Strategic Planning - Part 2

SCORE ANALYSIS - Strength, Challenges. Opportunities, Risks and Environment

The board of directors met for 2 planning session in mid March to try and formulate the basis of our plan. We chose Debbi Salmonsen from Honu Consulting to lead us through the process.

For our next step in our planning process, we wanted to put all the information together into some usable information. In general we knew we wanted to build on our strengths, minimize our risks and grow the organization. So, our facilitator chose to lead us through a SCORE analysis done in a brainstorming session format.

Here are our top 3 in each category:

Strengths:

1. We have a variety of successful programs that are known for their innovation and impact.
2. Passionate leadership by board, staff, management and volunteers.
3. History of being responsible, accountable and effective.

Challenges:

1. Discontinuation over 3 years of United Way Member agency funding. We will require $140,000 of new donations.
2. Lack of awareness about our Branch programs
3. Growing need for services with a lack of new money to pay for them

Opportunities:

1. Continue to grow and develop our inCREDable program series (Child and Youth programs).
2. Develop cross cultural competencies to better serve Vancouver and Burnaby's diverse populations
3. Utilize new technologies (social media) to reach out to more people.

Risks:

1. Reliance on government funding during tough economic times
2. Lack of space in office to grow
3. Loosing staff and volunteers

Environment:

1. With the development of the Canadian Mental Health Commission there is a growing awareness in Canada about the need to fight stigma and support those living with a mental illness.
2. There is an economic recession and fundraising is more challenging.
3. 2009 election and 2010 Olympics are shining a spotlight on Vancouver.

Up next: our key priorities

National Memory Screening Day is June 23, 2009

Screening is an effective early intervention strategy for many health concerns. Tomorrow we urge you to take time to participate in National Memory Screening Day.

In the Greater Vancouver area, consider visiting a London Drugs location near you to participate in a brief 1:1 screening with a pharmacist.

If you are interested in learning more about dematia and caregiving, Beyond Memory , a great documentary produced by the Knowledge Network, is recommended viewing.

Bus beheader to remain in psychiatric care, board rules… (Winnipeg Free Press Published: Wednesday, June 03, 2009)

This headline and story from the Winnipeg Free Press is disturbing. I am disappointed that the media would perpetuate the impression that mental illness and violence automatically go hand –in –hand. I understand the desire to create snappy headlines but do not feel that this should take precedence over the use of respectful language. The stigma associated with mental illness is already profound and pervasive without referring to a person by an illness. It does not pay respect to any individual as a whole person, with both positive and negative attributes, to label them by one (admittedly horrific) action with the use of such a glib and tasteless phrase and , in cases like this, may prevent others from seeking help because the risk of stigma and misunderstanding may be increased. It is documented that approximately “one in five British Columbians is living with some form of mental disorder or other, but fewer than a third will ever get treatment…not due to the lack of mental health resources or effective treatments, but too often because people fear being labeled according to age old stereotypes of people with mental health problems.”

We would not think of referring to a person as cancerous – just think of the image that brings to mind. Yet, again and again, we are bombarded with public examples of this misuse of language associated with mental health concerns, and for that matter, other social issues that make us uncomfortable. The term ‘bus beheader’ in a headline is reductive and dismissive towards the lives of both men involved in the tragedy of that night last year. What happened was terrible and tragic, but also anomalous – the result of lack of better services for those with mental illness, of better understanding in general about mental illness, and a tragic illustration of how stigma has real impact on lives.

I am pleased that the The Mental Health Commission of Canada has recently begun a 10-year Anti-stigma / Anti-discrimination Initiative. I would urge you to take a few moments to check out their website and to help shape a positive change for those Canadians living with mental illness and those who love them.

The Cross Canada Run - Wayne Cho over 8000 km of Hope

Wayne Cho began running across Canada (East to West) on May 23, 2008. This week he arrived in Vancouver.

Wayne is running to raise awareness of anxiety and depression. Each day he is breaking down the stigma one foot in front of the other at a time.

Today Wayne came and met with some staff at CMHA VB Branch. Tonight he will meet some participants of our Chinese Mental Health Promotion Program. As I felt this afternoon, they will be impressed, inspired and awed by this amazing young man.

Wayne, speaks with such clarity and passion about facing your fears and just trying your best. He believes in the power that is in all of us and our ability to do great things. His accomplishment is an example.

I want to recommend that everyone take some time and read Wayne's blog. It is a rare and wonderful look at Canada, Canadians and the power to change minds.

Thanks Wayne.

Strategic Planning - Part 1

Strategic Planning begins by trying to get as many voices as possible to share their views about the organization.

This process can be long and extensive or more brief and focussed. Our branch had undergone a very extensive process for our 2005 -2008 strategic plan. So, we decided to build on that and use a more focussed but broad approach.

Service User Surveys distributed through all programs and services. 65 surveys returned.

Staff Survyes. 25 surveys returned.

Participant Advisory Committee input and oversight. (CMHA VB has a participant advisory committee that is made up of service users and acts to inform the leadership of consumer experience, needs, wants and to ensure consumer voice is at the decision making table of the organization.

Board Member research of a complete environmental scan.

Broad consultation with funders and donors about current services. Ongoing.

Leadership team input and review

So, that is a whole lot of data and opinions. The next step was engaging in a SCORE analysis. Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Enviornment. Stayed tuned to hear about how we did.

Moving an Organization Forward

Every non-profit either has, or should have a strategic plan. This plan outlines the vision of the organization and the goals, objectives and tasks to get there.

This past Spring, our Branch began the process of developping our new 3 year strategic plan. This process led by our Board of Directors, sets the stage for our growth and will be the basis of our work and decision making.

Over the next several blog posts, I would like to share the ins and outs, of strategic planning and give everyone a head's up as to where we are going. I hope you enjoy and please don't hesitate to share your comments about the plan. All input is valuable as we are a community organization and we want to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Shields
Executive Director

The CMHA VB Board of Directors

Top Left to Right: Jane O'Connor, Merrill Sheppard, Pervez Siddiqui, Isabella Mori

Front: Julia Raudzus and Rebecca Shields (ED)

Absent: Robert Lydon, Pamela Verma, Shannon Higginson