2024 Exchange Conference

Call for Proposals

Deadline: December 8, 2023

Do you have a program or an approach that you would like to share with other OMSSA Members? Have you had success working with service users because of a novel effort by you or your team? Is there work that you have been doing with another OMSSA Member that has achieved results? If so, we would love to have you share your work at the 2024 OMSSA Exchange Conference taking place at the Toronto Hilton Airport Hotel on May 7 and 8!  

The Exchange Conference is an annual event designed for OMSSA Members and partners to exchange ideas and to share work they are excited about. Help us build this year’s conference by proposing a presentation! 

Presentation formats include:  

• A full panel presentation (70-90 mins) 

• Part of a themed panel presentation (20-45 mins) 

Please use the link below to fill out your proposal for a presentation at the 2024 Exchange Conference.  

Proposals will be adjudicated by the Exchange Conference Planning Committee. Composed of your OMSSA peers and staff, the committee will assess your presentation based on the following criteria: 

• Proposal meets format requirements 

• Relevant to the core service areas of OMSSA Members (children’s services, housing and homelessness, employment and income supports, and/or emergency social services) 

• Demonstrates a novel or innovative approach that can be replicated by other OMSSA Members 

• The proposed presenter(s) have a demonstrated ability to engage and challenge participants (first-time presenters are, of course, welcome!)* 

*Evaluation criteria will be weighted therefore no single criteria will be used to determine  inclusion and/or exclusion in the conference. 

We promise not to rule out great topics that haven't occurred to us, but we are particularly interested in submissions on the following themes: 

• Leveraging Data to Tell Stories in Human Services 

• Community and Workplace Anti-Racism 

• Children's Services Recruitment and Retention Strategies 

• Supportive Housing Initiatives and Partnerships 

• Working with Service Users with Mental Health and Addictions Issues 

• Workplace / Workforce Innovations 

• Effective Human Services Integration 

• Building Partnerships with Community Stakeholders 

• Tackling NIMBYism and Gaining Community Support for Projects 

• Situating the Human Services in the Larger Continuum of Health and Education 

• Improving Equity and Access for Service Users 

• Partnerships with the Ministry of Health, Ontario Heath Teams, and/or the Canadian Mental Health Association  

• Unique Person-Centric Approaches for Case Management 

OMSSA is guided by the principles of anti-racism, equity, and Truth and Reconciliation when inviting proposals for the Exchange Conference. OMSSA encourages nominations that reflect the diversity of its membership, in particular from individuals from racialized groups and Indigenous Peoples to ensure that our proposals are reflective of the racial diversity of its membership and the communities OMSSA Members serve. We strongly encourage submissions that promote the work of Indigenous and other equity-deserving staff, or submissions for projects and programs that are focused on assisting Indigenous and other equity-deserving communities. 

The deadline for Call for Proposal submissions is December 8, 2023. Please contact education@omssa.com for any questions. 

Submit Your Proposal