of the reasons that United Way of the Alberta how the brain responds to different tasks. Signe’s research Capital Region has devised its 12 Desired Results, also complements other measures of cognition, behaviour targeting the most critical needs of people experiencing and life experience. “We have to combine basic knowledge poverty in our community. In its focus area of wellness, of what’s wrong with the brain with an understanding of programs strive to, among other goals, decrease barriers how certain kinds of interventions can change the brain,” for those of all ages to community-based mental health she says. supports for those, like Abe, who may not know where to The research isn’t giving up any easy answers and, as turn. “Over the last few decades, there’s been a general Glenda says, it’s not enough to simply identify patterns desire to provide earlier intervention,” says Anisa. Even if associated with depression – you can do that by just the mechanisms behind mental illness remain obscured, asking the patient. The detection has to be a precursor to psychiatrists have a widening range of therapies with which effective treatment. But the intent is clear: researchers and to help their patients. psychiatrists want to mark and treat the signs of mental Abe attests to the notion that episodes of poor mental illness when they first appear. health can compound over the years, how one traumatic situation can precipitate a chain of events that is difficult AFTER COMPLETING HIS IN-PATIENT PROGRAM AT THE to bounce back from. He acknowledges that earlier support Royal Alex, Abe took part in a six-week intensive would have helped, but at this point that’s like trying to cognitive behavioural therapy program, a voluntary turn back the clock. outpatient program, and balanced himself out with proper Abe can’t pinpoint a certain event from which all other medication, which he says “was the fix” for him. And traumas followed. But the nature of our discussions around today, he spends his time advocating for mental health mental health gives him hope, and he’s seen profound and connecting with like-minded people, when he’s not change in his own life. “We’re at a moment in human spending time with his two daughters. history where we’re ready to have social dialogue,” he says. The idea that repeated episodes can leave a “signature” “We’re ready for the conversation about mental illness in a makes intuitive sense to Abe, though he says “that’s true way that we weren’t before.”

STAFF SERGEANT RON CAMPBELL

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Mental Health

Beyond the Trauma More details about PTSD are coming to light, thanks to public awareness and treatment options by LYNDSIE BOURGON

Photography by CURTIS COMEAU

T WAS MORE OF A MOUNTING TENSION THAN A WAVE OF grief that first sent Staff Sergeant Ron Campbell into shock. For 24 years, Ron worked in various departments of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Edmonton. An expert in crisis negotiating and mediation, Ron was no stranger to high-stress and often violent situations. “Police officers are notorious avoiders, we internalize everything,” Ron says. Throughout his career he had been present for shocking and violent incidents, many of which he says didn’t faze him. “Some incidents that we deal with in our careers are like silk, but some are like Velcro and they stick,” he says. Ron’s Velcro moment came in February 2004, when his team responded to a call about an armed-and-barricaded man in Spruce Grove. Acting as negotiator, Ron watched as one of his colleagues was shot and killed. “It hit hard,” says Ron, who had worked with that colleague for 19 years. “My behaviour started to change, and not in a positive way.” The incident triggered post-traumatic stress disorder in Ron. PTSD is a mental illness that allows traumatic events of the past to leave a mark on the present day. Many people who have witnessed or experienced trauma are at risk of mental illness, and the symptoms are all-encompassing: sleep disturbances, concentration problems, feelings of emotional numbness, depression and a lack of trust in others all

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FROM THE BRINK: RCMP Staff Sergeant Ron Campbell credits his family and friends for an intervention that led him to seek help for his PTSD, which he acquired on the job.

characterize PTSD. Sufferers can experience flashbacks we’re not broken toys,” he says. “We need to stop stigmatizing.” He also and nightmares, and often try to avoid all reminders of speaks to groups about how PTSD affects people in all walks of life. Stories the trauma they have experienced. Once, when Ron was like Ron’s influence how United Way is tackling the repercussions of PTSD reading a newspaper story about a truck crash west of in the community. Edmonton, he flashed back to a similar accident that he LULE BEGASHAW, A PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND I was doing everything I could to had responded to 22 years team leader at the Edmonton Mennonite sabotage my marriage, so that if I was earlier. He burst into tears Centre for Newcomers, helps new at the kitchen table. Canadians find their way in an unfamiliar gone she wouldn’t care. Ron was finally pushed city and country, often after traumatic – RCMP Staff Sergeant Ron Campbell to seek help for his PTSD events have forced them to leave their homes when a colleague “looked elsewhere. The centre provides resources me in the eye and asked, ‘How are you really doing?’ The that connect new Canadians with help, and its work can be complicated by air went out of me. I was so busted.” Three weeks later, he previously-undiagnosed PTSD among the client base. called a therapist, who he saw until the doctor retired. But While Lule and her team have become familiar with providing Ron’s journey had only just begun – between 2004 and counselling services for survivors of torture and trauma that seek help 2009 he was on an emotional roller coaster, experiencing from the centre, those in the public who are aware of PTSD see it as a suicidal thoughts. “I was doing everything I could to condition suffered by soldiers or police, like Ron. We don’t often think of sabotage my marriage, so that if I was gone she wouldn’t immigrants as suffering from it. But refugees and immigrants have fled care,” Ron says. Finally, his family staged an intervention from backgrounds that include war, impoverishment and being forced to and he called another therapist, this time one who flee their homes – situations that can trigger PTSD. specialized in trauma treatment. “He put Humpty Dumpty Lule says there hasn’t been an increase in the number of people being back together again, and probably saved my life.” treated for PTSD at the centre, just more of a general awareness in the Now, Ron is committed to talking about PTSD and public’s knowledge of it. “The problem has always been there,” she says. mental illness any chance he gets. “We can be productive, “But it hasn’t been recognized, especially with funders.” Because more

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YOU CAN FIND PTSD AMONG OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE YOU wouldn’t expect, populations untouched by war or hard police work. Meredith Evans sees it every day in her work as a registered clinical psychologist in Edmonton. She treats PTSD among her trauma patients primarily with cognitive approaches. Meredith got her start treating trauma as a volunteer at the sexual assault centre at the University of Alberta during her undergraduate degree, and was interested in helping victims through their recovery. “I could see such a change after treatment,” she says. “You can witness such resilience; it’s amazing to focus on that aspect.”

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She says the treatment of PTSD currently focuses on three evidence-based approaches. The most common is exposurebased, which means patients are encouraged to expose themselves to the trauma and think about the reminders. This might mean something like watching a war movie, or working towards stepping into a tank or piece of machinery again. “It’s hard,” she says. “I know it works, but it’s not easy. It’s the Buckley’s treatment – it tastes awful, but it works.” Though he was not a patient of Meredith, Ron’s treatment was likewise arduous. It slowly brought him back from the brink, and has led him to speak at international conferences about trauma. He still sees a therapist a few times per year, but now he considers himself a survivor. He knows he’s lucky to have found the support he needed, and he wants to see that help broadly available among more marginalized populations. “The only difference between a broken leg and a broken spirit is that one has a cast,” he says. “This is a community problem, not an occupationally-specific one.”

