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Page 4, Whltby Free Press, Wednesday, December 27, 1995 Improved oeaions at agency PROM PAGE 1i Former NDP health minister Ruth (Jrier ordered the report after allegations of "improprieties" were raised by CCS employees during a bitter six-week strike early last r year. 1MAnong their accusations, workers claimed that residents hiad been improperly discharged, reports were altered, residents sexually assaulted, staff sexually harassed, and provincial health and safety laws ignored. The consultants confirmed much of what the workers alleged and echastised the board for being "out of teuch" with the agency's day-to-day operations. The workers3, members of Local 2936 of the Canadian Union of Public Ernployees(CUPE), provide life-sills training to people with mental health problerna who live in the group homes. In addition te operating the threè houses, COS offers support services to, more than 100 clients In Durham Region through ts Helping Partnerships program. Originally founded by parishoners of AIl Saints' Anglican Church - the agency no longer has any legal tue-m te the church and the name lias been- formally chngd te refiect its broader-based operations - COS CALIFORNIA SHUTTERS 30%7'.of f dow Decoratlng Centre" Free shop at home service z~~ir~2428-0937 88 Old Kingston Road, (Pickering Village) Ajax FOffering ail insolvency services including personal & corporate bankruptcies OSHAWA 122 Albert St. 721-7506 AJAX: 50 Commercial Ave. 619-1473 COBOURG: 72 King St. W. 372-4744 Saturday & everring appointments available. FREE initial consultation. JAMES R. YANCH has about 40 full- and part-time employees and a budget of approimately $1.6 million. The bulk of its funding flows from the ministries of health, housing, and community and social services, along with sorne charitable donations. Although the consultants made several scathing commente about the board and management, they also found that the agency possessed "smre strengths" should it choose to continue operating. .These included a need for the progrgms 'in Durham Region; board members committed to rebuilding and "smre real succes stories" from clients and farnilies grateful for the services. "We went through a strategie planning ýexercise in the spring," said ,Eiliott afler the board of directors opted -tesoldier on. A group censisting oef management, board members, frontline staff, as well as representatives frorn other agencies devised a plan which was accepted In ite entirety" by the board in September, Eiliott said. Several measures have already been implemented and more are scheduled to corne on stream in the future. Thie board has also been meeting with health rinistry officiaIs on a regular basis. 'We're pleased with the progress and they're pleased with the progressi," said Elliott. 'We've increased the number of board members from nine te 12 and we've added consumer representatives *-- people who have used our services in the past -- and we are getting peer agency representatives on the board." A CUPE niember who works in Toronto has also joined the board, Elliott noted. Adding a labour representative was recommended by the consultants. "Staff are attending board meetings on a rotating basis and there are regular labour-management meetings," she said. "We've opened the lines of communication." While attempting te overcorne its own probleme, CCS, like so, many other social service agencies in Ontario, bas had te contend with fewer dollars frorn Queen's Park. Earlier tis month, the Ministry of Community and Social Services chopped Its funding by $100,000 and the board is bracing itself for more cuts from the other two ministries. One manager lias already been let go and the other employees had have had te increase their workloads, Elliott said. "There'si no change in what we offer., We're still open for business," she decîared. 'Mut we have had toecut back. Staff are doing everything they can te maintain the high quality of service and are te be comrnended." Since CCS is one of only a handful of agencies offering supported housing, case management and crisis intervention ail under 'one roof, Elliott hopes further cuts do net force the board inte liaving te sacrifice one or more programe. (In one of their positive commente, the consultants descnibed the agency as one that could be considered "a case study in mental health reform".) "For now we'll carry on with what we have been providing," said Elliott. "Vie have a long waiting list for service, but we do make every effort te find people a place te sty, locally or in Toronto if we can't accommodate themn. "Ideally, we'd like te expand our services, but we can't look at that right now." An official of 'the Canadian Union of Public Employees with firsthand knowledge of the current situation at COS was net available for comment. However, health ministry spokesperson Paul Kilbertus confirmed Elliott's appraisal. "Everything is going fine. The operational 1review recommandations are being implemented," said Kilbertus. 'There is a geniuine effort to implement change and we have heard nothing about labour, management unrest like it was a few years ago."l Despite taking their lumps from the consultants, Elliotit said morne good thinge" dîd- corne out of the report. 'Itrekindied our commitment to the agency. People are looking forward to it (changes) and we are on the right track. "We've always had good people and now we're ail together." 6 charged so far iin RIDE Six people have been charged with drinking-driving offences eut of almost 18,000 people stopped during the first three weeks of the local RIDE program. Durham Regional Police have conducted 82 roadside tests, resulting in the six charges as well as 20 12-hour suspensions. Regular police units, however, arrested 16 people for impaired driving duringa recent one-week period. HOME HELPERS WhiI;by Comxnunity Care needs Home Helpers (assist clients with light housework such as vacuuming, dusting and laundry for a fee of $5 per hour plus $1 .30 'ta cover transportation). Cali 668- 6223. (Fruitus. cakius) Somoc things wiII stili hc arouod long attor tho Uoiday-SGason. Somo things won't i I I I - I I I I I I I I I I I SDR4PERY ADvson o v wAgmcy frwdooe Ud. Il- . ý -1. 1 1 ý - -, -- -1. ýz-mmu