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PROJECT
REPORT
Progress Report on a Health Grant
PROJECT TITLE:
Partners in Personal
Growth
NAME/ADDRESS OF GRANTEE:
Social Education
Corporation
Sheila Downer
P.O. Box 53
West St. Modeste, NL
A0K 5S0
PROJECT AIMS AND/OR OBJECTIVES
(see item 24 of original application)
- Improve access to mental health and addiction services for the
communities of the Labrador Straits.
- Increase community awareness of mental health and addiction issues.
- Continue to support the self-help/support groups that have begun.
- Provide consistent, regular, professional counselling services to the
communities of the Labrador Straits.
- To offer training to the population.
Objectives
1. Implement the regional strategy that proposes the formation of a
mental health team made up of the mental health nurse, the social worker,
the guidance counsellor and a liaison counsellor.
2. Set up regular meetings with the new mental health team to discern
together what is best for clients using the services.
3. Offer the Helping Skills course to youth and inquire about the
possibility of offering this course to adults of the region. If this
requires further training, acquire it and give the course to adults.
4. Continue to work with schools and addiction services to improve the
youth counselling and addictions counselling for the Labrador Straits.
5. Re-activate the Anti-Violence committee and participate in its
activities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EACH OBJECTIVE
This trimester, the main focus was to organize the training for ROOTS OF
EMPATHY, a program for the four schools sponsored by the Anti-Violence
Committee and funded by the RCMP. This program is aimed at developing
empathy in children in view of reducing aggressive behaviour.
1. Training of 11 facilitators was organized and held in West St.
Modeste. The trainers came from Prince Edward Island and from
Stephenville.
2. The program consists of three classroom visits per month, one
per-visit, one visit with a baby and his/her parents, and one post visit.
Each visit is on a specific theme.
3. Schools in Forteau, L'Anse au Loup, West St. Modeste, Red Bay, Mary's
Harbour, Port Hope Simpson and Charlottown are participating. The program
is well underway.
4. The Mental Health team is Marjorie Moffatt, liaison counsellor, the
social worker and the guidance counsellor. We have lost our mental health
nurse. Cooperation is making services much more effective. Grenfell is
advertising for a replacement and has hired a behaviour management
specialist for the Labrador Straits.
5. The anti-bullying program is reaching its goal: schools are developing
their policies and procedures for dealing with bullying. The school board
has supported some schools with funds for an anti-bullying project. The
Community Youth Network has partnered with activities as well.
6. Partners in Community, a project for the inclusion of those with
disabilities has been started and the Community Living Association has
been reactivated. This is a support and activity group for the families
and friends of those with disabilities. Activities of inclusion have been
organized as well as a trip to Corner Brook to see the inclusion project
of the College of the North Atlantic.
7. One adult was prepared for detox and treatment. Counselling is
provided until there is a place in the treatment centre, and after
treatment if requested.
8. This past trimester, 7 regular clients used the counselling services
weekly. 5 are using the services on an irregular basis. Clients range
from 8-55 years of age. Since the project began, 96 clients have used the
services.
9. Stretching exercises and mediation is being offered once a week, was
well attended at the beginning and is down to a very small group who are
not afraid of the interiority elicited by mediation.
When a mental health nurse is hired the mental health team will be
complete and Partners in Personal Growth can end as a project. It has
fulfilled its mission which was initially for three years and has been
extended to five years. Further funding has not been requested from IGA or
from any other source. I have offered my services to Grenfell as
part-time, temporary until they find a mental health nurse for this area.
The offer has been rejected. Grenfell has gradually taken on the
responsibility of providing mental health services in this region. So
far, they are still looking for a mental health nurse. As was intended, I
have worked myself out of a position and can peacefully move on to
another ministry, volunteering until I close all my files or safely carry
on an acceptable referral.
WAS/WERE THERE ANY SHORTFALL/S TO MEETING PROJECT OBJECTIVES? EXPLAIN.
A. Workshops and group participation was not very high except when
offered as part of a school program. Support groups for families who are
affected by alcohol are no longer meeting. There is so much invasion of
privacy in these small communities, voluntary and involuntary. This leads
to the attitude that a support group or even counselling would be another
invasion of one's privacy. When workshops are advertised only, workshop attendance
is poor. When people organize themselves for a workshop, there is better
attendance.
