Glossary of Terms

 Aboriginal – Aboriginal is defined in accordance with section 35 (2) of the Constitution Act (1982) as including Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada.

Aboriginal Healing Lodges - A centre that offers Traditional Healing approaches to address the underlying causes of abuse and family dysfunction in a residential setting. 

Aboriginal Health Initiatives - Community-based approaches to holistic health and wellness, guided by health determinants and based in Indigenous knowledge.

Aboriginal Traditional Medicine - Traditional culture-based programming (e.g., oral cultural transmission, sharing circles, rites of passage ceremonies).

Access Mechanisms - Including single point access mechanisms and coordinated access mechanisms.  These provide information about local services, act as a point of entry into the local service system, establish service priorities, make referrals to services, maintain and prioritize waiting lists for services and may provide other services as negotiated with regional offices (i.e. Contact Brant).

Accountability – Accountability is defined as the obligation to answer for the execution of assigned responsibilities to the persons or groups who conferred the responsibilities.   It entails monitoring, evaluating, explaining and continuously improving the kinds of services that are delivered and how they are delivered.

Accountability means being transparent with clients and their families, funders, staff, volunteers, students and community partners about the results the Agency is trying to achieve, the relevance of services to community needs, the quality of services, behaviours and management of relationships by staff, Board and volunteers, outcomes and expenditures.  Accountability is a core value of the Agency, which permeates the culture and operations at all levels including leadership, governance, management, resource allocation and management, community partnerships, policies, practices and services.

Activities – Activities are defined as those actions taken to achieve a planned outcome. (see Planning and Evaluation Model).

Admission – Admission refers to the process of intaking a client into a program.

Adult Diversion  - When an adult is dealt with outside of the formal court process (e.g., Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions).  Adults in these programs take responsibility for their actions and develop skills to reduce the chance that they will get in trouble again.  Mental health programming includes, for example, counselling services.

Advocacy - Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need.  Advocates and advocacy services work in partnership with the people they support.  Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social justice.  It is the Agency’s responsibility to advocate for clients who are often unable to speak up for themselves.  This takes the form of disseminating information, giving presentations and meeting with politicians and community leaders to influence their views on social issues impacting the community.

Agent - Anyone authorized by ST. LEONARD’S COMMUNITY SERVICES to collect, use or disclose information on behalf of the Agency and not for the agent’s own use.  Such agents include staff, volunteers, Board members, managers, students and persons contracted to provide services who have access to Agency information (i.e. Personal Health Information).

Aggregate - The aggregate is the sum total of individual data assembled together into logical groups.  The easiest way to measure an aggregate is to simply add all of the scores from a group and calculate the mean (average) score.

ANSA – Refers to Adults, Needs and Strengths Assessment Tool.  It consists of dimensions relating to both clinical needs and strengths.  Anchors that are standard across these dimensions are used to rate the level of need or strength on a scale from 0 to 3.  The anchors are worded in terms of the level of intervention needed, which enables ANSA to produce information that is instantly relevant for service planning.  For needs, 0 is no evidence and no need for action. 1 is mild and warrants watchful waiting.  2 is moderate and warrants action.  3 is severe and requires immediate action.

For strengths, 0 is a strength to be built upon.  1 is a strength, which can be used in a plan but not as the main focus.  2 is a strength that requires building.  3 is no strength.

Ratings of 2 and 3 therefore become action items or goals for a treatment/action plan.  The determination of ratings and the development of treatment/action plan goals are accomplished in a collaborative way involving a team of stakeholders including the client.

Anti-bullying Programs – These are programs, which seek to address and prevent bullying behaviours (see bullying).

Art/Play Therapy - Using a variety of activities, such as play, music, painting, drama and puppets, to establish communication with the therapist, express and resolve problems.

Assessment - An assessment is a comprehensive overview of the client’s situation, incorporating his/her views about his/her own strengths, needs, expectations for treatment and available resources. This may involve an interview about one’s thoughts, feelings, behaviours and level of coping at school, work and home.  It may also involve written/verbal tests, physical exam, laboratory test and/or an assessment of the family’s functioning.  The assessment should take into account the cultural context of the client and his/her parent/guardian/caregiver.  It also takes into account information and observations in reports collected by other service providers during the previous two-year period, (if relevant to the current assessment) and from the subsequent treatment process.

The assessment includes a comprehensive compilation of social, biological and psychological information necessary for identifying client strengths and needs in order to develop a treatment/action plan. Assessments include the use of screening/intake tools such as BCFPI, CAFAS, CANS and the Youth Justice Assessment Tool.  Assessments also involve the use of specialized tools and professional observation.

Baseline - The baseline is the measurement taken at the start of the intervention.  It can also be a predetermined measurement or measurements of a comparison group that exist under similar conditions.  Without some sort of baseline or comparison group, increases or decreases in data scores are meaningless.  This method requires no comparison groups but reduces the generalization capacity of an evaluation.

BCFPI – Refers to the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview, which is a standardized measurement tool used at intake in children’s mental health services in Ontario.

Benchmarks – Benchmarks are the standards of accomplishment that the Agency can strive to achieve as future targets.  Benchmarks function as performance data that are used for comparative purposes.  A program can also use its own data as a baseline benchmark against which to compare future performance.  It also can use data from another program as a benchmark.

Best Practice - A best practice is a technique or method that has demonstrated to be reliable and lead to a desired result or success.  It can be supported through experience and evidence, such as data collected through research and/or evaluation.  A strategy that is only supported by one piece of evidence is not a best practice.  Regardless how well a specific strategy seems to work, without being able to identify multiple sources of evidence, one cannot call a strategy a best practice.  Best practice is always supported by evidence.  The best evidence comes from multiple sources and consistently points toward the same solution.  Identification of best practice can always be referenced by specific sources of evidence.

Brief Therapy - Brief therapy (i.e. solution-focused therapy), is a short-term therapy that often lasts between eight and 20 sessions.  Short-term therapies are frequently used to deal with a specific problem, such as death, divorce, parenting issues or a specific phobia, rather than problems that have lasted for years.  The sessions tend to focus more on current rather than childhood or other issues from the past and the Counsellor (Primary Worker) generally takes an active role in guiding the discussions.  Sometimes clients are given homework (i.e., exercises to help them cope with stress or anxiety between therapy sessions).

Bullying – Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, or reputation.  Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.

CAFAS – Refers to the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale which is used to assess the level of functional impairment in children and adolescent with emotional, behavioural or substance abuse problems.  CAFAS is a clinician rated tool that is being used in Ontario to look at treatment outcomes for children age 6 to 17 who receive mental health services in participating community based children’s mental health centres.