Mental Health

people talk openly about PTSD now, supporters of the centre are more aware of how their money can help. Recently, the centre was able to hire more counselling staff. “I think the funders and government are really opening up to provide money for this type of thing,” she says. “The awareness has increased, not the issue.” As was the case with Ron, some Mennonite Centre clients aren’t aware that they could be suffering from PTSD. “The referrals often don’t come directly for PTSD counselling, but usually through a concern about parenting or school performance. So it shows in different ways,” says Lule. “We were targeting the survivors of torture, the victims. But we started to see that families were also affected indirectly.” The centre receives many referrals from local hospitals, clinics and government agencies. It is one of four centres in Canada that provides specialized PTSD services. One of its employees is the Canadian president for the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, which has been campaigning for PTSD treatment as a universal human right. “They are calling out for governments that sponsor refugees to open up and make PTSD treatment a human rights service, rather than something extra, or a luxury,” says Lule. Often, mental health services aren’t covered by government insurance plans, and sufferers can’t afford to seek out treatment through a psychologist, leaving places like the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers stretched thin. Poverty is often tied to a newcomer’s experience, and can be inextricably linked to challenges in mental health services. “Poverty takes away your power, your ability to take control of your life, and it’s a feeling of helplessness,” says Lule. “Especially when new immigrants come to Canada and they have to start from the beginning – this can trigger PTSD symptoms. And some people find themselves homeless. Lack of stability affects their ability to recover. In order to build people up, it requires a lot.”

HOW TO HELP IF YOU THINK YOU OR A LOVED ONE MAY BE SUFFERING FROM PTSD, CALL 211 TO LEARN ABOUT RESOURCES AVAILABLE. TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR: A family physician can fill out a PTSD assessment form and can point you towards finding the right mental health professional for your needs.

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY: You can find information for local psychiatrists by visiting the Psychology Today website, which keeps a detailed list of mental health supports. You can also search by the type of help you seek at: therapists.psychologytoday.com/ VETERANS: If you’re a veteran, Veteran Affairs Canada has more information, a crisis hotline and an assistance services centre. For contact information, visit veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/ health/mental-health WCB: If your PTSD, or that of your loved one, has been caused through a work situation, the Workers’ Compensation Board might be able to help. You can find more information on their website: wcb.ab.ca/public/news/2012/PTSD.asp NEW CANADIANS: New Canadians can find assistance with mental health disorders (like PTSD) and other social services through non-profit organizations including the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. Some schools can also be of assistance.

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SPONSOR PROFILE

HELPING HANDS: EPCOR employees started their own volunteer program called Helping Hands, which last August saw participants stuff 600 backpacks for United Way.

KINDNESS CLUB EPCOR employee volunteers prove first-hand how giving back can benefit the whole community

T’S A WEDNESDAY EVENING IN AUGUST 2014 AND A team of 40 EPCOR employees and their family members are in the back-to-school spirit at United Way’s In-Kind Exchange. They’re volunteering their time to stuff backpacks for Tools for School. “I’m proud to work for a company that provides this kind of opportunity,” says Paula McGinnis, as she inserts school supplies into bags. “Not only are we helping those in need, it creates a feeling of community within EPCOR.” This is one of the new group opportunities offered through the company’s recently-expanded volunteer program. Known as Helping Hands, the program was launched in 2001. Historically it was limited to solo acts of volunteering; individual employees would donate 30 hours or more in a year and receive a $300 grant to direct to their chosen not-for-profit organization. Participation in the program was consistent over time and EPCOR CEO David Stevens felt an appetite existed for larger group volunteer activities, says community investment manager Connie Smart. “As a company, we wanted to increase the overall number of employees involved in volunteering,” she says. “That meant finding out what the barriers were and how we could make it more accessible.” The company formed an employee volunteer committee and identified must-haves in the prescribed volunteer opportunities, including flexibility, variety, and an impact that could be measured

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or felt by participants. From this, the Helping Hands program expanded to include team-building opportunities and group volunteering. Team-building primarily takes place during working hours, while most group volunteering occurs outside the work day with group sizes ranging anywhere from 15 to 100 employees. And if it’s after hours, employees can bring family members and friends along. “I appreciate the opportunity to volunteer with my family,” says Terri Davison, who delivered Christmas hampers to ABC Head Start families this past December as part of Helping Hands. “I want to instill in my children the joy of volunteering.” Getting involved is easy: EPCOR employees sign up and then show up. The company coordinates the rest with the supported organization. To date, opportunities have included Habitat for Humanity, backpack stuffing for ABC Head Start and Tools for School, a site clean-up in Kananaskis, and crafts at the Bissell Centre’s child care program. There is consistently a higher demand than available spots. When that August evening at the In-Kind Exchange comes to a close, the team had out-packed the 344 backpack goal set for them by United Way, filling nearly 600 backpacks. They stopped only because they ran out of room in the warehouse. “It was awesome to meet and work alongside other EPCOR employees,” says participant Meghan Mackintosh. “I had such a positive experience that I want to volunteer again – and perhaps next time I’ll bring family along with me.”

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Mental Health

Something to Talk About by SHELLEY WILLIAMSON

Bernice Sewell Registered Social Worker, SAGE PHOTO: AMY SENECAL

WE’s expert panel explores the links between mental illness and poverty among children, families and seniors

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Jodie Mandick Supervisor, The Support Network PHOTO: AMY SENECAL

Mary Stewart, Community Investment Specialist, United Way PHOTO: NANCY CRITCHLEY

ITH AS MANY AS ONE IN FIVE CANADIANS suffering from a mental health disorder at some point in their lives – that’s approximately 4.5 million people, carrying a cost of nearly $50 billion annually to the country’s economy – the subject of mental health is always a timely one. WE magazine sat down with three Edmontonarea mental health experts for their take on the links between mental illness and poverty, and mental health among seniors and families. They also offered tips on how to best spur that conversation, including broaching the topic with loved ones.

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BERNICE SEWELL is a registered social worker who, for the past 14 years, has worked at SAGE (Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton) as director of operations. In this role she manages 11 frontline programs aimed at meeting the needs of the senior population including the Seniors Safe Housing program. Bernice was instrumental in the development of both the Seniors Safe House program and the Seniors’ Abuse Helpline. JODIE MANDICK is supervisor of help lines at The Support Network. For the past three years she has trained and supervised crisis workers, volunteers and practicum students. She is a certified information and referral specialist with the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems Canada, and a certified crisis worker with the American Association of Suicidology. MARY STEWART is a community investment specialist at United Way and has worked with children and families for 25 years, primarily in early childhood development and parental support. She recently returned to Alberta after working in B.C., in early intervention. She holds a masters in early childhood education, with a focus on families with children who have disabilities or developmental delay.

Q. How do you see mental health affecting the people you work with? BERNICE: There are many things that impact the mental well-being of seniors. This is the time of their lives that they are encountering many losses, including a loss of independence, loss of loved ones, loss of their home and the loss of their driver’s licence. Statistics tell us that the highest rate of suicide in Canada is among men over the age of 80 (31 out of every 100,000 people). We also hear from seniors that they are reluctant to seek help because they are from a generation where you were thought of as crazy if you had a mental illness of any sort, and that you were going to be locked in a padded cell. In addition, there is also the ageist view that depression is something that happens when you get old, therefore it goes untreated. For this reason, mental illness also plays a role in seniors becoming more isolated. JODIE: Specific mental health concerns are the main issue for approximately 14 per cent of Distress Line calls this year – this can range from issues like depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A full 34 per cent of our calls are

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related to mental health in some capacity. Some of our callers are living with mental health issues, and others are concerned friends and family members, looking for help to support someone living with a mental health concern. We know that one in five people will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lives, and so many more are affected through the process of caregiving and support. The most common issues for callers experiencing mental health concerns is isolation related to lack of support services, stigma surrounding mental health and challenges with poverty and meeting basic needs. Symptoms can vary with each type of mental illness and each individual. Some common symptoms to watch for are confused thoughts, delusions or hallucinations, extreme fears or anxiety that seems out of proportion to circumstances or events, extreme mood swings between depression and mania (sometimes with overly reckless behaviour), disruption to usual sleep patterns and talk or thoughts of suicide. While some of these symptoms are uncomfortable or frightening to talk about, it is important to connect with family, friends and professionals that can provide support. MARY: At United Way, I work under the education pillar, and I have worked with families with young children who have disabilities or developmental delays. In our education pillar, we focus on the child, especially within the family context. When I look at mental health it’s through a broad lens. We try to impact parent-child interactions. If you have a parent who is dealing with a mental health issue, it affects their ability to respond to their child, and you can also have a child who has some mental health issues, which affects their ability to interact with their world and the people around them. My background is infant mental health, which looks at that parent-child relationship from birth, and the attachment process for parent and child. Mental health affects life-long experiences, starting with that first parent-child interaction. It includes things like the ability of a child to selfsoothe, to transition from one activity to the next. Some of the information from the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative talks about the “serve and return” of a relationship, and the executive functioning for children – all of that is set within those early relationships.

