Annual Report
CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW BRUNSWICK
ANNUAL REPORT 2009
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
We will continue to work with the RHAs to ensure that the Catholic identity of all facilities remains in place.
We are very pleased to advise that the Agreement which was signed for another fifteen years is being honored by the Province.
We continue to monitor activities within the Provincial Government departments to ensure that governance issues are not being exploited.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
In the Fall of 2008 CHANB board met in retreat to begin the process of developing a new strategic plan. The sessions were facilitated by Father Everett MacNeil of Ottawa. The planning session produced a new 5 year plan to 2013. The plan is now before the Board for implementation.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The CHANB in collaboration with the Provincial Associations across Canada along with the PJP Sponsors Network continue to sponsor and promote the development of the new Catholic Healthcare Leadership Program. A new Guide is presently being printed and will be available later this Fall. Copies of the guide will be supplied to each facility to provide additional information regarding the Catholic Healthcare Leadership programs available. Additional studies are being undertaken by Catholic Health International for the possible development of our own program.
In the meantime, CHANB in co-operation with Catholic Health International is collaborating with the Catholic Health Corporation of Ontario to provide a Catholic Leadership program. We are pleased to advise that four candidates from New Brunswick graduated from the program in the spring of 2009. We are hopeful of having a number of applicants for the program beginning in the fall of 2009. The Board 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. Continuity of leadership and sponsorship is critical to the continuity of a Catholic healthcare system as is the recruitment of younger members to CHANB. Through the Canada Summer Placement a university student has been employed through the Catholic Health International office and has assisted with work in the Association office during the summer months. We have been successful in receiving approval for a student over the past few years; hopefully, this will continue. Through this process, these students were exposed to Catholic Health Care at its roots.
EDUCATION
Again this 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 a workshop dealing with “Old Age in a New Age”; Palliative Care; Religious a Spiritual Care; Ethics, etc. There were also a number of other opportunities provided to membership on an individual basis.
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 have been transferred. A Master Education Committee of Catholic Health Partners International with representation from the various sectors is presently reviewing education needs in our facilities.
The CHANB board has developed an annual education fund for sponsoring and co-sponsoring workshops within Region Health Authorities. These funds are being made available to Catholic facilities in promoting workshops, in-services, or other community relations programs.
A scholarship fund has also been established for persons working within Catholic facilities to assist with furthering their education. Two new scholarships have been approved for Catholic students, one Anglophone and one Francophone, completing their high school education and pursuing a career in health care. More details of this will be made available at the Annual meeting.
Over the past four years, the Education Committee has been involved in two major national projects, which were undertaken by the provincial associations across Canada, those being the Catholic Healthcare Leadership Program and Values Integration Assessment Program. These programs are expected to be finalized and operational by the fall of this year. Recommendations will be made to the Board of Directors regarding implementation.
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS CARE
The provincial committee of the province developed through a CNANB initiative continues to meet on a regular basis. A Spiritual and Religious Care two day workshop is being planned for the Miramichi in November 2009. Further details on this initiative and the work of the Spiritual and Religious Care committee is available in the Spiritual and Religious Care report.
GOING FORWARD
In co-operation with Catholic Health Partners Inc. the new Leadership Council-Atlantic was created and is in operation. This Council consists of the Facility Managers and Administrators of the Catholic Facilities within CHP and meets on a regular basis. A joint plenary session with the Leadership Council – Central which comprises the Managers and Administrators of the Catholic facilities belonging to CHP in Central Canada and the United States is being planned for the May of 2009.
Our membership continues to grow and has never been stronger with dues being paid from all sectors. Our financial condition has also improved over previous years.
As in the past, we will continue to sustain our membership drive, to support the work of the Association in education and promoting the Ministry of Christ.
Leo. W. Burns,
Chair, Board of Directors
Robert B. Stewart, PhD
Executive Director