CANS - Refers to the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment tool.  It consists of dimensions relating to both clinical needs and strengths.  Anchors that are standard across these dimensions are used to rate the level of need or strength on a scale from 0 to 3.  The anchors are worded in terms of the level of intervention needed, which enables CANS to produce information that is instantly relevant for service planning.  For needs, 0 is no evidence and no need for action. 1 is mild and warrants watchful waiting.  2 is moderate and warrants action.  3 is severe and requires immediate action.

For strengths, 0 is a strength to be built upon.  1 is a strength, which can be used in a plan but not as the main focus.  2 is a strength that requires building.  3 is no strength.

Ratings of 2 and 3 therefore become action items or goals for a treatment/action plan.  The determination of ratings and the development of treatment/action plan goals are accomplished in a collaborative way involving a team of stakeholders including the client.

CHEO – Refers to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

Children and Youth  - The term children and youth refers to all young people up to their 18th birthday.  Within MCYS, the term “transitional age youth” refers to young people between 16 and 18 years of age.

Circle of Care - Those Health Information Custodians who provide health care or assist in providing health care within the continuum of care, including the following:

 Client Satisfaction Surveys - Client satisfaction surveys measure clients' perceptions of like/dislike or satisfaction/dissatisfaction with programs and staff.  Satisfaction surveys are not an outcome measure because they do not measure change in any client domain; they are better classified as a tool to measure whether clients like or dislike the services being delivered.
 
Client Service - Client service is the core business of the Agency and refers to services and program activities that are designed to meet client needs.  The Agency provides the following types of services:
 Prevention and Awareness,

These services are divided into four sectors (addictions/mental health, justice, employment and youth and family).  Within these sectors, there are multiple programs.

Program activities are delivered in logical steps that include the following components:  

When preparing the “client service” section of the operating plan, staff may focus on programs and/or program components. (Addendum 1A - Planning and Evaluation).

Plans under the function of Client Service are referred to as Logic Models because of the logical connection linking the program’s goal, the planned outcomes, the planned activities and the assigned resources.

Clinical Supervision – Clinical Supervision refers to the support and counsel a supervisor provides to a Counsellor (Primary Worker) with respect to treatment planning and evaluation.

Collect – The definition of collect  is to gather, acquire, receive or obtain information by any means and from any source.

Community Relations - Community relations refers to communication outside the Agency with other agencies, businesses, the judiciary, politicians, government departments, regulatory bodies, suppliers, customers, neighbours, parents and teachers.  It includes both regular informal and formal communication in response to concerns, inquiries or requests as well as negotiation of formal agreements.

Community Supports – Community Supports refers to a wide array of programs and services that are available to large segments of the population usually based on broad eligibility criteria.  Examples include recreational programs, community centres, parent/youth groups, friendship centres, community directories (i.e. youth services directory), help lines, volunteer services, social assistance programs, local access mechanisms (ie. Contact Brant), youth employment centres, outreach programs, housing (i.e. YRC and CSR), programs for teen parents etc.

Consent - Consent is required for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.  It must be the consent of the individual, be knowledgeable, relate to the information and not be obtained through deception or coercion.  Consent may be expressed (asking permission either verbally, in writing or electronically) or implied (inferred from the surrounding circumstances that an individual will reasonably agree to the collection, use or disclosure of his/her personal health information, i.e., suggesting that the physician will make the referral).  Consent is knowledgeable if it is reasonable in the circumstances to believe that the individual knows the purposes of the collection, use or disclosure and that s/he may give or withhold consent.

Continuous Quality Improvement – Also referred to as Quality Improvement, Ongoing Quality Improvement and Total Quality Management, a continuous quality improvement approach uses evaluative data as ongoing stimuli for improvement.  It uses a continuous cycle of setting improvement goals, planned outcomes, planned activities and resources, evaluating performance, changing methods and evaluating the impact of such changes.  A key feature of continuous improvement includes a focus on change directed toward purposeful and future-oriented action.  A continuous improvement approach also allows various stakeholders, (Board, staff and clients) to compile recommendations for Agency wide improvement.  A common mistake is to only look for "good results."  In the continuous improvement case, data suggesting poor results is welcomed because it becomes the basis upon which a program can then create recommendations to improve itself.

Counsellor – A Counsellor (Primary Worker) is a professionally trained staff member who interacts with clients by active listening, reflecting, interpreting and by providing support and advice.

Crisis - A crisis is defined as the onset of an emotional disturbance or situational distress (which may be cumulative) involving a sudden breakdown of an individual’s ability to cope.

Crisis Intervention – See Emergency Response/Crisis Intervention.

Crisis Line - Includes provision of crisis supports by trained crisis professionals through telephone supports (e.g., distress lines).  Services may be provided 24 hours a day or when other services are closed (i.e. weekends).  

Services provided may include supportive listening, immediate crisis counselling on the phone, information on resources and service providers in the community, direct referrals to child and youth or adult service providers in the community, referral to the mobile crisis staff, short-term follow-up contact and other stabilization supports for a short period.

Crisis Residential/Emergency Shelters - Crisis residential/emergency shelters (including hostels) provide temporary accommodation to individuals and families who must leave their homes during a crisis (e.g., the onset of an emotional disturbance, which impacts the individual’s ability to cope).

Crisis Support Counselling - Responds to immediate and urgent circumstances and provides quick and appropriate responses to children/youth, adults and their families/caregivers experiencing distress.  Counselling can be home, community and/or hospital-based.  The goal is to stabilize the crisis by assisting the client and their parent/guardian/caregiver to cope and to mobilize supports. This service includes suicide programs concerned with decreasing the immediate risk for suicidal behaviour (ideation, suicide attempts).

Current Knowledge – Current knowledge includes, but is not limited to, evidence-based practices in children’s mental health.  Current knowledge requires ongoing learning that involves: continually posing specific questions of direct practical importance to children, youth and families; searching objectively and efficiently for the current available evidence relative to each question; and taking appropriate action guided by evidence.

Data Collection – Data collection is the process of collecting information for use in evaluation.  The most common methods are surveys, interviews, pre and post-testing, professional observation, self-report and review of existing records.

Data-drive Decision-making Process – This also falls under the broad category of evidence-based practice.  It is a comprehensive management information system that collects clinical, fiscal and outcome data at the client level.  Collected data is used to effectively make individual, program, organizational and system decisions.  This ongoing process applies both to innovative practices and to adopting an existing empirically supported treatment in practice settings.  Data is collected in actual practice settings.  The focus is on effectiveness rather than efficacy (Kazdin, 2003).

