New Path strives to create opportunities to hear and respond to youth and family perspectives through engagement opportunities. Engagement means listening to families, two-way communication and including and supporting the family’s role in decision making. Engagement is also the creation of opportunities for youth and family voices to be heard that allows us to learn about the needs of youth and families directly. This process ensures accountability and services that reflect their needs.
Family Engagement at New Path means families and staff have an active partnership. We believe in empowering families to recognize their own needs, strengths, resources and take an active role in creating positive change in their lives.
New Path has been working with Sarah Cannon from Parent for Children’s Mental Health. Earlier this year we sent out a snapshot survey to all staff, and Board of Directors. The snapshot was intended to gather important information and perspectives to help inform future family engagement planning. Based on the results, recommendations have been suggested to enhance family engagement.
In the spring we co-developed the New Path Commitment to Family Engagement with all of our staff. We explored as an organization how we can maintain and celebrate the commitment to families our staff demonstrate.
Since our training day we have formed a core implementation team to begin to operationalize family engagement at New Path. Team members include parents, staff, management and Sarah Cannon; together we will co-develop the implementation plan.
New Path has also been working with Sarah Cannon and Kathy Manners who is supporting the work of lead agency for children and youth mental health services to develop a family advisory committee executive model (FACE). The executive will act as an oversight committee to ensure meaningful engagement of families at New Path and it will also be accessible to community partners to assist in meaningful engagement of families across all service areas. We are currently seeking service providers and family members who are interested in participating in the FACE model. Please email Lisa Cluett at familyengagement@newpath.ca if you are interested or have questions.