June 2011 Annual Conference

 2011 alPHa Annual Conference
June 12, 13 & 14
Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville, 90 Bloor St. E., Downtown Toronto

alPHa was proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year by hosting its 25th Annual General Meeting in Toronto, Ontario. In addition to the customary business meetings of the Board of Directors and its Sections (Board of Health and Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health), the Annual Business Meeting and Resolutions Session, delegates assembled to learn more about Accountability in Ontario Health Units, hearing from speakers as they shared their expertise on leading and governing in complex environments, gave further details on the new Provincial Accountability Agreements and shared local experiences with changes that have been made to accommodate the new emphasis on accountability. As with any good birthday celebration, balloons and cake were plentiful.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE PROGRAM INFORMATION	PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE-AT-A- GLANCE (INCLUDES ROOM LOCATIONS)

Business Meeting 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM  - Rosedale Room (Materials distributed directly to participants) Final meeting of the 2010-2011 alPHa Board of Directors.

Opening Reception for Delegates and  Guests - 7:30 - 9:30 PM - High Park Ballroom Following the final meeting of the 2010-2011 alPHa Board of Directors, delegates and guests were invited to a reception that included pasta, salad and stir-fry food stations and a cash bar. alPHa's 25th anniversary was toasted with remarks from Dr. Alex Hukowich, a founding alPHa Director and Emeritus Medical Officer of Health.     Inaugural Board of Directors, 1987     Original Letter of Agreement - alPHa's Birthday" October 29, 1986         Greetings from the Minister of Health Promotion and Sport

DAY 2 - MONDAY JUNE 13

Business Meetings - 8:00 - 10:00 AM - Forest Hill Ballroom alPHa Annual Business Meeting                                                            Members confirmed the business of the year and received reports from the President and Executive Director, each of alPHa's Sections and Affiliates, and the alPHa Advocacy Committee.      alPHa ANNUAL REPORT ABM AGENDA AND WRITTEN REPORTS   DRAFT* ABM MINUTES *Final approval of Minutes occurs at next year's ABM Resolutions Session In a session moderated by Parliamentarian Dan Lynch, 11 Resolutions were brought to the floor for consideration by the alPHa membership. The Disposition of Resolutions document contains copies of each with amendments where introduced and accepted, and the voting results. Disposition of Resolutions Considered at the alPHa 2011 Annual General Meeting

Plenary Session - 10:30 - 12:00 - Forest Hill Ballroom Motivational Speaker: Phil Boyle on Leading and Governing in Complex Environments                                               Phil Boyle spoke about how accountability in its various forms is strongly related to moral, ethical and political values, which in turn influence public policy goals, objectives and the disparate paths available to reach them. He further illustrated that there are significant tensions – even contradictions – that almost always come into play, invariably demanding some form of compromise in the public policy arena. He introduced this concept by presenting a series of Yes / No / Maybe questions (e.g. legalize marijuana, privatize liquor sales, ban junk food in schools, allow doctor assisted suicide etc.), asking delegates to move to the corresponding area of the room that most closely reflected their respective opinions. He then explained that these opinions are most often the result of an almost subconscious thought process that considers four core societal values – Liberty, Equality, Community and Prosperity - and weighs them against each other to decide which is the most important to uphold. The values themselves don’t change, but each serves as a different lens through which to examine a given issue, and emphasis on one almost always comes at the expense of one or more of the others.     This process is not unlike the one that occurs in the development of public policy, which is most often about striking the most acceptable balance among these core values. This requires shared understanding of the problem and the range of available solutions, which must in turn be carefully examined for their potential impacts on a diverse society whose individuals, by and large, will judge the result based on those very same values.   The key lesson is that while we may generally prefer one value over others, there is no such thing as a choice that doesn’t involve more than one. Generally speaking, policy is about serving the public good, but the pathways to and definitions of “public good” are disparate and fluid. The essence of public leadership and accountability therefore involves normative choices (moral, ethical, and political) more than it does technical ones (legal, scientific and administrative) in its service. Dr. Phillip Boyle, along with his wife Scottie, is co-owner of Leading & Governing Associates in North Carolina, a public purpose consulting practice specializing in board governance and public decision making. He facilitates collaborative planning and problem solving processes for regional bodies, local communities, and non-profit boards; and conducts policy retreats and workshops for municipal, county, and public school officials.  Phil teaches in public leadership and governance education programs for elected and appointed officials on behalf of a variety of state and national associations and public universities. He has three daughters: Erin, age 16; Rachel, age 14; and Lauren age 11. His book, Preserving the Public in Public Schools: Visions, Values, Conflicts and Choices, is scheduled for release by Rowman & Littlefield Press in September.

