The summer months were very busy ones for many of us at the association.  While many were basking in the sun, a few of us were chained to our desks, writing policies and procedures or meeting with families to complete Person Focused Plans.  All in the name of accreditation, our current project at the NSDRC.

After using the Survey Preparation Guides and Standards Worksheets to identify gaps (thanks to all the CARF Sub-Committee Members) we developed work plans and divided the tasks amongst a few lucky people who began the arduous task of policy writing.

I would like to thank Joe VanderHorst, Fenella Boase, Jack Cruise, Liz Barnett (our policy queen) and John Neumann.  A special thanks to our student Technical Writer, Kelly Parry who worked day and night to finish program policies.  Students Stacey Jamison and Brian Kerrigan need special recognition for conducting an accessibility audit and completing our excellent Accessibility Plan.

Thanks to all the Program Managers in the Supported Living Program and Community Based Services Program who spent the summer completing the new Person Focused Plans – a mere 23 pages.  Due to funding support from the City and District of North Vancouver, we were able to hire Steve Hall to help Program Managers Kathleen Jessop and Steve Hall complete over 100 plans for the people supported through their programs.  Thanks to the people we support and their family members and friends for being so enthusiastic about the process. 

Thanks to Raven Mack for the initiative she has taken in the development of a computerized outcomes data base system. Raven is our data base queen and we would be lost without her.

The next steps involve training and implementation on the new policies and procedures.  CARF expects to see that all new policies and procedures have been in place for a minimum of six months. 

On Thursday, September 11^th, all CARF Committee Members were invited to a gathering at the office to view some of the work that has been done so far.  Program Managers and Health and Safety Committee Members will be trained in all new policies and procedures on September 18^th and 29^th.  Wednesday, October 8^th will be an All-Staff Training day at the Leo Marshall Centre.

We will continue to collect the documentation and evidence we will present to the Site Surveyors.  An application will be sent to CARF for a Site Survey in April 2004 and a Mock Survey Committee will be struck for a Mock Survey in February 2004.  All current CARF Committee members will be invited to become Advisory Committee Members for the various programs and areas they currently represent.

In September the Ministry of Children and Family Development announced an extension of at least one year for agencies to have completed a Site Survey. Thanks to the hard work of so many, we are meeting our timelines.   A decision has been made to maintain our goal of a Site Survey in April 2004.  Kudos to all of you!