CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW BRUNSWICK
ANNUAL REPORT 2007
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Health Association of New Brunswick, we are pleased to submit the
annual report of our activities during the past year.
GOVERNANCE
During the past year saw a new provincial government elected. Some
of the previous announcements relative to changes within the health care system were reversed or somewhat changed. This continues with uncertainty over announcements recently being made by the Minister of Health of major
and radical changes to the health system. We remain vigilant of the changes
implemented and await further announcements which could include the merging of Regional
Health Authorities. We continue to work with the RHAs to ensure that the
Catholic identity of all facilities remains in place.
CHANB recommended further appointments to the Minister of Health for the Catholic seats on the Regional Health Authorities
requiring replacement during the year. These appointments were made to our satisfaction
and co-ordinated through the CHANB office.
At the time of writing this report, we have just completed negotiations with the government for the extension of the
Agreement signed in 1995 between the Provincial Government and the five Religious
Institutes and the Catholic Health Association of New Brunswick. The Board
of Directors has authorized the negotiations and this has produced a favourable outcome.
An announcement will be made in the very near future regarding this matter. Presently,
lawyers for both sides are reviewing the document.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
The CHANB is presently in the fourth year of their five (5) years strategic plan developed by the Association and stakeholders
at a strategic planning workshop. The action plan for the document continues
to be implemented.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The CHANB in collaboration with the Provincial Associations across Canada
along with the PJP Sponsors Network received the report of the Leadership Development Committee in March of this year. This report completely redevelops the Catholic Healthcare Leadership Program. The Board of Directors of CHANB recognizes the need to ensure the continuity of effective
leadership through programs and approaches to support and develop leader identification, development and sponsorship. The report, prepared by Rev. Dr. Michael McGowan, examined Catholic Leadership
Programs from around the world with the view to developing a highly effective Leadership Program in Canada. It is anticipated that the program will be available in the Fall of 2007.
Catholic health care will continue to be an important component of the new Catholic Healthcare System and the Catholic mission. Continuity of leadership and sponsorship
is critical to this, as is mission education and the recruitment of younger members in CHANB.
Through the Summer Career Placement Program of Service Canada, a university student has been employed through the Catholic
Health Partners office and has assisted with work in the Association office during the summer months particularly in the areas
of restructuring. During the months of February and March a graduate university
student did his practicum at the Catholic Health New Brunswick
office and greatly assisted in the development of Corporation binders. Through
this process, these students were exposed to Catholic Health Care at its roots.
EDUCATION
During the year, the Education Committee in consultation with the Board agreed to take advantage of educational opportunities
available in the province and open these opportunities to the membership, in particular front line staff. Many took advantage of these from various parts of the province.
These included workshops dealing with “Living Well – Dying Well”;
Palliative Care - and the needs of the dying; Substance Abuse in the workplace; Old Age in a New Age; Workplace Health and Safety; Spiritual
and Religious Care, etc. There was also a number of other opportunities
provided to membership on individual request.
The Education Committee is currently looking at structuring education opportunities for over the next three year period. Keynote speakers have been engaged up to 2010.
A major workshop has been organized for the Spring of 2008 with Father Mark Miller of Saskatchewan. Details of this will be announced
shortly.
The education component of CHANB is an extremely important one as it continues as the education arm of Catholic Health
Partners Inc. a Public Juridic Person into which all of the Catholic facilities of New Brunswick has been transferred.
Over the past two years, the Education Committee has been involved in the two major projects, which were undertaken
by the provincial associations across Canada,
those being the Catholic Healthcare Leadership Program and Values Integration Appraisal Program. Once these programs have both been finalized, recommendations will be made to the Board of Directors
regarding implementation.
This year, the annual meeting will held jointly with the Catholic Health Association of Canada in Moncton with the theme “Values Count!
Celebrating Best Practices in Catholic Health Care!”
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS CARE
The needs
study of Religious and Spiritual Care in health facilities including health centers continues.
Funding, negotiated with the provincial government by CHANB, continues for this project and includes representatives
of all stakeholders including Region Health Authorities and the Provincial Government.
Further details on this project are available in the Spiritual and Religious Care Report.
GOING FORWARD
Each year
the Catholic Health Association through its Board of Directors reviews its strategic plan and moves forward with its implementation. As part of the further development of the plan, and in conjunction with Catholic Health
Partners Inc. a new Governance Leadership Council was established during the year which comprises Executive Directors, Facility
Managers, Board Chairs, Advisory Committee Chairs, and representatives of the Regional Health Authorities. The terms of reference of this committee were approved and has a broad mandate to oversee position descriptions,
performance evaluations, leadership education, and values integration.
Our membership
continues to grow and has never been stronger with dues being fully paid from all sectors.
As in the
past, we will continue to sustain our membership drive, to support the work of the Association in education and promoting
the healing ministry of Christ.
Leo W. Burns,
Chair, Board of Directors
Robert B. Stewart, PhD
Executive Director
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