B. Families participating in the Community Living Association are
disillusioned with the association in knowing that this association
caused the stoppage of the special needs program in the campuses of the
College of the North Atlantic. This program is replaced by an inclusion
program that has limited capacity, leaving our families to work hard at
finding training and employment for their member with a disability. Most
families involved have parents who are working on town projects until
January. This has affected the ability to meet until then. Many are
interested in starting Special Olympics in the new year.
D. After working so hard to get a mental health nurse for our area, that
post is vacant again. This leaves a big gap, at the clinic, in the
Anti-Violence team and in the mental health team.
E. The new guidance counsellor has no time for clinical work. She is
bogged down with crises and with testing a long waiting list of students.
F. Addictions work remains a great challenge due to many factors, one of
which is the entrenched denial around alcoholism and around its effects
on the family. I hear many people speak of others with the problem, and
even about themselves, but very few come for support.
PLEASE PROVIDE THE BUDGET FROM PROJECTS ORIGINAL APPLICATION, AS WELL
AS ACTUAL EXPENDITURE(S) FOR EACH ITEM.
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ORIGINAL
BUDGET
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ACTUAL
|
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Salary
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45,492.52
|
11805.28
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Merc
|
4400.00
|
3910.62
|
|
Rent
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4800.00
|
2100.00
|
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Administration
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1200.00
|
0.00
|
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Publicity
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0.00
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218.50
|
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Office
Supplies
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1500.00
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770.80
|
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Travel
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3500.00
|
985.32
|
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Educational
Material
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2000.00
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0.00
|
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Telephone/fax/postage
|
2500.00
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976.10
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Professional
Development
|
800.00
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0.00
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Bank
Charges
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113.20
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61.45
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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED INCLUDES A BILL OF SALE FOR ITEMS PURCHASED IN
EXCESS OF $ 999.00.
I am working three days a week as of November 1. This should reduce
expenditures for salary. To supplement my salary, I am working part-time
for Warren Shepell Consultants, doing the Employee Assistance Program for
the hospital in Lourdes de Blanc Sablon. The town will be requested to
let the project use the office rent free, until June.
IF PROJECT BUDGET WAS INCLUSIVE OF A SALARY OF $ 10000 OR MORE, PLEASE
PROVIDE:
A)NAME(S) OF EMPLOYEE(S)
Marjorie Moffatt
B) ACTUAL DATES OF EMPLOYMENT FOR EACH EMPLOYEE:
July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004
WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT RECEIVED FROM I.G.A?
$ 20000.00
WHAT WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT?
$ 20828.07
THE REMAINDER, IF ANY, IS DUE TO I.G.A.
IF ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS WERE MADE:
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LIST
APPLICATIONS
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AMOUNT(S)
RECEIVED
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Conrad
Hilton Fund for Sisters
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USD
10000
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WHAT HAS/HAVE BEEN THE IMPACT(S) OF YOUR PROJECT
The impact of the counselling services has been at many levels:
1. At the level of Grenfell:
Most significant step: The hiring of a full-time guidance
counsellor residing in Southern Labrador. She is providing an excellent
service especially to students at risk. The hiring of a behaviour
management specialist for the Labrador Straits, part time. There are
still incidences of Grenfell employees making referrals for a person to
continue counselling with Sister Margorie. In case of addictions
counselling and referral to detox and treatment, I work closely with the
addictions counsellor and psychiatrist in St. Anthony. The addictions
counsellor/educator comes to the Labrador Straits on request from the
mental health nurse or myself. She did not do her usual visit to the
region this fall due to absence of the mental health nurse. The mental
health team has been established and is effective in many ways. Grenfell
has hired a behaviour management specialist who is much needed here and
has advertised and is interviewing for a replacement mental health nurse.
2. At the level of the school board:
The new guidance counsellor is working hard and is an active member of
the Anti-Violence team. The schools have been very welcoming of any
workshops I have been offering about anti-bullying. All four schools in
our area are welcoming the ROOTS OF EMPATHY program which is ongoing in
the grades 4-6 classrooms. School principals have used the counselling
services for children whom they see as at risk. This is continuing since
the guidance counsellor does not have time for clinical work. I have
participated on invitation, to the ISSP's concerning child clients whom I
have been supporting after trauma in their lives.