Q. What are the links between mental health and poverty? BERNICE: Even if they don’t suffer from mental health issues, many seniors live in poverty, on $1,600 per month or less. Only 70 per cent of their medication costs are covered and only a very minimal amount of dental expenses and the cost of glasses are covered. If someone has suffered from chronic mental illness all of their life, they might have been on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH). So let’s fast forward to turning 65. First, seniors have to be able to understand the forms they are required to fill out. Once this is done, they receive Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan and other seniors’ benefits. If they meet some very specific requirements, they will make slightly more than they did on AISH. However, their cost of living increases considerably from what it was on AISH, under which all of their medication, dental and eye glasses

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Mental Health

were covered. Once they turn 65, this is no longer the case. their decision-making ability. Poverty with families is a very It is also worthy to note that the shelters available in Edmon- complex and compounding issue. ton do not meet the needs of the senior population for many reasons, the first being that they are not accessible to walkers Q. How can we start the conversation about mental or wheelchairs. health with our loved ones who may be affected? JODIE: We know that there’s a lot of overlap between mental BERNICE: When it comes to seniors, it’s important to help health and poverty. Coping with a mental illness takes signifidispel the myths that surround mental illness. Ask a person cant time and energy that may otherwise be used seeking and who has high blood pressure or diabetes if they would seek maintaining gainful employment and attending and successtreatment for the disease, and the answer is always “yes.” fully completing post-secondary education. This provides an opportunity to talk about the similarities to In addition to these challenges, many people with mental mental illness. illness struggle to maintain housing and other basic needs. It is important to be well informed about available resources Approximately 59 per cent of Edmonton’s homeless population and exploring the person’s ability to access those resources. It is suffers from some form of mental health condition. Medicaimportant to name mental illness and talk about it. tions for these health conditions can be very expensive, making JODIE: The best thing we can do to start a conversation about it hard to find the resources for proper food and clothing. There mental health is to show genuine care and concern. is also a pervasive stigma surrounding mental health issues, A major part of reducing the stigma around mental illness, which exacerbates isolation and prevents people from accessand supporting people affected by it, is to address it directly ing supports. with a sense of empathy. RePoverty can also trigger and member that, although you Poverty can also trigger and worsen worsen mental health issues, may never have experienced mental health issues, particularly when it particularly when it comes up exactly what they are going suddenly as a result of a loss, like comes up suddenly as a result of a loss, like through, we have all been divorce or the death of a loved afraid or confused. divorce or the death of a loved one. one. Mental health and poverty Allow the person to talk – Jodie Mandick, supervisor, The Support Network often have a cyclical relationabout what is going on, and ship, where poverty perpetuates listen without judgment. mental illness by preventing people from being able to access Respect and acknowledge that the issues that trigger mental supports; and mental illness consumes a significant amount of health are real and valid to the person experiencing them. Help time and energy, preventing people from focusing on increased them build on the resilience that they’re already demonstrating, financial stability. and encourage them to access more resources and support. It MARY: Poverty affects children right from conception. If a can be helpful to connect them to support services for people parent is living in poverty they typically don’t have access to living with mental health conditions, like the Canadian Mental adequate nutrition, which impacts the child’s brain developHealth Association, or a crisis line such as the 24-hour Distress ment in utero. Compounding that, if you’re a person living Line at 780-482-0198. in poverty, you are facing daily stressors due to an unstable MARY: If it’s somebody you care about, it’s really just about lifestyle, like “Where do I live? How will I pay my hydro bill? starting that conversation and saying, “I am concerned about Where is my child’s next meal coming from?” It becomes diffiyou. You are taking care of a lot – how can I support you in cult to respond to your child because you are focused on these being responsive to your child?” Start the conversation without immediate issues. The link between poverty and mental health judgment, talk to them about what resources are available. starts right at birth and compounds from the parent’s experiOne of the things that came up when we were having our panel ence and the experience of the child living in that unpredictdiscussion was recognizing that there are some diagnosable able, possibly unsafe environment. conditions, even in early childhood. Sometimes children need What we do know about brain development is that if a parto be treated with medical interventions and psychotherapy. ent, and consequently a child, is under toxic stress, it actually A high percentage of our children and youth are suffering becomes a toxic environment for the brain. Those neuropathfrom anxiety and depression, so it’s important for us to recogways are not able to develop, so a child is not able to learn or nize that those are conditions that need intervention, but there retain information well. And for the parent, stress impacts are also ways that we can support, parents and children.

Healthy JOB on the

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Mental Health

How businesses can address the challenges of mental illness in the workplace by ROBIN BRUNET

ETWEEN BOUTS OF CRIPPLING PARANOIA, Richard Boulet realized he had hit rock bottom in Vancouver, living in a low-rent hotel and drinking away his monthly $190 welfare cheque.

reductions in health-related quality of life, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

STATISTICS CANADA DATA SHOWS THAT ON ANY GIVEN week, at least 500,000 employed Canadians are unable The Alberta-born man had trained as an architect and to work due to mental health problems – and Richard is a worked across Canada in a variety of art-related jobs, prime example of just how severe the personal consequences but shortly after turning 30 in 1991, his mental health can become. “In retrospect, I was drinking my life away in deteriorated to the point where he grew progressively order to numb the pain, and I had no idea what was happenpsychotic and he was admitted to the hospital. “After being to me other than I couldn’t function,” he says. ing stabilized I chalked up Karla Thorpe, director of my paranoia and suicidal prevention and promotion One of the leading illnesses taking us thoughts to smoking pot initiatives for the Mental out of the workplace is depression. In fact, and the stress related to Health Commission of it’s the most common illness affecting trying to come out of the Canada (MHCC), offers closet,” he recalls. more troubling data with Canadian workers. But after moving to regards to the workplace. – Ione Challborn, executive director of the Canadian Vancouver to paint sets “The situation seems to be Mental Health Association-Edmonton Region for the film industry, his getting worse: research has afflictions returned; he determined that 20 per lost his job, was evicted from his apartment, and soon cent of all Canadians will experience mental health issues found himself in the seemingly dead-end world of soup during their lifetime, up from numbers reported in findings kitchens and homeless shelters. of years past.” It wasn’t until he turned 33 that Richard was diagOne of the leading illnesses taking us out of the worknosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, at which point he place is depression. In fact, it’s the most common illness had been living in poverty in Alberta and Saskatchewan. affecting Canadian workers, says Ione Challborn, executive “But as soon as I was diagnosed, in Regina, and received director of the Canadian Mental Health Associationtreatment in a group home, it was as if a huge weight had Edmonton Region. Clinical depression is marked by an been lifted off me,” he says. “Life literally turned around, ongoing depressed mood and a loss of interest in normal in no small way because I was surrounded by people who activities and relationships, including those in the workunderstood what I was going through and helped me at place. Chronic fatigue, insomnia and impaired concentraevery turn.” tion are also symptoms. During this time when Richard was experiencing United Way funds a community education program these episodes, mental health wasn’t openly recognized through the CMHA that focuses on workplace wellness and as a serious workplace issue and, as a result, Richard stress management, aiming to counter the deleterious effects says he lost a number of jobs. The reality is that mental of mental illnesses, including depression, at work. “United health issues make up for approximately $50 billion per Way has been critical to our success because initially we were year – including health care costs, lost productivity, and simply lecturing about mental health at schools, but thanks

