What's New > Easter Seals Project Continuum

9/7/2006
Project Continuum Consultations Continue

The Association Strategy Group (ASG) team has started to conduct broad-based consultations with staff and volunteers of the Easter Seal Society, Ontario (Easter Seals) and the Ontario March of Dimes. Consultations will continue through the fall as internal and external stakeholders share information about the organizations and contribute ideas to maximize resources while providing a comprehensive and seamless continuum of services for children, youth and adults with physical disabilities in Ontario.

Working closely with the Joint Task Force overseeing Project Continuum, the ASG team will conduct upwards of 75 stakeholder interviews and four working sessions with staff and members of the two Boards of Directors. To date, 50 individuals have been contacted, 20 interviews have been completed, and an additional 12 interviews have been set up. The purpose of these consultations is to understand and assess the organizations from both strategic and operating perspectives. The degree of both strategic and organizational alignment will partly determine what approaches the organizations should consider when deciding whether to jointly plan and undertake administration and/or service delivery.

“We are pleased with the work conducted to date and we’re eager to participate in the September working sessions,” said Project Continuum Co-Chair Greg Smith, Past Chair of the Easter Seals Board. “It will be very instructive to learn more about what our stakeholders have shared so far regarding our organizations, what services are needed, and what we can accomplish by working together.”

“We are also looking forward to discussing the issues with each other in an open and engaging process,” added David Boyle, Project Continuum Co-Chair and Chair of the Board for Ontario March of Dimes. “These working sessions will set the stage for the rest of the work this fall to identify and assess options for how we can collaborate to better serve individuals with disabilities in this province.”

Staff, volunteers, donors, and other interested stakeholders are welcome to contact the ASG team to share any comments or concerns or to ask questions about the project. Individuals may send an email in confidence to Jennifer Shepherd and Chris LeClair at projectcontinuum@associationstrategygroup.com. Messages sent to this address will be acknowledged within 2 working days. The team will review all comments and share the nature of the comments received on a monthly basis with the Joint Task Force overseeing Project Continuum. The names of individuals from whom the e-mails were received will not be shared with the Joint Task Force and will remain confidential. Members of the Joint Task Force will discuss all issues raised and will agree to an appropriate means of addressing the issues. Association Strategy Group will send a response to individuals within one month to advise them how their comments are being addressed.

“We believe that stakeholders should feel free to speak their mind,” said Carol Lloyd, President and CEO of Easter Seals. Andria Spindel, President and CEO of Ontario March of Dimes, agreed and added, “Carol and I are encouraging staff, volunteers, partners, and others to be honest and candid if they’re interviewed as part of this process and to contact the ASG team if they have questions or want to offer comments about this project.”

The Joint Task Force heard from the ASG team that some stakeholders believe a merger of the two organizations is a foregone conclusion when this isn’t the case. While it remains an option, there are many other options to think about, such as working together to share administrative functions, program and service planning, and/or service delivery. Later this year, the Joint Task Force will meet to reflect on the research currently being conducted and to consider what options make the most sense.

The purpose of Project Continuum is to explore options to maximize the resources of both organizations while providing a comprehensive and seamless continuum of services for children, youth and adults with physical disabilities in Ontario. The project is funded through a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, spanning a 30-month period. This communication is the third in a series of updates that will be issued to keep you informed as the project progresses.

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