LUNCH  Yorkville Room

Plenary Session - 1:00 - 3:00 - Forest Hill Ballroom Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport -  The New Accountability Agreements                                                                                            Presenters guided delegates through the Public Health Accountability Agreements, describing the rationale, summarizing the consultation that took place, outlining the new components and itemizing next steps.   The central driver for these agreements has been the growing imperative to ensure value for money, with a requirement to demonstrate the value of public health’s contributions to the health system and advancement of government priorities, as well as to measure its performance against the existing standards and to ensure Continuous Quality Improvement.   The Agreement Template was developed and amended in consultation with the field, and is designed to set out the performance expectations for all boards of health. Most of the content has been used in the past and the format is not unlike other familiar provincial funding agreements. The final version of the template is expected to be distributed for review before the end of June, and the customized agreements will be sent out for signature once funding has been finalized.   13 initial performance indicators have been chosen in 8 program areas, which will be used to improve and expand upon the chosen accountability measures. New indicators are being considered for the future with more of a focus on health promotion areas.   Implementation timelines and the technical structures that will characterize the monitoring, reporting and funding processes were then briefly described.   Q & A (not verbatim)   Q – How do the indicators link compliance to performance? A – The compliance standards set out in the Ontario Public Health Standards are based on the assumption that certain performance outcomes can reasonably be expected.   Q – If funding decisions are not tied to the performance outcomes, what is the incentive? A – The idea behind these agreements is to take the long-term outputs and outcomes that characterize public health interventions and fit them into the four-year mandate of an elected government.   Q – Why is there not a reciprocal process where the performance of the policy makers (i.e. government ministries) can be assessed as a driver of continuous quality improvement as measured through actual health outcomes? A – These agreements are driven by the demonstration of value for money that flows only one way, although continuing dialogue about the indicators and measurement of outcomes is expected to influence public policy in such a way that the public health system is always moving in the right direction.   Q – How much thought has been given to the fact that the indicators are influenced by a large set of variables that aren’t under one agency’s control (the example of measuring the % of the population exceeding the low-risk drinking guidelines immediately following the Government’s policy decision to make it easier to access beverage alcohol was given)? A - Public health has specific obligations, and measuring compliance and performance with them is the entry point to start figuring out what public health’s influence is. The idea really is “telling the story” that hasn’t yet been properly told yet, and as a start, the means to determine how much public health can claim authorship of that story needs to be put in place.      Laura Pisko, Director, Standards, Programs and Community Development Branch, Sport, Public Health and Community Programs Division, Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport  Laura Belfie, Manager, Public Health Units and Standards Unit, Standards, Programs and Community Development Branch, Sport, Public Health and Community Programs Division, Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport Michele Weidinger, Team Lead Performance Management, Public Health Practice Branch, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care   Michele Harding, Acting Director, Public Health Practice Branch, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care       Exercise and Refreshment Break - 3:00 - 3:30 - Forest Hill Ballroom / Yorkville Room                    The Sudbury and District Health Unit, winners of this year's alPHa fitness challenge, led delegates in an exercise break - ably assisted by the three other health units that achieved 100% staff participation (Chatham-Kent, Brant and Porcupine), bringing them on a virtual northern nature hike. You too can participate in your own office - click above and start the narrated slide show. As always, be cautious. This is bear country. 2011 alPHa Fitness Challenge Champs. 5th straight. 2011 alPHa Fitness Challenge runners-up - Chatham - Kent Bird surveillance It's fun to stay at the a-l-PH-a    Plenary Session - 3:30 - 5:00 - Forest Hill Ballroom Panel Presentation: The Local Health Unit Perspective: Organizational and Community Accountability Five of alPHa’s member health units were invited to share examples of how they have made changes or altered approaches in order to reinforce organizational and community accountability. These included structural reorganizing, consolidation of physical space, innovative uses of technology, and the use of the Balanced Scorecard. Please see the presentations for the specifics – most of them include detailed speaker’s notes.          Peterborough: Approaches to Health Unit Accountability Larry Stinson, Director of Programs         Grey Bruce: Grey Bruce Health Unit Integrated Team Model Chris Munn, Director of Operations and Program Development Additional Background               Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit - Program Review in a Small Rural Health Unit Shani Gates, Director of Quality Improvement Additional Background                   Niagara: Approaches to Health Unit Accountability using Technology Jessica Hopkins, Associate MOH               York Region: York Region Public Health Balanced Scorecard Nadine D’Entremont, Continuous Quality Improvement Policy Planning Coordinator Shelley Stalker, Manager of Epidemiology & Research

5:15 - 5:45: Afternoon Group Walk - Explore the Yorkville or Rosedale Areas adjacent to the hotel. Details to be announced