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to the organization’s support, we have escalated our lectures, health, it would be attitude: we laugh and joke and generally have a good started skills training and are now determining ways to get time, and that goes for our CEO and senior executives, not just staff. We parents educated as well as developing student leaders to share and promote this attitude, and when we recruit newcomers we spearhead mental health promotion,” says Ione. “It’s our way ensure that they will be a good fit.” of trying to tackle the problem early on, to help people get Although she has no hard data to illustrate the effectiveness of her treatment before it turns into a workplace problem.” workplace initiatives, Cindy adds, “None of them are particularly Poor mental health impacts our performance in the difficult to implement. And the payoff is substantial in that we all enjoy workplace, but the impact of the workplace on mental coming to work.” health is less clear. “Thirteen factors have been identified Another thing to consider: Employers and managers who don’t pay as affecting mental health, and they range from civility and attention to the risks may foster a situation in which an employee’s existrespect to recognition and reward,” says Karla. “Of course, ing mental health problems become worse. Moreover, Canadian courts a lot of problems can stem have rendered legal decisions attributing from employees not being the cause of some types of mental disorder Employers and managers who don’t well-suited psychologically to the acts of an employer. pay attention to the risks may for the job they’re doing, Fortunately, Ione says employers are foster a situation in which an which makes thorough more attuned to mental health issues than employee’s existing mental health screening processes all ever before. “Plus, they have substantial the more important when resources to turn to by contacting us,” she problems become worse. hiring.” To which Ione adds, says. “It’s in their hearts and minds to deal “Screening should take the with the problem, and organizations such form of employers clearly stating what the expectations as ours, with over 120 offices across the country, provide referral services and requirements are of any particular job and then asking to people with issues and support groups for both those with a mental applicants what they would need to be successful in those illness and their family.” jobs.” After all, people with serious mental health issues Meanwhile, the MHCC recently improved upon a document it released such as depression and schizophrenia can still successfully in 2013, the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in work if given the proper support. the Workplace, which was developed to help employers promote mental Cindy Zahn, human resources advisor for the Alberta health and prevent harm in the workplace. “Over 21,000 copies of the New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP), calls mental Standard have been downloaded from our website, but we’ve gone a step health issues “a major workplace problem and one that further by releasing an implementation guide to help employers fully business leaders should pay close attention to, even if only adopt the document,” says Karla. The easy-to-use handbook, Assembling for their own self-interest: employee downtime or poor the Pieces, is available at no cost on the MHCC website. performance ultimately compromises the reputation and For his part, Richard, now 53, applauds the initiatives of United Way success of any company.” and other community-based organizations, and he holds considerable But the ANHWP is one of a growing number of workhope that in coming years fewer people with mental health issues will places in which mental health is treated with the same care suffer the dramatic downward spiral his life took. and attention given to physical issues or injury, and not As for his life now, Richard is able to lead a productive life and work just because mental illnesses increase downtime and lessen as a data entry clerk for the CMHA. His artwork has been exhibited productivity. “Essentially, we try to maintain a positive work across Canada, including on the mask of Edmonton Oilers goaltender environment,” Cindy says. “We promote a good work-life Ben Scrivens, and he gives back by lecturing about mental health and balance amongst our 55 employees through a comprehenvolunteering for various community organizations. “I’m in a good place sive time-off policy, plus we monitor who is and who is not in time, and I’m living proof that with the right treatment and care you taking days off as well as who is taking sick time.” can bounce back and make a real contribution to society,” he says. The ANHWP also has an employee assistance program Ione concludes that while promoting mental wellness is challenging, that provides support for everything from child and elder she’s confident that positive inroads will continue to be made. “Everyone care to stress issues. “Basically, anyone can get assistance from unions to workers’ compensation boards are focused on making and is assured of complete confidentiality,” says Cindy. the workplace not only physically safe but conducive to one’s psychologi“However, if I had to cite the most beneficial aspect of cal well-being,” she says. “It’s good for people – and it’s good for our workplace with regards to promoting positive mental business.”

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Elaine Shannon and her husband Ron.

A Lasting Legacy:

Elaine’s Story I

t happened back in 1992. Elaine Shannon was volunteering for United Way and was asked to give a presentation to the management team where she worked. With little time to prepare, she didn’t have a chance to preview the video that United Way provided. When Elaine pressed play she got a real shock — she instantly recognized the person in the video. It was someone she knew very well who had suffered a devastating loss and the video shared how United Way provided support to help with the grieving process. “I started crying immediately. Everybody in the room was looking at me! I said, ‘I know her.’” It was a moment Elaine will never forget. It was also the moment she decided to become more involved with United Way. “I said to myself, ‘If they can do this for her, they have me for as long as they need me.’” Today, Elaine is a committed donor, passionate about contributing to initiatives that are close to her heart, especially helping children. “Having raised a family here, it’s really important to me that all kids benefit from the advantages that the Alberta Capital Region has to offer. Every child should have the tools they need and be well-fed so they can go to school and study.”

Elaine is also concerned with ensuring her donations really make a difference. “United Way is a really great steward of donor investments — but it’s more than fundraising, they are about action. They bring people together to make a difference. I’m part of a movement that is saying, ‘let’s roll-up our sleeves and do something.’” Elaine and her husband, Ron, have since changed their estate plans to include United Way in their wills. “I want my money to make a difference in the community where I live, work and raise my family. I had been asking myself ‘What more can we do?’ It was an easy decision for us.”

How To Leave Your Legacy There are several ways you can leave a gift in your will to United Way. •

Life Insurance Policy

•

Bequest

•

RRIF or RRSPs

•

Gift of Securities

•

Real Estate

For more information on how you can integrate United Way into your estate plans, contact Donna Roth, Senior Advisor, Community Investments.

780 443 8375 droth@myunitedway.ca ADVERTISEMENT

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YOUNG

INSPIRATION Humanitarian, educator and parent: Sarah Chan now adds fighting poverty to her resumé by LISA OSTROWSKI

Photography by KELLY REDINGER

IANO TEACHER SARAH CHAN sits near a student in front of the piano at her Edmonton home – both are intently focused on the sheet music in front of them. Sarah carefully coaches the girl through a difficult passage, offering the right mix of encouragement and advice. She has years of practice educating and opening the musical minds of young children. Her experience has taught her that young people are an often overlooked and untapped resource.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: Years of teaching piano and educating youngsters has taught Sarah Chan to view the city’s youth as an untapped and often overlooked resource for spurring change.