Day Treatment - Day treatment includes special education, counselling, parent training, vocational training, skill building, crisis intervention and recreational therapy.  It lasts at least four hours a day. Day treatment programs work in conjunction with mental health, recreation and education organizations and may even be provided by them.  At St. Leonard’s Community Services, we refer to these programs as Learning Centres.

Disclose – Disclose is to make the information available or to release it to another health information custodian or to another person, but does not include the use of the information.

Diversion Programs – see Adult and Youth Justice Diversion Programs.

Diversity - The Agency respects, encourages, embraces and promotes diversity throughout all services with the intention that inclusion will be the norm for all persons regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, same sex partnership status, family status or handicap, socioeconomic status, language, literacy level and immigration/refugee status.

It is a value of the Agency to serve diverse groups in a socially and culturally appropriate and effective way.  To develop and maintain this capacity, the Agency is committed to diversity competence by means of ongoing growth of knowledge and sensitivity with respect to governance, human resource management, client service delivery and partnerships.

Documenting- Documenting refers to the written confirmation of tasks completed.  This includes drafting, electronic communication, word processing, filing, distributing, faxing and mailing correspondence, forms, reports and any other written materials that pertain to Agency operations. This also includes gathering, organizing and submitting statistical information.

Drop In Centre - See Resource Centre.

Early Identification – Early identification refers to the assessment of client problems at the earliest possible time.  This includes health screening tools (i.e. for speech, language) programs such as Best Start, Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, public health and primary health care consultation, school based assessments, professional training, child care programming, youth justice screening, referrals from/between social/health sectors.

Early Intervention – Early intervention is the provision of services to clients and their parents/guardians/caregivers as soon as possible that focus on addressing behaviours, which indicate the beginning signs of mental health or addiction problem.  Early intervention services are provided to mitigate the anticipated long-term effects of such problems without stigmatizing the client.  They include school based programming, child witness programs, youth justice diversion programs, first episode psychosis and public health and primary health care.

Early Years Programming - Mental health programming (e.g., health promotion) delivered through Ontario Early Years Centres (OEYCs).  OEYCs are places where parents and caregivers can take part with their children, age 0 to 6, in a range of programs and activities, get answers to questions, get information about programs and services that are available for young children and talk to early years professionals, as well as other parents and caregivers in the community.  OEYCs offer programs in literacy, numeracy, health and nutrition as well as information about parenting programs and services to promote children’s readiness to learn and healthy child development through formal and informal drop-in programs and services that enhance cognitive, language, physical, social and emotional child development.

Ecological Approach – This term refers to the Agency’s recognition of the crucial relationship clients have with their families, friends and communities.  This recognition ensures that the Agency includes family and other significant supportive persons when working with clients.

Educational/School-Based Supports - This term is often used by provincial ministries to describe broad based school programming aimed at supporting the mental health needs of children/youth. This will include section 23 classrooms like the Learning Centres operated by St. Leonard's Community Services which provide treatment and support for children and youth who are unable to attend a local school due to their identified social, emotional, behavioural or psychiatric needs.

Educational Supports/Resources – This term is sometimes used to describe the provision of general mental health or addiction information and information targeted as a particular mental health or addiction problem.  These resources may be delivered through a range of mechanisms including information sessions and brochures.

Emergency Response/Crisis Intervention – Emergency Response/Crisis Intervention refers to those programs and services, which help clients in crisis.  Services will include assessment, respite, case consultation with other professionals, help lines, short term crisis telephone or in person counselling, suicide prevention/intervention, homeless shelters such as the YRC, hospitalization and mobile crisis interventions,

Empirically supported treatments – Empirically supported treatments fall under the broader category of evidence-based practice.  Empirically supported treatments are often disseminated for implementation as entire interventions, usually through training and manuals, and with quality assurance protocols.  A number of different hierarchies of evidence have been published (e. g. Task Force on Promotion and Dissemination of Psychological Procedures, 1995) to establish criteria for determining the strength of the research base for a given treatment model, usually based on study design and replications.

The APA criteria for empirically supported treatments address efficacy (i.e. whether change can be attributed to the intervention), whereas effectiveness studies provide evidence of whether or not change occurs in community-based settings (Nathan, Stuart, & Donlan, 2000).
Evidence of either efficacy or effectiveness provides a good research base for decision-making, but they best inform community-based practice when there is evidence ob both.

Environmental Scan – An environmental scan refers to an assessment activity that identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) facing a client (or his/her family), a program, a department or the Agency.

Ethics – Ethics refers to the Agency’s principles of compassion, fairness, honesty, respect and responsibility in all dealings with clients, community members and staff.

Evaluation - Evaluation is the measurement or verification of outcomes using indicators in relation to setting targets.  Evaluation determines whether activities were carried out as planned, whether planned outcomes were achieved and whether resources were used as planned.  It is important to always be aware of which function, service, program and/or component is being evaluated.

The Agency conducts three kinds of evaluation.

(See Planning and Evaluation Model, Plan Appendix 1).

Evidenced Based Practice – Evidence based practice is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of clients.  It includes practices such as referral, intake, assessment, treatment planning, counselling, outcome measurement, program evaluation and reporting.

It also refers to the scientific knowledge about the impact of services on the mental health problems of clients.  This knowledge base results from the application of scientific methods that examine the impact of specific practices on outcomes.  Evidence based practice denotes the quality or validity of scientific evidence.

Placing the client’s benefits first, evidenced based practitioners adopt a process of lifelong learning that involves continually posing specific questions of direct practical importance to clients, searching objectively and efficiently for the current evidence relative to each question and taking appropriate action guided by evidence.

Extrajudicial Measures - EJM refers to measures other than judicial proceedings under the YCJA s.4-6, used to deal with a young person alleged to have committed an offence, and includes Extrajudicial Sanctions.  Police and prosecutors are specifically authorized to use various types of Extrajudicial Measures:

Extrajudicial Sanctions -This most formal type of Extrajudicial Measure, are what were formerly known as Alternative Measures under the Young Offenders Act.  Unlike the other types of Extrajudicial Measures, they may be used only if the young person admits responsibility for the offence.  The Attorney General of the province must determine that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution of the offence.  The sanctions must be part of an Extrajudicial Sanctions program designated by the Attorney General. The young person agrees to be subject to the sanction. If the young person fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the sanction, the case may proceed through the court process.  Under the YCJA, an Extrajudicial Sanction could be used only if the young person cannot be adequately dealt with by a warning, caution or referral.

