In This Issue

Training and Events Update Introduction to Positive Behaviour Supports (Virtual) Training  Fall Webinar Series Registration launching in early September  Pricing announced  Accreditation Update Call for Participation: Standards Review Committee  Virtual Surveys: Collaborative, Supportive, Secure and Safe  Congratulations to ACDS Level 1 & 2 Accredited Organizations  Other Updates First responders’ mental health grants  Community Engaged Learning Course Wellness 400: seeking community partners

Training and Development Update

Introduction to Positive Behaviour Support (Virtual) Training    Introduction to Positive Behaviour Supports virtual training will be hosted through Zoom on Wednesday, September 9, to Friday September 11 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM each day. Registrants will receive an invitation with a link to the virtual classroom and learner materials following the confirmation of registration through this form.   The cost of this training is $90 + GST per learner for ACDS members and $129 + GST per learner from non-member organizations. Subsidy support from the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program has been applied to these rates. This training session has a capacity of 20 learners.  Contact training@acds.ca with any questions regarding this training session.

Click here to register

Fall Webinar Series

In response to the continued and important need for strong professional development opportunities in the Community Disability Services (CDS) sector, ACDS will be hosting a 5-session webinar series from October 19 to October 23, 2020. Each day will have one 90-minute webinar followed by a 30-minute question and answer period.    This series will cover topics such as:  Dementia Capable Care of Persons with Developmental Disabilities  Sexuality and People with Developmental Disabilities  Diversity Training: Culturally Sensitive Care  Mental Health & Trauma: Coping & Recovery for the Caregiver  COVID-19: Reflections for Learning  Registration will open in September, and pricing for this webinar series will be:  $50 for one webinar  $135 for three webinars  $225 for all five webinars, and includes follow-up access to the series for 14 days afterwards    Please direct questions about this webinar series to training@acds.ca with the subject line 'Fall Webinar Series'.

Accreditation Update

Call for Participation: Standards Review Committee    Who? Those with an interest in Accreditation who have Leadership experience in the Community Disability Services sector  Purpose: Review and give recommendations for revisions to the Creating Excellence Together (CET) Accreditation Standards   Qualifications:  Senior Leadership position   Specialist in one or more of the following fields:  Service delivery to adults or children with developmental disabilities  Respite service delivery to adults or children with developmental disabilities  Supports for adults with multiple disabilities  Supports for people whose lives intersect with multiple systems (e.g., Community Disability Services, legal system    Time Commitment: Weekly meetings via Zoom from September to December 2020 plus personal time reviewing the 2016 version of the CET Standards and the report of an external consultant  Contact Clova Lehr at clova@acds.ca or call (403) 250-9495 ext. 231 to apply

Virtual Surveys: Collaborative, Supportive, Secure and Safe    In July, ACDS relaunched Creating Excellence Together (CET) Accreditation using a strategically planned virtual survey process that prioritized confidentiality and ease of use. We also began using a licensed file sharing program that has view-only access and is time-limited to ensure the safety and privacy of user information.  Service providers that recently completed a virtual CET survey were exceptionally helpful in supporting their own staff and individuals accessing service to adapt to the process, and in supporting the CET survey team to do file reviews and have conversations. Some service provider staff told us that the process accommodated their needs better than expected. We are using the feedback we receive to further enhance and refine the process.  To help service providers prepare for and learn about the various aspects of a virtual survey, visit our CET Survey Relaunch Resources webpage. Our Accreditation staff will work with you from start to finish to make sure your questions and concerns are all addressed.   Contact acds@acds.ca, or your regional ACDS Accreditation representative with any questions regarding the virtual survey process.

Congratulations to Peak Vocational and Support Services for Achieving CET Accreditation Level 2 Peak Vocational and Support Services has achieved Accreditation Level 2 and has earned the right to be recognized for its innovative and creative approaches to delivering quality services to individuals with development disabilities. They have also met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation.  The survey team commended Peak for:   its efforts to have individuals participate in a comprehensive intake process intended to stabilize many individuals and provide them with necessary accommodations and supports and services  having an Individual Rights Best Practices Manual and with having qualified staff, including a Behaviour Specialist, to help guide the process to ensure that best practices are followed when developing and implementing planned restrictive procedures  having well thought out risk management processes and effective and elaborate communication systems such as ShareVision, company e-mail for all employees, and Call Em All, promoting timely and ongoing communication with all staff and others who require the information   utilizing various approaches and opportunities to foster employee development

CET Accreditation Level 1 for Adults with Developmental Disabilities  Congratulations to the following service providers for attaining CET Accreditation Level 1 in the last quarter. Your accomplishments are appreciated by ACDS and the individuals who access your services.  Centra Cam Vocational Training Association  Columbia College  Elves Special Needs Society  March of Dimes Canada  Special Development Unit (Alberta Health Services)

Other Updates

First responders’ Mental Health Grants  Alberta’s firefighters, police officers, paramedics, sheriffs, corrections officers and emergency health care workers often deal with stressful, dangerous and traumatic situations. This stress has a negative impact on first responders and emergency health care workers. They often experience post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) at significantly higher rates than the general population. There is up to $1.5 million available for this grant program in 2020-21.  The Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders grant program has 2 separate funding streams:  Stream 1 (Services) provides funding for non-profit organizations that provide services to first responders and emergency health care workers living with or at risk for PTSI.  Stream 2 (Research) provides funding to researchers engaged in applied research that generates evidence on prevention or intervention for first responders and emergency health care workers living with or at risk for PTSI.

Learn more about the grant and apply here

Community Engaged Learning Course Wellness 400: Seeking Community Partners  The University of Calgary is looking for organizations to partner with this capstone course of the Embedded Certificate in Mental Wellbeing and Resilience. This certificate was launched in Fall 2019 and has foundations in the University of Calgary Campus Mental Health Strategy.   The course, Capstone in Mental Wellbeing and Resilience, or WELL 400, is a community-engaged learning course that will partner students with local organizations to address a community-identified challenge relating to the course topic. The course will run for the first time in the winter semester of 2021 (Jan-April) and asks for a small time commitment from community partners throughout the semester while the students work to address their community partner’s challenge or topic.

Click here to learn more and apply for the partnership

Alberta Council of Disability Services ‌