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“What motivates me to work with kids is that nothing is off limits, and they’ve got a lot of energy,” Sarah says. “They really enjoy challenging themselves, and they enjoy grappling with things that might be difficult. As an adult, it’s hard to redirect your energy to these sorts of problems, but kids are really excited to work with their peers to do something big.”

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KEY PLAYER: The wife of Mayor Don Iveson, Sarah Chan shares her husband’s desire to eliminate poverty in Edmonton, and has begun a new initiative with United Way to get high school students involved.

This winter, Sarah began a new educational program to involve the bright young citizens of Edmonton in the fight against poverty, as part of a team working on United Way’s Youth Initiative. In many ways, this role is a natural addition to her wheelhouse. She has experience as a community-minded humanitarian, holding a post of honorary patron for Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS) and visiting with the iHuman Youth Society, a non-profit organization that engages Edmonton’s traumatized youth who exhibit high-risk lifestyles to foster positive personal development. And of course,

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there are her years as a music teacher, imparting her knowledge to dozens of young students. She’s also a busy mom raising two young children, Dexter and Alice, alongside her husband, Edmonton’s mayor Don Iveson. After attending the “Year Play” organized by students at Scona High School, Sarah began to rethink the possibilities of what could be accomplished by youth in the community. The impressive performance, in addition to her experience with the creativity of teens at iHuman, led Sarah to believe that United Way’s Youth Initiative was the best place to focus her time. The Youth Initiative is a program designed to increase awareness among young people of local social issues, while looking for their input

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and solutions. In discussing the root causes, cyclical Sarah realized the students needed someone to champion nature and challenges presented to someone living in and explain the need for more work within the city. poverty, the initiative aims to use education as a tool to “If a community can come together to help other improve the lives of the more than 120,000 people communities across the world, it’s a wonderful thing to do,” currently living in poverty in the capital region. Sarah’s she says. “Imagine what we could do for communities role on the team is to begin engaging the city’s youth in that are just across the river. An LRT ride from where the conversation. you’re living.” The goal of eliminating poverty is one she shares with Starting in January, Sarah began educating local youth her husband. In office, Mayor Iveson has demonstrated about the issues surrounding poverty in Edmonton. In his dedication to this cause with the creation of a task her first presentations for students of the Edmonton force dedicated to eliminating poverty. United Way’s Public School Board, Sarah has opened up a dialogue for mission to create pathways out of poverty and the city’s young people, classes and schools to get involved in the drive to eliminate it altogether fight against poverty. Over are so well-aligned that havthe next several months, We thought the place that I would ing Sarah’s involvement just the initiative will involve made sense. additional public, private have the most resonance was with “Our theme is ‘poverty is and Catholic schools in the younger age demographic. solvable’,” says Myrna Khan, Edmonton and the capital – Sarah Chan, United Way Youth Initiative Champion vice president of resource region. More than anything development at the Alberta else, the goal for this first Capital Region United Way. “We want to see what these stage of the initiative is to educate young people about local students are thinking about and what their solutions are, issues that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. and how can we engage them in the fight to end poverty.” The three-year program begins with educational presenLast summer, when she first sat down with United Way tations and discussions at local schools. The second year to discuss getting involved, Sarah was unsure of the possible will aim to create experiences that encourage students to outcomes. She knew that she wanted to support their work continue the conversation on poverty elimination. Some somehow, and she knew that United Way’s mission was close schools may choose to get involved through communito her heart. But she didn’t think she would be well-suited ty volunteer commitments, while others may choose to to speaking in front of potential donors. But through the participate in United Way’s Poverty Simulation. The youth discussions, it became clear. “We thought the place that I initiative is flexible in its goals so that, as young people would have the most resonance was with the younger age get involved, they will be able to shape the future of the demographic, because I’m a teacher and I’ve been working program and their city. with young people forever.” In its third year, the initiative will culminate with a The Youth Initiative has been in the works since the fall symposium of local students, bringing together a group of 2014, when United Way began researching awareness in from a diverse range of backgrounds to discuss the issues. the local youth population. As the research progressed, it From there, it will be up to the students to create their became apparent that youth are often eager to get involved own future. in social issues. “We want to give students all the information, the tools “We noticed that many high school students are more so- for them to have conversations around what poverty elimcially aware and socially involved than in previous generaination is for our region. And then, where they take it is tions, and what we’re seeing is that there’s a lot of interest going to be up to them,” says Myrna. in global issues like water and HIV,” says Myrna. “We see So while Sarah works to find a delicate balance between that these high school students have lots of energy, but we her many roles, she continues striving to increase awarehaven’t really seen them getting involved in local issues ness and compassion for those living in poverty in the around poverty.” capital region. “The work we start isn’t going to be done in You can’t blame the students for a lack of understanding my time here,” she says. “We have to make sure that there’s about the issues on a local level. After seeing work done by a succession plan in place so that the work to eliminate local schools and groups raising funds for global issues, poverty in Edmonton within a generation goes on.”

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SCORECARD

NITED WAY TAKES THE NEXT STEP ON THE PATH TO A RESULTS-BASED APPROACH. To help chart the course and measure success, the organization has developed its first-ever Impact Scorecard outlining five strategies and goals over a three-year period. The Scorecard sets targets, clearly defining the number of people that United Way will help and the ways it will contribute to lift people from poverty. There has never been as clear a mandate for making and measuring significant impact or as exciting a time to be involved. Find out how United Way of the Alberta Capital Region is keeping score.

$7.25 MILLION The fundraising growth needed to reach Scorecard goals in these areas by 2016.

25% The percentage of Edmonton youth who do not currently complete high school within five years

10,780 The number of children, age six years or younger, who now live in poverty in Edmonton

Education Vision: All children and youth achieve their full potential, complete high school and set a course for a bright future The Early Years: 5,300 infants and toddlers will benefit from this United Way program (up from 2,800) Success in School: 15,000 children and youth will complete high school through this United Way program (up from 13,250)

Income Vision: All people attain greater independence and financial stability, contributing to their personal success and success of our economy Managing Finances: 10,000 people will gain financial support through United Way’s new Benefits Navigator online tool; 1,230 people will benefit from United Way’s financial literacy training (up from 225) Employment: 3,300 people will gain skills to succeed in the job market (up from 2,300)

Wellness Vision: Everyone feels a meaningful connection to the community, enjoying a strong sense of well-being and safety for themselves and their families Mental Health: 23,480 people will help achieve mental health counselling, including increased walk-in services and distress line support (up from 17,900)

ILLUSTRATION: BEN RUDE

Annual fundraising and support from the community allows United Way to continue providing critical programs and services delivered in the focus areas of Education, Income and Wellness. The five strategies and new targets outlined in this inaugural Impact Scorecard are the first phase to help us move beyond just managing the symptoms of poverty and closer to our goal of eliminating it.

