2019 Policy Conference

Thank you to the more than 250 delegates who joined us from across the Province for our sold out two-day conference.

With a theme of Shifting Gears, our 2019 conference enabled human services leaders, provincial leaders, policy-makers and subject matter experts to take part in important dialogues needed to navigate, shape and collaboratively lead our sector through the next phase in its ongoing evolution.

The two-day program featured key updates from the Province, in-depth breakouts on emerging policy trends, and valuable opportunities to connect and take stock with other human services leaders.

Thank You to Our Planning Committee

A big thank you goes out to OMSSA’s 2019 Policy Conference Planning Committee, whose input helped to ensure that our conference program hit the right notes and addressed the issues and topics most critical to our members:

• Davina Dixon, Supervisor, Income and Employment Support, Social Services Department, Regional Municipality of Durham
• Ralph West, Housing Services Administrator, St. Thomas-Elgin Social Services
• Tammy Kealey-Donaldson, Children’s Services Manager, Lanark County
• Kevin Dickins, Manager of Employment and Income Supports, City of London

Thank you to the more than 250 delegates who joined us from across the province. Building on the success of this conference, OMSSA is looking forward to providing more opportunities for meaningful networking and knowledge-exchange through our conferences and other events in 2020.

Highlights

• An opening address from the Honourable Steve Clark, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• A fireside chat featuring five ADMs and one Director from five provincial ministries
• An update on mental health and addictions from Ragaven Sabaratnam, Director of Mental Health and Addiction Programs with the Ontario Ministry of Health
• An engaging panel discussion on the State of Social Policy, featuring policy experts from AMO, Maytree, St. Michaels Hospital and the University of Toronto
• Five facilitated “think tanks” for delegates to engage on key pressure points for our sector, from budget planning and finding efficiencies, to managing human resources challenges and serving hard-to-reach clients
• In-depth breakout sessions on key topics like commissioning, data-driven services, human services integration, innovative partnerships, community safety and well-being planning, and more