Facilities - Facilities refers to the acquisition, repair, renovation and maintenance of the physical resources of the Agency including buildings, furniture, landscaping, equipment, computers, information technology and vehicles.  It includes work that ensures the grounds and buildings are safe and secure.

Family Counselling/Therapy - Family counselling/therapy is focused on changing the way families interact.  It aims to increase understanding and improve communication among family members and does so without placing blame on any one person.

Fidelity – Fidelity refers to the degree of implementation of the critical ingredients of an evidenced based practice, in other words when a successful program is shown to be effective in one setting and replicable in another setting with similar success.

It also describes adherence to the principles (organization and structure) of the original model.  

Finances - Finances refers to the management, distribution and expenditure of Agency’s fiscal resources.  This includes budgeting for operational and capital needs, invoicing, collections, purchasing, invoice payment, inventory control, payroll, accounting and preparation of financial statements.

 First Episode Psychosis Programs (i.e. Cleghorn) – This is a program designed to support first episode of psychosis.  Psychosis is a disorder, which affects the brain causing a distortion of, or a loss of contact with reality.  Psychosis is known to accompany several psychiatric diagnoses including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, depression, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder and schizo-affective disorder as well as some medical or neurological illnesses.

Follow-up Measures - Follow up measures are measurements of client and/or program information taken months or years after intervention processes (or service) have been delivered.

Continual ongoing change and learning must be valued as necessary within the Agency to ensure responsiveness to stakeholder groups (clients and funders).  Ongoing learning ensures that staff are competently trained to direct organizational processes, implement improvement strategies and provide the best services to clients.

Friendship Centres - Friendship Centres are not-for-profit corporations, which are mandated to serve the needs of all Aboriginal people regardless of legal definition.

They provide programming in areas such as health, justice, family support and employment and training.  Friendship Centres also design and deliver local initiatives in areas such as education, economic development, children's and youth initiatives and cultural awareness.

Gladue (1999) - On April 23, 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in R v. Gladue [1999] 1 S.C.R.  688.  The decision provided the Supreme Court’s first interpretation of s. 718.2 (e) of the Criminal Code of Canada.  The section, which was part of a comprehensive series of amendments made in 1996 to the sentencing law in Canada, says:

718.2 A court that imposes a sentence shall also take into consideration the following principles:
(e) All available sanctions other than imprisonment that are reasonable in the circumstances should be considered for all offenders, with particular attention to the circumstances of aboriginal offenders.
The effect of this legislation has been a significant increase in the use of non-custodial sanctions and corresponding decrease in the use of custody.

Goals- Goals are written to describe a desired future state or changed condition the Agency, service, program or client would like to achieve. Goals are defined as long term desired results that are attainable but not directly measurable in the short term.  They generally take the form of a general or global statement(s) of what staff is attempting to achieve. 

Group Counselling/Therapy - Group counselling/therapy allows people to work on their problems by interacting with others in a group setting.  Participants share their thoughts and feelings and receive feedback, encouragement and support from other members.  This process enables them to learn more about how others respond to them. They can also practise new behaviours in the safety of the group.

 Health Information Custodian – Health Information Custodian is a person who has access to, and responsibility for, personal health information.  For the purposes of PHIPA, all staff of St. Leonard’s Community Services are considered to be health information custodians.

Health Screening Programs - Use of a diagnostic tool(s) to test for the presence of a particular problem/disorder – or risk factors associated with a problem/disorder.  Usually applied to large population groups (e.g., all children under six years of age).

Help lines – (see also Crisis Line) – Help lines include provision of information through telephone supports and internet services.  Services may be offered 24 hours a day or only for part of a day/week.

Services provided may include information on resources and service providers in the community, supportive listening and direct referrals to child, youth and adult service providers in the community.

Human Resources - Human Resources refers to the recruitment, orientation, training, professional development, supervision, safety and evaluation of staff, students and volunteers. 

Staff Responsibilities - Staff are recruited to perform both “service” and “organizational” responsibilities as defined below.

Service Responsibilities are those duties, which the staff member was hired to perform on behalf of clients, staff and the community.

Organizational Responsibilities are those duties which require the staff to be a "team player", supporting the Agency through adherence to organizational values, beliefs and policies, through co-operation with co-workers, involvement on teams, through a commitment to ongoing professional development and through positive representation of the Agency in the community.

Implementation – Implementation refers to a specified set of “planned activities” designed to put into practice a program of known dimensions.

Implementation of Evidence Based Practices – An ever-evolving body of research evidence has begun to develop in the field of children’s mental health, providing knowledge about which treatments and interventions are efficacious and/or effective.  The CMHO Accreditation Standards regarding Implementation of evidence based practices address important considerations organizations should attend to for successful implementation.

Implementation is “a specified set of activities designed to put into practice an activity or program of known dimensions” (Fixsen et. al., 2005).

Inclusiveness – Inclusiveness refers to the Agency’s policy of including perspectives from diverse points of view, actively soliciting input from within (clients and staff) and outside the Agency (community stakeholders).

Indicators –Indicators are quantifiable measures of change that can be seen, or heard, thereby demonstrating that planned activities have achieved the planned outcome.  Examples of Indicators are - camp attendance, school grades, occupancy, utilization or attendance, criminal or substance abuse recidivism/relapse etc.

Indicators are the specific items of information that track a program's success on outcomes.  They describe observable, measurable characteristics or changes that represent achievement of an outcome.  For example, a program whose desired outcome is that participants pursue a healthy lifestyle could define "healthy lifestyle" as not smoking; maintaining a recommended weight, blood pressure and cholesterol level; getting at least two hours of exercise each week; and wearing seat belts consistently.  The number and percent of program participants who demonstrate these behaviors then is an indicator of how well the program is doing with respect to the outcome.

Individual Counselling/Therapy - Counselling/Therapy tailored for a patient/client that is administered one-on-one.

Informed Consent to Treatment – (1) Consent to treatment is informed if, before giving it,

(2) The matters referred to above are:
1. The nature of the treatment.
2. The expected benefits of the treatment.
3. The material risks of the treatment.
4. The material side effects of the treatment.
5. The alternative courses of action.
6. The likely consequences of not having the treatment.

In-home respite services (also see Respite Services) – These are respite programs that provide support and temporary relief and rest to parents/guardians/caregivers of children/youth with mental health problems allowing parents/guardians/caregivers some time away from care activities (e.g., provision of in-home overnight care to children and youth).