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TEAMING UP Edmonton’s many community organizations have pooled their expertise, forming a three-pronged plan for access to mental health and other supports by JACQUELINE LOUIE

N AVERAGE WEEKDAY FOR THE SMITHS used to look like that of many other Edmonton families. Structured around the daily cycle of going to work, sending kids to school, shuffling through after school programs, running errands and managing their finances, the Smiths often felt that it took a lot of energy just to keep their heads above water.

is typical of many in Edmonton. The adage that we are all just one layoff and a few months away from poverty often rings true, and it’s situations like this that leave many feeling stranded and helpless in the face of adversity. Often, this can lead to greater distress, both financially and emotionally, which could have been lessened. But new, wide-ranging research coming out of the Edmonton region aims But in the fall of 2014, a to change that. In late crisis sent the family of four 2013, United Way of the In late 2013, United Way of the Alberta into turmoil. Mr. Smith lost Alberta Capital Region, in Capital Region, in partnership with the City his job at a local store that he partnership with the City of of Edmonton, brought together a group of managed, leaving the family Edmonton, brought together approximately 30 agencies and community in financial trouble. To pick a group of approximately organizations that work in the areas of up the slack, Mrs. Smith 30 agencies and community counselling and mental health. started working overtime organizations that work in during the week. Depressed the areas of counselling and from his time off work, and mental health. Over a year, unable to find quick employment elsewhere, Mr. Smith the groups came up with both long- and short-term recombegan drinking too much at night and sometimes during mendations aimed at improving access to services and making the day. And while his wife tried to speak to him about their the mental health system easier for people to navigate. problems, she has become unsure of where to get help. She “People with very complex needs are coming to access seris worried about her family now, and she faces mounting vices, and we are struggling, as a community, to meet all of those pressures when it comes to money matters, child care and needs,” says Jean Dalton, director of Neighbourhood Health medical insurance for her husband. Mrs. Smith knows that and Personal Well-Being for United Way of the Alberta Capital her family needs help, but doesn’t know where to begin. Region. “The intention is to support people coming forward so The Smiths are an imaginary family, but their experience they can access the right service at the time they need it.”

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Last fall, three working groups were formed, focused on specific community-based services, with each group’s challenge to develop a project centred on mental health. “This is a beginning, to start moving these recommendations to action,” Jean says. TRAINING THE FRONT LINES Focusing on prevention, the first working group aims to incorporate training in Mental Health First Aid, a best practices program developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada for frontline staff, such as teachers and coaches. Additionally, the group will research programs and services for children from infants to age 12. The second group seeks to build bridges between organizations, with the goal of decreasing barriers for families

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to access mental health services. And the third group is putting together a mental health literacy package, to increase knowledge and awareness of mental health terms and explore existing databases regarding navigation of services and support. Ione Challborn, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Edmonton Region, is chairing the first working group, which is looking at how to implement Mental Health First Aid. The program provides “the ability to respond in a meaningful and proactive way to somebody having a challenge,” Ione says. “To really make a move on this, we need to consider how to get the training to as many people as possible. How do we encourage employers to make it a requirement of staff development?” Ione says there are some inherent barriers to the program. The Mental Health First Aid curriculum takes two-days and is a significant time commitment. “There are not enough trainers in the city to have a very comprehensive sweep of Mental Health First Aid training.”

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Ione believes that discussions with the Mental Health Commission of Canada on the possibility of breaking the two-day curriculum into modules, with the additional option of taking the program online could help. “That way, we would be able to get more people through the training,” she says.

For Dean, what makes the process of working together worthwhile is having all the right people at the table. Their pooled expertise makes them “the people who can implement change,” he says.

REACHING THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY Toby Rabinovitz, executive director of OPTIONS Sexual GIVING CHILDREN A STRONG START Health Association, a United Way funded agency providing Providing services like family counselling through divorce sexual and reproductive health counselling and educational or violence is a key mandate of many of the organizations services, is heading up the third working group, which now trying to streamline their process. seeks to enhance community-based mental health services, Dean McKellar, the City of Edmonton’s supervisor of capacity and supports. The third working group is develassessment and short-term counselling, says that people oping training around common language and examining who approach helping organizations find themselves having existing databases for referring clients to help them navigate to tell their story over and over again. A better scenario, he through the system. This group looks at common issues a explains, would be for someone to come in for help, tell their client faces, answering questions such as “Why would I need story once, and promptly receive the support they need. to visit a mental health professional? How long would I need The second working group is to see them? What can I talk hoping to help mitigate this about?” problem by improving how The goal is to help The goal is to help families like organizations work together, families like the Smiths, the Smiths, who are in need of various while keeping the client front who are in need of support systems, understand how to access and centre. It will also focus on various support systems, support by mapping out the possible ways to foster positive mental understand how to access pathways of where they could go to health in children and youth. support by mapping out the solve their problem and connect with The group is taking its cues possible pathways of where from a smaller-scale successful they could go to solve their the appropriate people. initiative between the City problem and connect with of Edmonton and the Today the appropriate people. For Family Violence Help Centre. Now, if someone who needs the Smiths, that might mean approaching a counsellor who help calls the City of Edmonton when they actually need the can help them pinpoint other social systems, like substance services of the Today Centre, rather than simply giving out abuse programs, financial assistance to help pay the bills the centre’s number, the city staffer instead keeps the caller and free after-school programs for their children. on the line, connects with the centre and briefs them about “It’s a complex issue from a system perspective and a the nature of the call. “That keeps the client at the centre of client’s perspective. There is no quick fix,” Toby says. She the conversation,” Dean says. “It gets the person connected wants to increase access to available resources and shorten to the right place on the first phone call.” waiting lists. To this end, the working group, which is reviewing the According to Toby, the process of working together is continuum of support available to area families, is seeking “unique in the sense that we are looking at very tangible to pull together organizations that are already working in actions,” she says. “Hopefully we’ll be able to continue on this area. “Ideally, one of the proposed end goals is to develthis process once we finish this particular strategy.” op a tool kit that organizations can use to help streamline Looking ahead, Toby can see the working groups imthings for their clients,” Dean says. plement numerous short-term processes, with the goal of The next step involves understanding the kind of agreeinfluencing the system as a whole. They plan to meet up to ments that are currently in place in the region, and what share their projects near the end of May. other organizations could also benefit from the working “The strategy is really positive: ‘What can we do in the group’s solutions. short term to make a difference?’ ”

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KATHLEEN POWER

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DO Drop In by JEN JANZEN

Photography by AMY SENECAL

Five city organizations have partnered to offer on-the-spot counselling services to Edmontonians by JEN JANZEN

photography by AMY SENECAL

ATHLEEN POWER SIPS HER TEA and smiles at the two volunteer therapists sitting beside her. “Ready to start?” she asks them, her finger poised on the mouse, ready to connect to WebEx, the software that will allow them to link the group to a session that’s about to take place across the city. Today, the counselling sessions are being offered at the Boys and Girls Club Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) in north Edmonton. The intern therapist at the counselling site answers the call and the camera on the other end of the call comes into focus, the group sees a preteen boy sitting across from the intern therapist’s desk. Having this technology allows the group to participate in the session and offer support to the boy without being there. Kathleen is the clinical supervisor of Edmonton’s new single-session drop-in counselling program, run by The Family Centre and jointly sponsored by United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and the City of Edmonton. It seeks to serve the counselling needs of diverse populations scattered across the entire city, all while operating on a modest budget. The Family Centre is working with four other organizations to provide a service that assists Edmontonians in different situations across various demographics, such as seniors, children, and new

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Canadians. Partnering with The Family Centre are BGCBigs, the Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton Region, the Edmonton John Howard Society and the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE). Together, they’re able to offer counselling services in six locations: in the west, north-west, east and downtown. The service is free, operates on a first-come, first-served basis and no referral is needed. The program is a continuation of the service previously offered by The Support Network, which ended its drop-in counselling program in 2012 after fiscal pressures made it necessary to choose between continuing the drop-in service or bolstering its 24/7 Distress Line. In June, United Way and the City of Edmonton sent out a request for proposals to create another drop-in counselling program to fill the growing need for these services in the community. They received dozens of creative applications, but it was The Family Centre’s vision of city-wide partnerships that really stood out. Jean Dalton, director of neighbourhood health and well-being for United Way, says the plan was appealing because of its potential to reach people who may otherwise not have been able to access – or who may not have even thought about accessing – traditional counselling services. “We thought it would be workable in our community because United Way and the City were looking at how to deliver services in

