President and Executive Director’s Report1).pdffective Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Networking...
Transcript of President and Executive Director’s Report1).pdffective Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Networking...
Annual Report 2009-2010
“Reaching out to those in need since 1985”
President and Executive Director’s Report India Rainbow Community Services of Peel was founded in 1985 by concerned mem-
bers of the Indo-Canadian community to meet the social services need of newcomers
from the Indian sub-continent. Today, India Rainbow is a vibrant, highly respected
multi-service agency recognized for leadership and diversity, innovative and cost effi-
cient programs, community partnerships and collaboration with all stakeholders. Our
steady growth reflects thoughtful planning and consideration of capacity before ex-
panding.
With our growth, expansion and 25 year history, we continue to embrace forward thinking and strive for excellence in
client service and program operational best practices. In brief, some of our last year’s successes and current endeavours
are:
We completed the ‘Benchmarks of Excellence’ process, as a start of our journey to accreditation. This process provided
us the opportunity to better understand, measure, celebrate and improve our organizational performance.
With our enthusiastic governors (Board Directors), we revised our entire board orientation manual, hosted two board
governance retreats, implemented a standardized method of board evaluation and developed membership recruitment
and engagement strategy.
Our Board and Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) members are actively engaged in risk management, succession plan-
ning, women’s, seniors’ and 25th Anniversary committees.
We continue to develop and monitor compliance of governance, finance, information technology operations, and health
& safety policies.
We took a leadership role in the Home Support Exercise Program, an evidence based exercise program for older adults
that promotes falls prevention. We also participated in a pilot project called ASSIST - All inclusive Seamless Services for
Seniors’ Independence Today and Tomorrow. Our Seniors Wellness Program has resulted in tracking a reduction in
emergency room visits, thus promoting the government’s initiative of Aging at Home.
With assistance from Health Canada, we successfully developed a Guide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic SelfGuide to Holistic Self----CareCareCareCare, a tool for the South Asian
seniors to assist in the early detection and self-management of diabetes and other chronic illnesses. The next part of the
project is to pilot test the guide in the community.
We are developing a custom database through Caseworks Software, an all-encompassing software designed to manage all
aspects of case management from intake to cycle close.
After a quarter century, we still remain motivated by the desire to enhance the lives of immigrants who choose to make
Canada their home. We want to have a share in helping new immigrants realize their full potential by making a mean-
ingful contribution to their communities.
As we look back at our accomplishments in a quarter century, we are, as always, thankful to our volunteers, clients, net-
working partners, funders and donors. We are very appreciative of our Board of Directors and Policy Advisory Commit-
tee Members for their unfailing guidance and watchful eye over the organization. A very special thank-you goes to our
front line staff and the management who truly believe in our mission, and serve and live that mission every day.
Thank you for putting your trust in us.
Sheela Joshi Kitty Chadda
PresidentPresidentPresidentPresident Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorExecutive DirectorExecutive Director
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Sheela Joshi Kitty Chadda
LINC
The Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
Program provides free basic English language training and
childminding services to adult permanent residents of Can-
ada.
This past year, we have started a LINC class specifically for
seniors 55 years and older at our new location 245 Queen
Street, Brampton. The response has been overwhelming
and Seniors enjoy taking these classes. The classes run on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. With two addi-
tional evening classes at our Mississauga site this year, IRCS
now offers 26 part- time classes between Mississauga and
Brampton thereby providing a wide range of flexible and
convenient time and location options to newcomers.
JSW
Job Search Workshops (JSW) facilitate the employment of
new immigrants to Ontario by familiarizing them with ef-
fective job-search practices and techniques in a culturally
appropriate manner.
We provide pre-employment workshops to train newcomers
in job searching techniques. This includes Orientation to
the Canadian Labour Market, Self-Assessment of Skills, Ef-
fective Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Networking and
methods of Contacting Employers, Successful Interview
Techniques, Overview of the Workplace, Workers’ Rights
and Employment Standards.
We expanded our JSW program to operate from our new
location 21 Regan Road in Brampton in the past year making
JSW available at three locations within Brampton and Mis-
sissauga.
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Settlement Services
Immigrant Settlement and Adaption Program
(ISAP) and Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP)
assist immigrants in settling and integrating into
Canadian society. It includes the delivery of di-
rect and essential services to immigrants for a
smooth integration into the Canadian society.