Innovation – Innovation is described as the act of introducing something new.  This term is used in reference to evidence based practices (EBPs) and evidence based treatments (EBTs).  Innovation is also an important feature of the evolving children’s mental health field.

In-patient services - Hospital-based programs offered in special units of general hospital that provide diagnostic and treatment services for individuals with acute psychiatric disorders that require hospitalization on a voluntary or involuntary basis for maximum benefit and may be a danger to themselves or others if left in a less restrictive setting.

Intake - Intake refers to client admission or registration with an Agency service(s) or program(s) and is typically the client’s first point of contact with the Agency.  The process is therefore critically important because the client forms his/her first impressions based on this experience, which in turn can affect all that follows. 

Intake is the process of determining service eligibility in consultation with the client and/or parent/guardian/caregiver and then determining whether the services offered by the Agency are appropriate to meet the unique emotional, social or behavioural needs of the client and his/her family.

Intake/Assessment tools - Use of tools designed to support a mental health professional in identifying a client’s needs and strengths (i.e. CANS).

Internal Communications - Internal communications refers to the sharing of information within a department and across the Agency.  It includes Board Meetings, Resource Committee Meetings, Program Committee, Management Team Meetings, staff and case management meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings, cross functional team meetings, memos, faxes, emails, intranet communication, website and telephone conversations.

Inputs - Inputs describe the specific resources that the Agency, program or client has to work with including money, facilities, staff and family.  Inputs answer the question: “What assets do we have to work with?”

Intake – Intake refers to the process of admitting a client into a program.

Interim Measure - If the measurement occurs while during service delivery, after intervention has begun and before intervention has ended, then the measurement is an interim measure.  Interim measures may not indicate full service outcome and impact. Another measurement at the end of the intervention is still required for outcome measurement.

IPC - Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

Knowledge – Knowledge is a mix of framed experience, values, contextual information and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new ideas and experiences.  Within the Agency, it can be informal subjective insight acquired by staff or it can be formally embedded in documents, organizational routines, processes, practices, norms, judgments and principles.

Knowledge Transfer and Exchange - Knowledge transfer is a process whereby relevant information is made available and accessible for application in practice, planning and policy making.  It includes the sharing of cultural knowledge, evidence-based mental health practices and promising practices. 

Knowledge Uptake – Knowledge update is a process whereby relevant information is made available and used by decision-makers for application in practice, planning and policy making.  Knowledge uptake is an active, participatory process that takes into consideration individual preferences and needs.

Learning Culture – Learning culture refers to the Agency’s commitment and ability to learn by creating an environment where continuous learning is supported through knowledge accessibility and professional development on an ongoing basis.

Maintenance Plans - The Agency has written maintenance plans for each department.  The Service Directors and Director of Finance in co-operation with the Facilities Manager are responsible for developing and monitoring maintenance plans for the departments, which include regular inspections and preventive maintenance ensuring soundness and safety of its properties, equipment and fixtures.

Management Team – Consists of the Executive Director, Director of Finance and the Service Directors representing Addictions and Mental Health, Children’s Residential, Justice and Employment/ Education

Manager – Manager refers to a level of authority and responsibility within the Agency for either a single or multiple program and supervision of one or more Supervisors.

Marketing - Marketing refers to work involving the promotion of the Agency, including the development of proposals, the design of promotional materials to increase public awareness, fundraise and maintain required levels of client utilization.  This work involves the use of the website, the media, written promotional materials, presentations to community groups, clients, funders and businesses.

Mean - The mean or average is a measure of the centre of a group of scores.  It is a measure of central tendency.  The mean is just one measure of central tendency and may not be appropriate for all groups.  Mode, median, or frequency distributions may be more appropriate in some cases.

Measurement Methods – Measurement methods are tools used to collect information that quantify the amount of change shown by the indicators.  Examples of measurement methods are school attendance registers, academic grading systems, occupancy or utilization logs, teacher observation, police criminal record checks, case notes, focus groups, interview guides and psychometric tests that measure changes in emotion, mental state or behaviour.

When describing the measurement method, it is useful to include the timing and frequency that the measurement tool is applied, (i.e. pre – post, time series or follow up sampling).  It is also useful to describe who will collect and interpret the data. 

Medication Monitoring - This describes a process where a qualified health professional manages the medication itself, educates the client and their parent/guardian/caregivers on the way prescribed medications work, why they may be needed, how they should be used on their own or with other prescribed medications, what possible side effects may be experienced and how the medication is helpful. 

Mental Health – Mental Health includes all aspects of human development and well being that affect an individual’s emotions, learning and behaviour.  The term mental health problem is used to describe any emotional or behavioural condition that may be reflected in difficulties and/or disabilities in the realm of personal relationships, psychological development, the capacity for play and learning and/or in distress and maladaptive behaviour.

The terms mental illness or mental disorder are used to mean any emotional, behavioural or brain related condition that causes significant impairment in functioning as defined in the standard diagnostic protocols such as the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM 4).  These disorders are persistent, severe and affect functioning on a day-to-day basis. It is common to find more than one mental disorder present (i.e. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression, or ADHD and Conduct Disorder.

Mental Health Illness Prevention – Mental Health Illness Prevention strategies can be defined as universal, selective or indicated.  Universal prevention strategies address risk factors in entire populations of children, youth, families/caregivers, such as in a classroom, school, or community without attempting to discern which children or youth or family members are at elevated risk for mental health problems or disorders.

Selective prevention strategies are targeted at ‘groups’ who are identified because they share a significant risk factor for mental health problems or disorders (i.e. homeless people).  Selective prevention strategies are designed to counter identified risks without stigmatizing individuals or families.

Indicated prevention strategies are written into a client’s treatment/action plan and may include relapse prevention and/or after care continuing support.

Mental Health Promotion – Mental Health Promotion strategies are defined as those that target an entire population, with the goal of enhancing strengths to reduce the risk of later problems and/or to increase prospects for positive, healthy development.

Mid-Term Outcomes - Mid-term outcomes are the changes one would observe near or after the end of service, related to client external behavioural change.

Mission Statement - A statement describing the purpose the Agency has to work toward to create a difference in social condition.  The mission answers the question of why the program/project/Agency exists.

Mobile Crisis Service - Mobile crisis services provide clients in a mental health crisis situation with 24-hour telephone response, risk assessment, access to appropriate professional and clinical services and supports including hospitalization, where required, and linkages to follow-up services and treatment/action plans.  Services may be delivered in the home, school and/or community and are available during the day, outside normal business hours and on weekends.