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DROP-INS WELCOME: Rod Rode, left, and Kathleen Power of The Family Centre would like to see drop-in counselling services increase to 30-36 hours per week among the six partner organizations, from its current 18 hours being offered.

different parts of Edmonton,” she says. Rod Rode is executive director of The Family Centre. He says the five partnering organizations have collaborated in the past and share common values. “We did not have to do a lot of the important groundwork you have to do to establish a partnership,” he says. “That work was already done. We know and trust one another. We hit the ground running.” It’s a rather serendipitous arrangement that will use each organization’s existing resources such as office space and administrative services, office supplies and advertising. The partnership, which is also largely volunteer-run, will keep costs down. Currently, drop-in counselling is available for three hours a week at six locations across the city, for a total of 18 hours, with increased hours to come as the program gets established. Rod says the service has two key benefits: increasing mental health service availability across the city, and attracting people who are not willing or able to access traditional counselling services. Rod cites research on stating the effectiveness of drop-in, single-session counselling, adding many clients could be served with a single session. “Fifty per cent of people who require counselling only need one or two sessions. When we’re thinking about reaching people who are not currently using traditional services, a single session drop-in service could take care of quite a few people,” he says, adding that drop-in

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sessions are a “critical piece” of the continuum of care. “Some people will need more counselling, but they can wait for that counselling appointment. The ones who need only one session will walk in, identify their most pressing issue and walk out with an action plan.” Kathleen says the therapists use a strengths-based approach. “If we’re intentional as therapists and listening carefully to the client, we’re able to help the client look at their own strengths and coping mechanisms, and how their current problems can be solved using those resources.” She adds that clients are encouraged to take an active role in coming up with solutions. “It’s really important to empower the client that the solution is with them,” she says. Rod speaks highly of the City of Edmonton’s Family and Community Support Services division and United Way, the drop-in counselling program’s funding partners. “An integrated approach by funding bodies makes administration and accountability easier and less costly,” he says, adding that the City and United Way don’t just send money; the two organizations play an important role in investigating, and meeting, the need for mental health services. “United Way and the City have been working actively with a large number of non-profit agencies to identify gaps in the continuum of mental health

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services in Edmonton. They have insight to offer regarding of the drop-in service’s goals is to reach more men. “We’re still the nature and scope of the challenge that goes well beyond very socialized to think that men should have all the answers. providing revenue.” They’re supposed to know how to fix things themselves,” she Robin Murray, executive director of the Edmonton John explains. “We see it as part of our work to soften some of the Howard Society, sees the partnership as a first step towards stress in their lives.” a more resilient community. “I believe we are just scratching This is where the multiple locations fit into the plan. As the the surface of what this collaboration will result in, and I’m partners outline in their proposal, some refugee and immivery excited about where this is leading us,” he says. grant communities have people who came from traumatizing One important aspect of single-session counselling is situations but are reluctant to come forward and admit they that it’s not meant to solve every problem. “We’re asking need help. “It takes patience to reach these people,” the partthe client to be very specific about one issue for that day,” ners wrote in their proposal. “Some people are more inclined Kathleen says. There’s no limit to the amount of counselling to view the service as safe if located relatively nearby and in a sessions a client can attend familiar building.” and, in the three months Rod says the goal is to inWhen we’re thinking about reaching since the program started, crease the hours that drop-in people who are not now using traditional the team has already seen counselling is available – the services, a single session drop-in service some repeat clients who’ve objective outlined in the proworked on one part of their posal is to eventually offer 30 could take care of quite a few people. issue and then come back to 36 hours per week – but he – Rod Rode, executive director of The Family Centre to the service to explore emphasized the partners want another side. to grow the program slowly Each of the patient-side counsellors are clinical interns and carefully to ensure it’s sustainable at all stages. For the studying for their masters or PhD degrees. They’re enrolled first few weeks, advertising was minimal in order to give the in an eight- or 10-month internship with The Family Centre partners, staff members and volunteers time to familiarize and have diverse responsibilities: they work in schools and themselves with the new processes. Now, with the program’s deliver traditional counselling as well as single-session counwebsite launch, they’re ready to present themselves to the city. selling. Power is around for all of the drop-in hours and she, Kathleen says she’s already seen a lot of positive outcomes along with a team of three or four volunteer therapists, sits stemming from the drop-in counselling program and she’s in on every session via WebEx, which is similar to Skype but excited to see where it will go. She has worked in counselling encrypted for confidentiality. for 26 years, and for her, it’s seeing clients realize their own Each session follows a similar structure. The intern therstrengths that’s the most rewarding. “When clients come apist meets with the client, and together they discuss the back to report their successes, we’re often quite struck with problem. Throughout the session, the on-screen therapists how they’ve taken their session. It wasn’t necessarily how are free to ask the client questions and then, at 40 minutes, we would have taken it, but because of their strength and there’s a break in which the group comes together to craft a resourcefulness they solve the problem in a novel way.” message to the client. “We’re highlighting their strengths and their abilities to solve problems, and we’re also acknowledgPILLARS OF SOCIETY ing the dilemmas they’re facing. We know it’s quite effective for clients to know that a team has listened, that there’s more Supporting Edmontonians’ mental health is a key aspect than one person trying to help,” Kathleen says. ]of eradicating poverty. In its Creating Pathways Out of As of the beginning of December, just three months into Poverty report, United Way identified three focus areas: its operation, the drop-in program has seen close to 50 education (supporting early childhood development and clients, including children, seniors, immigrants, Aboriginal high school graduation), income (supporting people to people and those living in poverty. Kathleen says offering the achieve financial independence) and wellness, of which service through the different partner agencies is an effective mental health is a crucial aspect. way to help segments of society that would otherwise be For more information on drop-in counselling difficult to reach. “Some clients would never think of a thervisit www.dropinyeg.com apeutic relationship as a resource,” she says, adding that one

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B USINESS WAY

Creative Campaign Next Digital puts the “fun” into its fundraising and drums up $11,000 for United Way initiatives by SÉAMUS SMYTH

HIS EYES WERE CLOSED AND his chin was tucked slightly downwards to minimize the inevitable whipped cream up the nostrils. Next Digital president Andrew Jackson held his breath and waited for the soft “whump.” Still, he was surprised when it came, lobbed by one of his staffers and accompanied by a round of laughter from the onlookers. Beneath the sugary muck, a smile spread on Andrew’s face, happy to take a pie in the face to raise money for United Way. This, along with a game of “Office Survivor” and other activities, were among highlights of the day. Also on the program was a moving speech that helped inform Next Digital’s staff and stakeholders about the benefits of the United Way programming. The small Edmonton-based tech company raised an outstanding $11,000 for United Way in its first year of fundraising. United Way’s Annmarie Weishaar commended the Next Digital leaders who executed a near-perfect rookie campaign. “Forty people raised over $10,000,” Annmarie says. “That is a big impact for a small company.” Next Digital, an in-house information technology company, recently brought on board former United Way campaign

