December 2008 - Association Update

Anti-Poverty Strategy

OPHA responded quickly via media release through the Joint OPHA/alPHa Working Group on the Social Determinants of Health to the Ontario Government’s recently announced Ant-Poverty Initiative from the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction chaired by the Minister of Children and Youth Services The Honourable Deb Matthews.

Ministry of Finance Budget Submission

As we have done in the past, OPHA will be making a submission to the Ministry of Finance regarding recommendations for the upcoming provincial budget.

Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion

OPHA has initiated discussions with the newly launched Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion regarding areas of potential collaboration as the Agency steadily grows toward fulfilling its role in public health. Discussions are ongoing and the membership will be informed of developments as they materialize.

OPHA Operations

Internally at OPHA, we have renewed efforts to make our workplace the best in the province. The Workplace Enhancement Committee, in a follow-up to the employee survey, has developed a workplan to address areas for enhancement. We are now pilot testing our Employee Orientation Handbook, which is accompanied by a checklist of items to address for both the immediate supervisor as well as the new employee. Staff have developed a Code of Conduct which will be discussed and adopted at our December Staff meeting. Plans are underway to incorporate some of the policies in our Board Policy Manual into the information and/or policies and procedures for staff. Examples include the delegation of authority, decision making and responsibility from the Board to the Executive Director, as well as the policy on external communication.

Staff will be celebrating the holiday season on the afternoon of December 19 at Playtime Bowl where we will be served tappas while we roll the ball and enjoy the celebration.