(Not So) Risky Business

Risk is a part of any business – including organizations offering services that support vulnerable children and youth. Having a comprehensive and properly implemented risk management plan is critical to ensure safety and help everyone sleep a bit better. 

That is what 120 leaders from child and youth mental health agencies across Ontario heard at a risk management symposium on September 26th, 2016 in Toronto. Co-hosted by Lutherwood and the Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health, Risk Management Symposium: Frameworks and Best Practices offered participants an opportunity to strengthen their organizations as they improve their collective services for children, youth and their families in support of the Ministry of Child and Youth Services’ Moving on Mental Health initiative.

The symposium format offered lead agencies and core service provider leaders with a chance to discuss some best practices, latest knowledge and evidence around risk management, build a support network for continued learning and capacity building and give participants some takeaways and concrete next steps.

The agenda included a keynote address from Tracy Wrong, Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Risk Management at Royal Ottawa Health Care and a panel discussion of peers from Kinark Child and Family Services, CMHA-WWD and Lutherwood’s Risk Manager Sherrie Hyde before breaking into groups to discuss where their agencies are in their risk management process and the challenges they face implementing a comprehensive risk management program.

While we cannot eliminate risk, we can be purposeful in how we approach and mitigate risk. And, there is no better way than to share ideas with peer organizations and experts to create a tailor-made solution.

This symposium was made possible thanks to our co-hosts partners at the Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health and the Cowan Foundation’s generous sponsorship of Lutherwood’s Institute for Children and Youth Mental Health.