Multidisciplinary Team - The term discipline refers to a specific body of knowledge or area of expertise, which informs and enhances the service(s) provided.  This may include child and youth care, education, addictions, mental health, justice, psychology, social work, psychiatry and/or other specialized disciplines determined by need on a case-by-case basis. 

A multidisciplinary team refers to a group of people with different professional credentials who work collaboratively to help clients.  Disciplines most often represented include primary workers, child and youth workers, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses and occupational therapists.

Multi–Sectoral Team – A multi-sectoral team refers to a group of people working together using a team based approach and who come from different service sectors such as addictions, mental health, public health, child welfare, justice and police.  The team may have representatives from different professions, but not necessarily.

Need - A need is a problem statement or description of the situation that has been identified as needing to change.  The statement of need is usually a problem statement or issue area the Agency is designed to address.

Open Detention/Custody - Open detention is where a young person is detained prior to a court appearance or while awaiting sentencing.  Open detention facilities are distinguished from secure detention facilities.  Some young people are also detained in secure detention. 

Open custody is a sentence given by a youth justice court judge following a finding of guilt.  Open custody facilities are community-based and operated by agencies under contract to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (i.e. Peter Willis Residence).

Outcomes - Outcomes are about community or client change.  They identify what people have at the end of an intervention; they are the results attained by clients while involved in particular services. They describe the difference planned program activities will make in the short and mid term.  Benefits to the end user that demonstrate the effectiveness of the program or service are usually changes in knowledge, skills, behaviour, attitude, or condition.  Outcomes answer the question, “What difference did our program make to the client?” (See Planning and Evaluation Model).

Outcome Targets – Outcome targets are numerical objectives for a program's level of achievement on its outcomes.  After a program has had experience with measuring outcomes, it can use its findings to set targets for the number and percent of participants expected to achieve desired outcomes in the next reporting period.  It also can set targets for the amount of change it expects participants to experience.

Out-of-Home Respite Services (also see Respite Services) - Provides out of home support, temporary relief and rest to parents/guardians/caregivers of children/youth with mental health problems, allowing parents/guardians/caregiver some time away from care activities (ie. provision of out of home overnight weekend care and recreation for children and youth at St. Leonard's Community Services/Tim Horton’s Onondaga Farms).

Outpatient Services - Health centres, clinics, departments within hospitals and other facilities that provide walk-in, walk-out diagnostic and treatment services for people whose care does not require confinement or a hospital stay (i.e. St. Leonard's Community Services Walk in Clinic).

Outputs – Outputs are the actual activities carried out and are usually measured in terms of the volume of work accomplished (number of classes taught, counselling sessions conducted, educational materials distributed, hours of service delivered, participants served, number of meals delivered, number of clients, number of volunteers, number of volunteer hours, number of volunteers trained, number of training sessions for volunteers, number of screened volunteers, number of volunteer recognition events).

Outreach Services - Outreach Services assist in the identification and support of clients with severe and persistent mental health issues who, due to social, work or individual factors, would not seek services on their own and who, without some intervention, would be in serious jeopardy.

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Education and Support – Parent/Guardian/Caregiver education and support refers to those services that are provided to help a client’s family (as defined by the client). These services include the provision of educational materials, advocacy services, parenting programs and parenting groups such as SNAP™ and PASP, respite and intensive home based interventions.

Parental/Guardian/Caregiver - A parent/guardian/caregiver is a person legally entrusted with the care of, and managing the property and rights of, another person, usually a child/youth, who is under the age of 18.

Parenting Programs - Parenting programs are a wide variety of programs that cover a variety of topics related to child rearing and parenting in supportive group settings (i.e. – SNAP™ and PASP).

Partnerships - A partnership is any form of cooperation or collaboration between organizations, businesses, institutions or individuals.  The creation of a partnership enables the sharing of financial, material, intellectual or human resources in order to achieve objectives of a common goal.

Percentage - The percentage is a measure of the frequency of a value, converted to a score between 0 and 100.  One way to calculate percentage is to count the number of occurrences of interest, divided by the total number of all occurrences, then multiplying this number by 100.

Personal Health Information (PHI) - Personal information reported orally or through documentation about an individual that:

PHIPA - Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (Ontario)

Planning - Planning is work that prepares staff and clients for the future.  Planning involves the continuous, systematic identification and analysis of needs, the establishment of goals, planned outcomes and planned activities and the assignment of resources, which are required to deliver quality services. 

Planning includes the following steps:

There are several categories of Agency planning including strategic planning, Agency operating planning, departmental operating planning, program planning, treatment planning, transitional planning, aftercare and contingency planning (see Planning and Evaluation model).

Post Measure - All post measures are collected after service delivery or at the very end of service delivery after all intervention has occurred.  Post-measures without a comparison pre-measure does not necessarily measure outcome.  A comparison to the "state of things" before intervention is required such that the post measure indicates a change from the prior pre-state.

Pre Measure - All pre measures are collected prior to service delivery or at the very beginning of service delivery before much intervention can occur.  Client or community inputs, client needs and client goals can all be used as a pre measure.  A community needs survey, consumer or client data, such as test information collected at an initial assessment and the data collected while creating service plans are all examples of when pre measurement can occur.

Prevention – Prevention refers to programs that seek to avert social and health problems through interventions that detect, reduce, or eliminate contributing factors.  Prevention can be universal  (i.e. elementary school children) or targeted (ie. teenage moms).

Primary Health Care - The principal vehicle for the delivery of health care at the most local level of a country's health system.  This includes appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries, provision of essential drugs, maternal and child health, prevention and control of locally endemic diseases and immunization (i.e. BGH).

Privacy Officer - The person responsible for overseeing compliance with PHIPA; in the case of St. Leonard’s Community Services is the Human Resources Administrator.

Professional Training – Professional training is the provision of training to other professionals including other mental health professionals, public and primary health care professionals, teachers, early childhood educators, childcare workers and child and youth worker.

Program Activities – Program activities are the client and practitioner interactions that occur during a service's operation or delivery.  They are the specific ways/actions staff use to work towards planned outcomes and goals i.e. services, training, education, counselling, mentoring, and internships.

Program Logic Model - The basic premise of the program logic model is that client goals should logically flow from program goals and drive the planned outcomes, planned activities and resource allocations.

Program Service Evaluation – Is a form of applied research that is distinguished by its purpose, approaches and outputs.  Research design principles are applied, as appropriate.  Evaluation often takes place in settings or under conditions where there may be fewer controls than might be present for a formal research study.  Evaluation facilitates judgments about a program’s merit or worth, and addresses practical questions that help to inform decision-making.  Evaluation is an in-depth process that not only studies program outcomes, but also seeks explanations for why things work and whether the program or service produced the outcomes.

