APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
LOOKING AFTER CHILDREN IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
PRESENT: Sherrie-Ann Alexander, Maureen Blenkhorn, Heidi Kiang, Heather King, Karla Kraan, Fanny Mak, Shaunette
Malcolm-Witter, Mark McDermid, Sherri McMullen, Brian O’Connor, Pam Pasquill, Lynne Radford, Janet Reid,
Sharon Schnurr Cabrera, Diana Stewartson, and Karen Taylor
REGRETS: Blair Boddy, Anita Chiu, Shazia Hussain, Andrew Kajioka, Heather King, Shanti Persad, Michelle
Pickett, Janie Ryan, and Laura Tobin
Guests:
Deb Goodman and Heather Clarke
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION
Demonstration of Statistical
Package for Social Science
(“SPSS”) Database program
from Deb Goodman and
Heather Clarke
Sharon Schnurr Cabrera welcomed and thanked Deb
Goodman and Heather Clarke who were invited back to
provide
Committee
representatives
with
a
demonstration of the SPSS database program.



ACTION
Deb Goodman gave the demonstration.
The database program is licensed and costs
$1,500.
Three years of data have been collected from
the University of Ottawa from those agencies
that have previously implemented Looking After
Children
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION
ACTION
From the SPSS program, our agency can do our
own analysis from data, i.e. by gender, age,
wardship, length of placement, weight, etc.

Deb stated that it is very easy to learn as the
program is user friendly. This program is very
similar to Excel.

Deb Goodman is willing to train any Committee Fanny Mak expressed an interest in the
representative who may be interested in learning training and will firm date with Deb
the
database
program.
Committee Goodman.
Representatives were encouraged to call Deb to
schedule a time for training/demonstration.
Minutes were approved.

Review of Minutes, April 17,
2007
Update from Committee
Representatives for
Community Based Branches,
Foster Care and Adoption:
All Committee Members



Prior to the meeting, Committee representatives
were asked to be prepared to speak on what is
happening in their respective service/work areas.
Shanti Persad via email suggested that it would be
helpful for staff having completed AARs to come to
Scarborough Branch and speak to workers as they
begin using them.
Karla Kraan reported that training had just started
at Toronto Branch. Supervisors are sitting down
with CSWs to discuss starting to use the AARs
with children/youth on their caseload. Natasha
Budarov and Diana Stewartson are the two trainers
for Toronto Branch and will support staff as they
begin to implement Looking After Children. Karla
sends emails to branch to update them of any new
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION




Update from Provincial Lead
Hands Meeting: Sharon


ACTION
changes on a regular basis.
Pam Pasquil reported that training had also just
started at North Branch. The Children’s Service
Workers have not met as a group yet. Glen Link is
the trainer and will assist CSWs as they begin to
use the AARs for their children/youth.
Lynne Radford reported for Foster Care. There is
positive feedback regarding training. Some foster
parents have questioned using the AAR for
developmentally delayed children/youth.
They
asked if they should be using the AAR for the
chronological age or developmental level. Maureen
Blenkhorn suggested that it was okay to leave some
things blank if they are not relevant. The intent is
to use the AAR for the chronological age of the
child/youth.
Sherrie-Ann Alexander reported that all Etobicoke
supervisors are on board. Everyone at branch has
been updated. Training has started and received
positive feedback.
Their Children’s Service
Workers have not met yet as a group.
Maureen Blenkhorn reported AARs are going well
for Child and Youth Services. She stated that once
workers beginning using the AARs with their
children/youth and they see the benefits, they
have less concerns.
Sharon reported on the last meeting held May 14,
2007.
There were questions re how the OPRs will be
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION



Update on the work of the
AAR Administrative SubCommittee: Karla


Update on the Training
Subcommittee


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


ACTION
trained. OACAS stated they would be willing to
train but did not have the resources to coordinate
the training. They will settle on a model very soon.
Bob Flynn from the University of Ottawa reported
on more research results with some positive
outcomes for children in care.
There was some discussion across the agencies
about the timing of Plans of Cares. We will be
consulting with Brian O’Connor regarding this.
There was discussion re OSW’s and which agency
should be sending the AAR to Ottawa as part of
the research. The majority felt that the agency
providing service to the child/youth should send
the AAR as part of their research.
Sharon reported that there are no new updates
from the Administrative AAR Management SubCommittee.
Sharon indicated that there is a need to set up
another meeting to discuss how to batch completed
AARs prior to sending to the University of Ottawa.
Heidi Kiang reported that training is going well.
There are 10 more sessions to go.
Trainers feel positive about the training.
The audience were quite satisfied with the training
according to the evaluations
Foster parents feel positive. They enjoyed training
with Children Service and Resource Workers.
Some FSWs felt the length of training was too long.
Shaunette Malcom-Witter reported that 2 days
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION





Preparing for Presentation to
Senior Management
Committee/Transformation
Steering Committee: Sharon
and All Committee Members



ACTION
training is a problem for some kinship foster parents
as many work or are single parents and find it
difficult to attend.
Scarborough location is not ideal for training as the
church presents problems with sound and heat.
Some workers were negative about training and did Janie Ryan and Sharon Schnurr Cabrera
not want to attend. Some did not participate in an to follow up.
appropriate manner. There were a lot of concerns
about workload and the time it may take to complete
AARs.
Some had concerns regarding the research,
questioning with parents in the longitudinal study
present their children/youth in a more positive
manner than what was fact. Sharon reported that
some of the research for our kids in care showed
them faring better than others. This may be because
our children/youth may have more support and
access to programs.
The committee felt that we should review Maureen
and Sheri’s presentation made to SMC and look at
using this as the overview for the fall.
Sharon and Janie viewed the Overview presentation
at SMC and Sharon stated it was excellent.
Sharon and Janie had prepared a document which
captures what the committee has been doing since
its inception last year.
Sharon asked for feedback.
Committee representatives were all in agreement
with the document.
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
Chat Line Update
DISCUSSION

This document will be brought forward to the
Steering Committee this month.

Sharon participated in the Chat Line which was held
on Thursday, May 3rd from 12:30 to 1:30.
8 people participated:
1 from CAST (Sharon and Janie)
3 OACAS reps
Waterloo
Hastings
Nipissing/Parry Sound
Haldimand/Norfolk
The discussions was on how agencies are involving
youth in the implementation of Looking After
Children and how to promote this with youth 18+ and
have them participate.
One suggestion was to reward youth with
certificates or diplomas.



Internal Policies and
Procedures



Future Meeting Dates
(including summer months)

It was suggested that a small committee may need
to be formed to review and develop policies and
procedures re Looking After Children.
Sharon asked for volunteers from Committee.
Sherrie-Ann Alexander, Janet Reid, Shaunette
Malcolm Witter and Heidi Kiang volunteered to
participate.
Upcoming meeting dates were already scheduled for
the remainder of the year and Fanny pre-booked
meeting rooms for them.
ACTION
Sharon
will
canvass
Committee
Representatives, again, at next meeting.
Rooms have been reserved for future
dates.
All meetings will be held in
Conference Room 7-2 from 1:30 to 3:30
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APPROVED BY COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM
DISCUSSION
ACTION
with the exception of September 18 as
room 7-2 is only available from 1:30 –
3:00.
Other Business
The meeting was adjourned as there was no other
business to discuss.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 17, 2007
May 29, 2007
June 19, 2007
July 17, 2007
August 21, 2007
September 18, 2007
October 23, 2007
November 20, 2007
December 18, 2007
Location – 7th Floor - Room #7-2
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