3. At the level of youth:
During times of crisis, death of a youth, I am present at the youth
centre impacted and work with the members of the mental health team to
provide debriefing and grief workshops. I continue to be a resource
person for training of the staff of the Community Youth Network youth
centres. I also help them with their policies and procedures and their
manual.
4. At the level of the general population:
People are asking for services more readily, referring each other to the
services. There is much talk and questioning about the service and the
workshops offered. Counselling seems more "normal" for people
here. People who have used the services on a regular basis have grown in
maturity, vitality and general sense of well-being. They have gotten better.
Many more people are taking care of their mental and physical health. All
the communities are aware of the Roots of Empathy in their school and its
purpose. The Anti-Violence committee has had high profile in the local
newspaper with its activities. In time of crisis, the communities expect
and appreciate the services offered by the project. Exercises and
mediation for physical and mental health are offered and a small group
attends.
IF APPLICABLE, PLEASE ATTACH CATALOGUES, PUBLICATIONS, ETC. ARISING
FROM THIS GRANT. HIGHLIGHT I.G.A. AS A FUNDING SOURCE.
SIGNATURE: Margorie Moffat
TITLE IN RELATION TO GRANT:
Counsellor, Employee
DATE: December 12, 2003
NOTES:
· An audit may be required, subject to
Grant Expenditure Responsibility Agreement.
· Raw data of research projects, if
applicable, should be kept for a 10 year period.
· Site visits may be undertaken to
evaluate project.
APPENDIX
Cash Flow Report
01/06/03 Through 09/12/03
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Category
Description
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01/06/03-
09/12/03
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INFLOWS
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|
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|
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Contract
Serv
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4727.68
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Grant
Received
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33434.50
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Reimb.
Office
|
181.14
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Reimb.
Travel
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847.86
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Tax
Reimb.
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73.67
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TOTAL
INFLOWS
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39264.85
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|
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OUTFLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising
|
218.50
|
|
Bank
Charge
|
61.45
|
|
Merc
|
3910.62
|
|
Office
|
770.80
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|
Rent
|
2100.00
|
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Salary,Wages
|
11805.28
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Telephone
|
976.10
|
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Travel,Bus
|
985.32
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TOTAL
OUTFLOWS
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20828.07
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OVERALL
TOTAL
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18436.78
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Article for The Northern Pen:
ROOTS OF EMPATHY TRAINING FOR LABRADOR SOUTH AND THE STRAITS
Eleven people were trained to be instructors/ facilitators for the Roots
of empathy program the weekend of October 3-5 in West St. Modeste. The
trainers were Brenda MacDonald from P.E.I. and Mary Gaultois of
Stephenville.
The program is for elementary school children with the goal of reducing
aggression and fostering the development of empathy and peaceful
relationships. The certified instructors visit the classroom over the
school year with a neighborhood infant and his or her parents in order to
build on children's social and emotional learning. Roots of Empathy is
noted for its contribution to improving the social behavior of children,
and their emotional health. The impact it has on reducing aggression,
particularly the type of aggression related to bullying is also noted
since its beginnings three years ago.
As an anti-bullying program, child abuse prevention program, crime
prevention program, Roots of Empathy is sponsored by the Labrador Straits
Violence Prevention Committee with funding from the R.C.M.P. As a social/
emotional competency program, and emotional literacy program, a character
building program, a human development program, a substance-abuse
prevention program, the coordination of the Roots of Empathy is sponsored
by the Labrador Straits Social Education Committee with funding from the
International Grenfell Association.
Marjorie Moffatt, member of the Labrador Straits Violence Prevention
Committee and coordinator of the program.

Photo:
Class of instructors / facilitators in training.
Brenda MacDonald, trainer, demonstrating the meet the baby visit with
Ryan and Janice Bolger, mother.


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PROJECT REPORTS
· Community Grant Reports:
- Cook's Harbour Recreation Committee
- Partners in Personal Growth
· Education Grant Reports:
- Environmental Immersion Camps
- Building School Literacy Collections
· Health Grant Reports:
- Dental Equipment
- Rainbow Summer Camp
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