RECEPTION AND ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER 6:30 - 9:30 PM Reception - 6:30 - 7:30 PM - High Park Foyer Awards Dinner- 7:30 - 10:00 PM - High Park Ballroom After a full day of business, delegates and their guests were invited to enjoy refreshments and conversation at the President's Reception, followed by dinner and the presentation of the 2011 Distiguished Service Awards. Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer and a founding Vice President of alPHa's first Board of Directors joined us to give special remarks on alPHa's 25 years of contrubuting to the advancement of public health in Ontario.        Dr. David Butler-Jones. Founding alPHa Vice President         Distinguished Service Awards  Dinner Programme  Linda Stewart, Alex Hukowich, Nancy Cameron, David Butler-jones Patrick Jordan,Malcolm Lock, Valerie Sterling Patrick Jordan, Malcolm Lock, Valerie Sterling Les Porc-Epics   Liz Haugh, Jo-Ann Tober Patrick, David Butler-Jones, Valerie Sterling David Butler-Jones Lynn Noseworthy, David Butler-Jones Allison Stuart, Valerie Sterling Robin Williams, Paul Roumeliotis Paul Sharma, Bill Ryding   Jo-Ann Tober, Liz Haugh Bjorn Christensen, Ken Gorman Dale Jackson, Don West Bill Ryding, Allison Stuart, Liz Haugh, Don West, Robin Williams, Ken Gorman Linda Stewart, Robin Williams, Bill Ryding, Allison Stuart, Liz Haugh, Valerie Sterling, Don West, Ken Gorman

DAY 3 - TUESDAY JUNE 14 8:30 - 9:45 Joint Session with Provincial Partners - Forest Hill Ballroom Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health     Arlene King opened the last day of the conference with updates on changes that are underway in the Public Health Division of the Ministry - including recent activities and reorganization within her office – as well as on priority areas for investment in public health, including environmental health, preventing illness and injury, facilitating innovation and providing services to priority communities. She also referred to the broader strategic context within which these changes are being made and priorities are being set – changing population health characteristics, political priorities and economic realities – each of which will have important bearing on the decisions that will be made to achieve the vision of making Ontarians the healthiest people in the world.     Sylvia Shedden, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care     Sylvia Shedden continued updates from our Provincial partners by summarizing the Ontario Public Health Organizational standards, which outline the government’s expectations for governance practices for Boards of Health and administrative ones for the public health units. She referred specifically to the requirement for a Chief Nursing Officer in each, and the advisory process that is underway to develop a model for it that makes sense for public health. She also referred to the e-learning module for board of health members that was launched in March of this year and mentioned the process that is in place to review and revise the Ontario Public Health Standards and its associated protocols over the next couple of years. An update was given on the Information and Privacy Working Group, whose final report is expected to be signed and delivered to the Privacy Commissioner this month and communicated more widely in September. The customary update on this year’s funding for health units was also given, along with an update on the work of the Funding Review Working Group, which is working on long standing difficulties with the current funding formula, timing and process. She closed with a brief update on recent emergency preparedness initiatives - including an outline of the Vulnerable Population Project and reference to preparation for the 2015 Pan – Am Games.   Jean Lam, Assistant Deputy Minister Health Promotion Programs Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport     Jean Lam joined us from the MHPS, to give updates on her Ministry’s perspective on the new performance management framework, its primary responsibility as the Government lead for the Pan- and Parapan- American Games, citing its intent to use them as an opportunity to leave a health-promoting legacy. MHPS is also leading work on the recent Government commitment to increase public access to AEDs, as well as the Ontario Recreation and Trails Framework. In closing she confirmed that the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport is a committed partner, along with OAHPP and MOHLTC in developing the strategic plan for improving population health in Ontario. Incoming alPHa President Paul Roumeliotis made a special note that Jean Lam will be leaving the public service very soon, and thanked her for 31 years of service and her continual willingness to collaborate.

9:45 - 10:00 AM - Fitness and Refreshment Break - Yorkville Room

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Business Meetings (Materials distributed directly to participants) COMOH Section Meeting - Forest Hill Ballroom West Boards of Health Section Meeting - Forest Hill Ballroom East 12:00 NOON - 12:30 PM - Remarks from the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care - Forest Hill Ballroom East    Following introductions by alPHa president Valerie Sterling, the Hon. Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, greeted delegates by wishing the association a happy 25th anniversary. She spoke warmly of public health’s work and the positive impact it has had in areas such as poverty reduction and the social determinants of health. She added that the Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO) dental program has been an “important piece in the poverty reduction strategy,” illustrating just how much it meant to her personally in her recollection of a meeting with a recently immigrated young boy who benefited directly from an HSO visit. Minister Matthews went on to underscore the government’s belief in public health and the power of prevention. As an example, she cited immunizations and spoke of the province’s increased investment into vaccines–$1,400 worth per child–as a way to reduce pressure on an already burdened health care system.  The Minister also thanked the public health field for their hard work during H1N1 last year.   She expressed delight that alPHa is discussing accountability at this conference, and encouraged the field to consider the long-term perspective as well as the need to embrace change while demonstrating the value of public health. Public health, she feels, is well positioned to demonstrate that investments will make a difference to the health of Ontarians. She advised the sector that the more effective public health is in the province, the greater a case she can build for increased funding for the sector.   Minister Matthews concluded her remarks by thanking and praising the field for their continued hard work. Public health will continue to have the support of her ministry.

12:30 - 1:30 PM - LUNCH - Yorkville Room

1:30 - 2:30 PM - Business Meeting (Materials distributed directly to participants) Inaugural Meeting of the 2011-2012 alPHa Board of Directors - Rosedale Room

alPHa thanks the following sponsors for their support of its 25th Annual Conference:

 

 

 Next Year In Niagara!