Programs - Programs are typically the permanent services offered by the Agency.

Protective Factors - See Strengths.

Public Education – Public Education is a preventative early intervention initiative that creates community awareness about an issue.  Examples are school based anti-stigma and anti-racism programs.

Public Health Programs – Public health programs refers to the five core “public health” programs and services of population health assessment, surveillance, disease prevention, health protection and health promotion that are aimed at primary prevention and are provided by health departments, regional health authorities and local health units.

Quality Assurance - Quality assurance uses established measurable standards and promotes and confirms consistency of performance to these standards.  It helps to reduce variance in performance and outcomes.  Accreditation and certification models and programs help to ensure that programs follow consistent methods and attain a minimum level of quality.

Quality Improvement (QI) – QI refers to the Agency’s structured, cyclical planning and evaluation process, which plans outcomes, activities and resource allocations for 10 operational functions (planning, documenting, regulations, finances, facilities, human resources, internal communications, community relations, marketing and client service delivery).  The overall goal of Quality Improvement is to manage the continual improvement of client service outcomes while maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.

Quantitative Measurement - Quantitative measurement is generally used to obtain responses in a numerical form.  In some cases, information is coded with variable labels. In both cases, the data can be statistically analyzed.  Sample results are often generalized to larger populations.  Quantitative measurement can be used within statistical analyses, but may not be able to describe people's felt experiences or the nuances regarding service delivery.  Quantitative data is often enhanced with the addition of qualitative reports.

RPAC (Residential Placement Advisory Committee – The purpose of the
Residential Placement Advisory Committee (RPAC), as outlined in the Child & Family Services Act, is to advise and assist parents and children with respect to appropriateness of residential placements in facilities with 10 beds or more, if the placement is to last 90 days or more.  For Brantford and Brant this function is coordinated by Contact Brant.  Haldimand Norfolk REACH coordinates this for Haldimand services.

Recreational Programs – Recreational programs includes a range of programs such as sports and dance aimed at enhancing a client’s social skills and social inclusion.

Referral - Referral is defined as sending, directing or receiving a client or staff member to or from another service or program for information or help.  The Agency distinguishes between three kinds of referrals as follows:

 Reflective Practice – Reflective practice refers to the habit, structure, or routine of examining experience and learning from it.

Regulations - Regulations refers to the establishment and monitoring of quality standards, agreements, contracts, manuals, policies, procedures, rules and regulations.  Regulations include Agency Policies and Procedures, Staff Handbooks, Municipal Regulations (i.e. - Fire, Health, Building Codes), Provincial and Federal regulations (i.e. - WHMIS, Health & Safety, Youth Criminal Justice Act, CFSA, Employment Standards and CMHO Standards).

Reliability - Reliability suggests the degree a measurement tool is stable and consistent; that the data collected will be collected again or repeated under the same conditions.

 Research – Research is a systematic investigation, including development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.  In its broadest sense, research can apply to many different types of systematic investigation.  For the purpose of CMHO accreditation, the term applies to formal research where the scientific method is used to address one or more specific research questions.  The research design and methodology are carefully selected to ensure sufficient scientific rigour, with due attention to standard ethical practices and with special consideration for the potential vulnerability of research subjects.  A primary purpose of research is to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge, in order to advance knowledge in the field.  As such, the dissemination of research findings includes staff, clients, community partners and other local stakeholders, but also strives to reach beyond these audiences to the broader scientific community.

Research Design – Research or evaluation design is related to how data will be collected and under what conditions.  All evaluations require a design that will incorporate and allow for information or data to be collected.  Only through accumulation of data can enough evidence be created to decide upon how the data should inform improvement recommendations.

Residential Treatment - Residential treatment is provided to children and youth with serious emotional disturbances who require constant supervision and care.  Treatment may include individual, group and family counselling/therapy; behaviour therapy; special education; recreation therapy and medical services.  Residential treatment is usually longer-term than inpatient hospitalization.  Residential treatment centres are also known as therapeutic group homes (i.e. Roy Walsh Home and Varency Home).

Residential treatment is a term that is also used in the addiction world and is used for both short and long-term residential treatment (i.e. Buffalo Street Residence).

Resiliency – Resiliency refers to a client’s ability to recover quickly from disruptive change, illness, or misfortune without being overwhelmed or acting in dysfunctional ways.  Resilient clients possess coping skills to overcome life’s challenges.  Children and youth are naturally resilient, however this must be nurtured and strengthened in the face of one or more risk factors.

Resources – Resources refers to the goods, services, personnel and money use to carry out planned activities.  These are sometimes referred to as inputs.

Resource Centers – Resource centres provide information about a wide range of services in the area. Centres may have organized programs, for example, recreational activities, or provide on site counselling.  At St. Leonard's Community Services, there are resource centres at the Youth Action Centre, the Dunnville Employment Centre and at the 13 Career Resource Centres that provide educational and employment related information. The Youth Resource Centre also provides a drop in opportunity for youth seeking community information, including housing and health supports.
 
Risk – Risk refers to a threat that is posed for or by a client.  Risk factors are traits, characteristics or environmental contexts which research has shown to be predictive of mental health, addiction, justice or other social problems.  Examples would be living in poverty, having parents with limited parenting skills or mental illness or abusive behaviour, abuse of alcohol or drugs, poor school performance, premature birth, or low birth weight.  The effect of a given risk factor tends to be stronger when it is combined with other risk factors or when it is present at a vulnerable time in a person’s life such as childhood.  “Children at risk” are those who possess one or more of these risk factors, thereby rendering them predictive of a host of undesirable outcomes.

Safeguards – Safeguards is a training program designed to meet the highly specialized training needs of staff serving vulnerable children, youth, adults and families in Ontario.  It began in 1995 as a joint training project of five provincial associations; CMHO is one of the five partner associations.  As a partner association, CMHO member centre staff can participate in evidence-based practice training sessions free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Sample Selection – The sample is the group of people being surveyed or tested for an evaluation. Some different types of sample selection include non-random, randomized, matched group, snowball, convenience group sampling.  The most common method in evaluation is to use non-randomized sampling.  A randomized sample with multiple comparison groups, including at least one control group is a much better method. Convenience group sampling does not control for threats to internal and external validity. A randomized sample with multiple comparison groups is often not possible due to ethical or practical considerations.