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manager Jackie Ferner, who recognized that her new team was eager to give back to their community. Jackie pitched the two-week United Way campaign to a few co-workers, and with unanimous approval the plot was put in motion. “The strategy was to keep it simple and fun,” says Jackie. That meant generating a contagious level of excitement throughout the office to ensure every member was on board. A popular Friday activity was a staff raffle game, so Jackie, along with her campaign co-leader Matt Strachan, decided to raise the stakes and adapt the tradition, making Office Survivor part of the fundraiser. Participants donated $10 and everyone placed his or her name in a hat. Then everyone removed a name until only one remained in the hat, and a winner was declared. What generated the most attention was United Way’s guest speaker, who struck a chord with everyone. Project Adult Literacy Society (PALS) client Ali Elhag spoke about the peer mentorship program that helps newcomers to Canada with learning English. The man was given such tremendous help via the program, which helped him learn to read and get a job in Calgary, that he now serves as a

mentor himself. “That was a deal closer for everyone. Once they heard that story, everyone wanted to donate,” says Jackie. Next Digital’s ownership matched every dollar that was donated. Managing partner John Mclaughlin says the fact that it was a grassroots endeavour made it that much more special. “It was a top-down thing. It was really cool to see everyone get engaged and have a great time. It makes everyone proud to be part of Next Digital,” John says. Funds from this year will fund programs and services in the Alberta Capital Region that help achieve United Way’s goal of creating pathways out of poverty. Offering incentives such as early bird prizes and a day off with pay, along with an educational component helped the company’s fundraising success. Of course, the crowd-pleaser was probably watching the company president take the pie in the face. To ensure nobody missed the spectacle, the event was broadcast online to their other offices in Alberta. The rest of the Next Digital family is hoping to get on board with fundraising for 2015, says Annmarie. “They have set the bar so high in their first year, hopefully they can maintain it or even surpass it.”

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L EADING EDGE

Group Effort The Urban Aboriginal Family Resource Centre brings a collaborative approach to helping youth seek the good life by LISA OSTROWSKI

UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO, SCHOOL attendance was a challenge for Harmoni Bunnie. As she approached high school, Harmoni’s interest in classes was dwindling. Her mother wanted to see her succeed, but didn’t know how to help her along. After hearing about the Youth Navigator program, a new initiative from Edmonton’s Urban Aboriginal Family Resource Centre (UAFRC), she thought it might be a tool to help her daughter forge a path in life. The Youth Navigator program aims to provide individualized support to aboriginal youth in need of guidance in a number of difficult areas, including school attendance, substance abuse and crime. With funding assistance from United Way, the program focuses on improving the lives of local aboriginal youth by addressing the challenges facing their communities. The program is a one-to-one support system that pairs youth in need of assistance with a Youth Navigator dedicated to helping them through their personal obstacles. Through their engagement with the program, the teens build trust and develop life skills that will aid them in finding the right path. “The scope of issues and struggles that these young people face is huge. We’re working with them individually, with where they’re at, to help guide them through barriers and on to more positive things in their life,” says Jodene McIsaac, acting program manager for youth services at UAFRC.

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Youth can be referred for placement with a Navigator by family, friends, teachers or even themselves. Once the UAFRC receives a referral, which includes specific details on the young person’s individual situation, the youth is matched with one of the Navigators. Each of the Navigators has unique strengths, which are also taken into account in the pairing. Workers build relationships with the youth, and assist them in finding their own identities as aboriginal teens. After being referred to the program by her mother, Harmoni met with Jennifer Bryce, one of the UAFRC’s Youth Navigators. Through one-onone meetings and regular check-ins, Harmoni says her motivation has increased. “Jen is so positive, she’s got such a positive energy,” she says. Some of the values of our agency are interconnectedness, relationships and cultural connection, so we work with

them on these values,” says Jodene. “We want them to make better choices, have more positive thinking, and have better community engagement.” The three Youth Navigators in the program typically carry a case load of 12-15 teens each. This means that Jennifer’s busy schedule won’t always allow for in-person meetings with Harmoni. Instead, Jennifer goes the extra mile by staying in touch through regular phone calls and text messages. “I go to school now, and I’m looking for a job,” Harmoni says. “The program is what really helped me. I probably wouldn’t have done this much without it.” While the program has shown promising results, the UAFRC hopes to bring on additional youth workers to meet rising demands. Due to the customized and personal nature of each Youth Navigator relationship, capacity for additional cases is needed to build on the program’s successes so far.

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MILESTONES

Beyond Tokenism

Community partner has created conditions to help clients succeed for 40 years

by MARTIN DOVER

WHAT DOES A GREAT COMMUNITY look like? At its base, the answer is pretty simple. Most of us want a community where children grow within a family and learn together in neighbourhood schools, where adults work at real jobs, where people have real homes and friends, and where they contribute to their communities. These are the goals of the Gateway Association, too. This is the organization’s 40th year of serving families and people who live with intellectual disabilities, many who are also on the autism spectrum. And for 33 of those years, Gateway has been a United Way partner. The Gateway Association has four main thrusts, says its director of employment supports Renate Burwash. There is family support, mentorship, and education and awareness. The fourth pillar – inclusive employment is – where the group focused its efforts. Many Gateway clients are people who might not qualify for other employment programming. The association administers the My Life Personal Outcome Survey, which revealed (among other things) that people with intellectual disabilities seek meaningful work. To address the needs of this subset, Renate’s team, along with executive director Cindy DeBruijn, came up with the We Belong program, which aims

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CHRIS HENDERSON

to employ clients in meaningful work in which they can excel and add value to their employers. “We get to know the family, the situation and the whole person to get a good idea of where they might fit.” But that’s only part of the story. “We also identify potential employers, to find out where their staffing problems lie,” Renate says. Companies might have a position that experiences high turnover, which negatively impacts other roles in the company and the bottom line. With the employer, Renate’s team unpacks the role into its component elements. “We often find that we have a client who would be great at, say, eight of the 12 tasks the position requires,” she says. Willing employers might then opt to redistribute the remaining four elements and take other tasks off of other employees’ lists to create a job at which the Gateway Association client can excel. “Suddenly, they have a reliable employee who shows up on time and adds value,” Renate says. “We want to create real opportunities, not tokenism.” The We Belong program is what brought Chris Henderson to Weiss-Johnson, a furnace and sheet metal company in Edmonton. “I started in April 2014, so it’s been almost a year,” Chris says. “I work in mainte-

nance and shipping and receiving.” “It was a learning curve at first,” says Barry Gabruch, human resources manager at Weiss-Johnson. “Chris wasn’t sure exactly what to do, and the other guys didn’t know what he was capable of.” Still, Barry knew Chris was willing, so he consulted with Renate. In the end, Barry made a schedule, and once Chris saw it, he knew exactly where to be and what to do – it was a tool that helped him excel, and it helped his colleagues work well with him, too. “I get along with everyone,” Chris says, “and I’m good at helping out.” Barry agrees. “Once Chris had that schedule and the expectations were clear, he really stepped up,” he says. “He’s always on time and almost never misses a day.” Gateway Association celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing the We Belong mobile app at its February 6 gala. The goal of the app is to reward inclusive businesses like Weiss-Johnson by giving consumers a quick, easy place to find those employers. It works like this: a consumer looking for a coffee shop can search the We Belong app to find one nearby that practices inclusive employment and opt to spend their cash there. It’s a way of rewarding a business by choosing to spend money there, instead of with a competitor. WEMAGAZINE.CA

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Today Caitlin powered her City in a diFFerent way.

What really connects us as Edmontonians isn’t just wires and water lines – it’s the urge to lend a hand when it’s needed. Through a variety of programs, EPCOR employees like Caitlin give back to our community. Today that means donating her time to a local animal rescue organization. Find out what’s happening in your community by visiting epcor.com/community.