These services include but are not limited to in-
formation and referral to various community re-
sources, services and programs, assistance filling
out various applications such as Child Tax Bene-
fits, Permanent Resident Card, Citizenship, non-
profit housing, Ontario Works, Canada Pension
Plan, Old Age Security, Guaranteed Income Sup-
plement, Passports, name changes etc.
Information Sessions are organized for various
groups of newcomers on many important topics
of need such as Landlord Tenants Issues, Employ-
ment Standards Act, labour market information,
Employment Insurance, Teaching in Ontario,
volunteering etc. which greatly helps them un-
derstand the Canadian culture.
Free Income Tax clinics and legal clinics are also
organized for low income newcomers at all our
locations.
LINC students at a sugar bush - learning about maple syrup
Programs and Services
Newcomers using our resource room.
LTC
Our comprehensive Long Term Care Program (LTC) in-
cludes, Adult Day Program, Seniors Wellness Program and
the Friendly Visiting Program where in we offer a wide
range of services to seniors which includes a variety of ac-
tivities that enhance their mental and physical well being.
The highlights of this year are:
We are greatly honoured to be chosen as the ASSIST test
phase participating agency to provide Home Support Exer-cise Program . The Home Support Exercise program is an
evidence based exercise program for frail, homebound older
adults developed by the Canadian Centre for Activity and
Aging. It consists of 10 simple yet progressive exercises de-
signed to enhance and maintain functional fitness, mobility,
balance and independence of the participants. Trained front
line workers such as caregivers, volunteers, personal sup-
port workers or other community professionals teach these
exercises to older adults.
Over the past year IRCS has taken a significant step towards
the process of acquiring accreditation through CARF, Can-
ada (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facili-
ties) . As part of the process we have had the honour of be-
ing one of the first 8 agencies selected to participate in this
accreditation..
The process provides us an opportunity to better under-
stand, measure, celebrate and improve our organizational
performance. The Mississauga Halton LHIN is funding our
participation in this process.
Programs and Services
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HASP
Housing And Support Peel provides supportive
housing to people with severe mental illness who
are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming
homeless.
Through this program culturally appropriate ser-
vices are provided to clients in their own environ-
ment supported by families and friends. They
learn life skills to manage their illness and achieve
their short term goals. Services are provided to
help them navigate the social and community ser-
vices system and link them with appropriate ser-
vices.
Women’s Services
Women’s program at IRCS provides culturally sen-
sitive, short and long term counseling to women in
abusive situations and advocacy for equality of
access for all women in the community .
We provide crisis intervention, settlement ser-
vices, create safety plans, conduct empowerment
educational workshops, organize wellness and sup-
port groups.
Child Youth & Parenting (CYP)
CYP program provides short and long-term sup-
portive counseling for youth and their families
who may be at risk, or are experiencing conflicts,
depression and marginalization related to duality
of cultures, transition to a new country, post war/
disaster trauma, peer to peer and familial conflict,
parenting styles, developmental disabilities, mental
health issues and adolescent norms.
Many newcomer children, youth and parents are
empowered and educated through presentations
and information sessions provided by our staff. In-
depth employment and career guidance are offered
to youth and culturally appropriate information is
provided to parents on navigating Ontario School
system, conditional acceptance, choosing a Col-
lege / University, applying for OSAP / grants, liv-
ing on residence etc.
Day program participants engaged in mental aerobic exercise
Holistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management projectHolistic Guide to Diabetes Self Management project
The Guide to Holistic Self-Care is a tool for South Asian sen-
iors to assist in early detection and self-management of dia-
betes and other chronic illnesses. The guide includes aspects
such as understanding the disease, exercise, healthy eating,
proper use of prescription medications and information on
monitoring and managing blood sugar and blood pressure.
This guide is a user friendly, culturally appropriate and lan-
guage specific tool to empower the South Asian seniors and
addresses their physical, mental, emotional, social and fi-
nancial issues. It is a holistic approach needed for self man-
agement of diabetes and chronic disease prevention. The
seniors have been involved in this project by actively par-
ticipating in the two surveys, providing feedback and rec-
ommendations on the guide content as well as being a part
of the advisory committee for the project.
IRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to CaseworksIRCS is switching to Caseworks
Caseworks is an all-encompassing software designed to man-
age all aspects of case management from intake to cycle
close. Client file accessibility across all locations will allow
staff to have necessary information at their fingertips for
seamless documented client service, while creating a docu-
mented account of each unit of service provided to clients.
India Rainbow alongside Coyote, has developed an imple-
mentation team and set a tentative launch date in October
2010.
On-going projects and initiatives
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Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments Strategic Plan Year Two Accomplishments ----
HighlightsHighlightsHighlightsHighlights
• We continue to develop and monitor compliance
of Governance, Finance, IT Operation and Health and Safety policies.
• Have embarked on developing a complete docu-
mented Risk Management Plan by having an
inventory completed by each staff and develop-
ing a methodology for plan development
• Developed a draft Membership Recruitment and
Engagement strategy
• Launched an enhanced Website
• Developed a complete marketing plan in consul-
tation with board, staff, and volunteers
• Reviewing potential risk factors and beginning
proper documentation of accounting procedures
Benchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of ExcellenceBenchmarks of Excellence
India Rainbow was selected to participate in a
process called Benchmarks of Excellence as one of
the eight identified agencies out of 53 in the Re-
gion of Peel.
Staff, management, and Board participated in com-
pleting the surveys organized by Ontario Commu-
nity Support Association (OCSA), a division of
Ontario Capacity Builders. This process provided
us the opportunity to better understand, measure,
celebrate, and improve our organizational per-
formance. We have developed certain best prac-
tices, and these have impacted our achievement of
“Benchmarks of Excellence”.
The advisory group – hard at work
Financial Statement
Auditor: James E. Horn Almand Chartered Accountants
The above financial report has been extracted from India Rainbow’s audited financial statements. Detailed financial
statements are available upon request.
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Financial Statement
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Mississauga (2 locations)
• 3038 Hurontario Street, Suite 206 Mississauga, ON L5B 3B9 Phone: 905-275-2369 Facsimile: 905-275-6799 Email: [email protected] • 415 Matheson Blvd. East, Mississauga, ON L4Z 2H2 Phone: 905-507-6099 Facsimile: 905-507-1787
Brampton (3 locations)
• 9446 McLaughlin Road North, Unit # 1 Brampton, ON L6X 4H9 Phone: 905-454-2598 Facsimile: 905-454-2762 • 21 Regan Road, Unit H & I, Brampton, ON L7A 1C5 Phone: 905-459-4776 Facsimile: 905-459-4347
• 245 Queen Street East, Unit # 2, Brampton ON L6W 2B5
Phone: 905-595-1669 Facsimile: 905-595-1670
India Rainbow Community Services of Peel (IRCS) is a charitable, non-profit, community based organization. Services provided are non-religious and non political.
Board of Directors for 2009—2010
Sheela Joshi President Shivani Sharda Vice-President Charanjit Luthra Treasurer Nazli Rehman Secretary Deepak Anand Joint Secretary Kitty Chadda Executive Director
Members: Ragini Bhat, Bhushan Sood, Rina Kukde, Samuel Malvea, Vandana Nayyar Policy Advisory Committee: Ferzana Chaze, Archana Madhekar, Harish Athale Mission: To provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to the Peel immigrant community, enabling integration and supporting their settlement, social services, health and education needs. Our Guiding Principles
• We will apply best practices in our service delivery
• We will be accountable to all our stakeholders
• We are non political and non religious
• We are committed to progress and forward thinking through entrepreneurship
• We are guided by community participation and collaboration
Our objectives
• To assist the immigrant community to integrate into mainstream Canadian society through education, training, counseling, referral, information and bridging barriers (to integration)
• To assist and educate the community on healthcare needs
• To provide family counseling and/or referral services in family crisis situations
• To identify problems associated with the duality of cultures for children of immigrants and to provide opportunities to resolve them through education
• To inform the mainstream Canadian community about the value system of first generation Canadians
• To raise funds for programs and projects related to achieving the objectives of the organization
• To strive for providing language and culture specific services as appropriate
A United Way Funded Agency
Charity Business No: 107505810RR0001
www.indiarainbow.org
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