School-Based Anti-Stigma and Anti-Racism Programs – This is programming delivered in the school environment which aims to reduce stigma associated with physical, mental health or other problems (e.g., substance abuse) and/or which focus on reducing discrimination associated with race and promoting ethno-racial equality.

Secure Detention and Custody - Secure detention is where a young person is detained prior to a court appearance or while awaiting sentencing following a finding of guilt.  Secure detention facilities are distinguished from open detention facilities.  Some young people are also detained in open detention. 

Secure custody is a sentence given by a youth justice court judge following a finding of guilt.  Secure custody facilities are distinguished from open custody facilities by the degree of restraint of the young persons (i.e. perimeter fencing, locked doors - Spruce Dale).

Secure Treatment - A “secure treatment program” means a program established or approved by the Minister of Children and Youth Services for the secure treatment of children with mental health disorders, in which continuous restrictions are imposed on the liberty of the children.

Service Coordination - Service coordination refers to the organizing of several client services across more than one service sector in order to meet client needs.  Examples of services would be assessments, problem solving, identifying additional supports, service planning, discharge planning or transitional planning, ensuring continuity of service and preventing duplication.

Service Director - Service Director refers to a level of authority and responsibility within the Agency for multiple services over site and supervision of one or more Managers.  This position is also referred to as a Director.

Service Integration – Service integration refers to the development of interconnections between agencies at administrative or operational levels.  Integration can be understood as a process that increases the degree of connectivity in the following areas:

Service Plan - A service plan is a written agreement between the Agency and a government funder identifying:

Shift IC – Shift in Charge – In the absence of a Supervisor, the Shift IC is in charge of shift planning.

Skills-Based Programs – Skills-based programs includes life skills, coping skills, social skills programming.

Social History Reports – Social history reports refers to CAS background information.

Specialized Interventions – Specialized interventions includes specialized area of expertise including suicide crisis interventions, addictions programs, eating disorder programs etc.
                                              
Stakeholder – Stakeholder refers to all those parties with a vested interest in an Agency program or service.  This will include clients, client’s family, funding and regulatory bodies, community partners, neighbours and staff.

Stigma – Stigma refers to negative attitudes (prejudice) and negative behaviour (discrimination).

Strengths – Strengths are those protective factors, traits, characteristics, or environmental contexts which research has shown promote well-being and positive mental health in childhood or adolescence.  Examples include personal strengths, (i.e. intelligence, relaxed temperament), family strengths, (i.e. supportive home environment, socio economic advantages) and school/community strengths (i.e. safe and effective schools, participation in social groups, a caring relationship with one adult).

Enhancement of strengths at the individual, family and community level is believed to reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes later in life such as mental illness, addiction or criminal behaviour.

Strength Based Approach – Strength based approach refers to services that promote resiliency, reduce risks and address needs by building on the unique strengths of the client and their family.

Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) - A Substitute Decision Maker is a person legally granted responsibility for making decisions on behalf of another individual either because of physical or mental incapacity or age limitation.

Support Programs – Support Programs is a group formed to share a common problem and to provide a safe place for a client to discuss their personal experiences, gain insight from others and feel less isolated.  May or may not include the presence of a mental health professional (i.e., parent groups/youth groups, faith and culturally based supports).

SWOT Analysis – Is the process of evaluating programs, services or the Agency as a whole under the headings of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  Normally, input is sought from multiple stakeholders.

Systematic Review – A Systemic review is a review of a clearly formulated research question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant information.

Target Group – The target group is the intended beneficiary of the service or program being delivered.  It could be clients, staff or community members.

Targets – Targets are numerical standards or criteria of success for a program.  The expected number and proportion of participants who will achieve the outcome. (E.g. 75% (50) of participants report a stronger sense of community six months after a program; 20% (12) of attendees at resume writing workshops report getting job interviews).  Targets answer the question: “How will we know that our program is a success?”

Tasks – Tasks are specific jobs (such as recruiting and training volunteers or publicizing a lecture series) staff or volunteers must do to be able to provide successful programs or services.

Telepsychiatry – Telepsychiatry is clinical and professional consultations using videoconferencing for the purposes of providing diagnosis and treatment recommendations for a specific case and/or supporting the education and training needs of clinical staff in rural, remote and/or underserved communities.  In Brantford, this service is provided through the offices of Woodview Children’s Centre.

Time limited Intervention/Treatment – Time limited intervention/treatment refers to short term services that provide a timely response to a client’s request for service, maximizing the client’s readiness for change.  Such interventions are often offered as a readily available alternative to longer term services for which there may be a waiting list. (i.e. crisis response, solution focused therapy, single session therapy, walk in services, respite and some groups like SNAP™ or PASP).

Trauma Stabilization/Crisis Intervention – Trauma Stabilization/Crisis intervention services focus on stabilizing and addressing the immediate needs at the time of a crisis (i.e. St. Leonard's Community Services’ Mental Health Crisis Support). 

Treatment Foster Care – Treatment foster care service are provided on a residential basis to a child and/or the child's family, where the child has been diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having a mental or psychiatric disorder.  The services are specially provided to alleviate a mental or psychiatric disorder and are provided by, or under the supervision of a psychiatrist who retains direct clinical responsibility for the case.

Use – A use is to handle or deal with information, not including the disclosure of it.  To transfer personal health information between an agent of the health information custodian and the health information custodian is a use and not a disclosure.

Validity - Validity suggests that a measurement tool measures the concept it is supposed to measure. There are a number of different types of validity.  The validity of a measure cannot be better than its reliability.  If a measure is unreliable, then there is no way to determine what it is measuring.

Variance - The variance is a measure of how scores vary within a group of scores.  The average variability of scores is called the standard deviation.  Variance can be measured in different ways. A simple measure is the range of scores (highest and lowest scores).  A more advanced way to measure variance is to calculate the standard deviation of the group of scores.
 
Violence Prevention Services – Violence Prevention Services is a program which seeks to address and prevent violent/aggressive behaviours.

Vision Statement – An agency vision statement states how the world in which the organization operates would be different if the organization magically and immediately met all of goals.

Youth Justice Diversion Programs – Youth justice diversion programs are when the young person is dealt with outside of the formal court process (e.g., Extrajudicial Measures and Extrajudicial Sanctions).  Youth in these programs take responsibility for their actions and develop skills to reduce the chance that they will get in trouble again.  Mental health programming includes, for example, counselling services.

Includes school-based Prevention/Diversion Programs, which are in schools across the province. They bring together community agencies, police and teachers to keep schools safe, respond to acting out behaviour, address youth issues and help youth in trouble stay in school.

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