January 2010 - Association Update

OPHA Board of Directors

OPHA’s new Board of Directors begins its work with an Orientation and a plan to undertake a strategic planning process.

The Board of Directors orientation took place January 21. The topics covered in the orientation included a review of OPHA’s mission, vision, values and strategic directions, discussion on good governance, OPHA Board structure, Board member roles and responsibilities, Board financial and human resource stewardship policies, and delegation of Board responsibilities to the Executive Director. The Board was joined by Workgroup Chairs for the second half of the orientation to learn about OPHA’s advocacy approach and communication policies.

The OPHA Executive Committee approved plans to undertake an environmental scan and set new strategic directions. The purpose of the strategic planning exercise is to evaluate past strategic direction efforts to inform OPHA’s direction in 2010- 2013 with the changing public health landscape in Ontario. The process includes document reviews; focus group interviews and SWAT analysis with the Board, Workgroup Chairs and Constituent Society Presidents; key informant interviews; a survey of members and non-menbers and a strategic planning process building on the data that is collected. The Towards Evidence Informed Practice team has been instrumental in shaping the planning process.

The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for February 25 & 26, 2010. Workgroup Chairs will be invited to the first day of the Board meeting and will have a chance to meet as a group as well as with the Advocacy Committee.

 

Placement Students at OPHA

Cecilia Chiu is in the Masters program in Community Nutrition from University of Toronto and has an Honours Bachelor of Science-(Specialist in Nutritional Science), University of Toronto as well as additional courses from Ryerson University in the Food and Nutrition Program. Cecilia already has two years experience working in a Diabetes Education Program and as a Community Nutrition Assistant in the Peer Nutrition Program at TPH.

Sara Tryon is a Master of Public Health Candidate from the University of Waterloo. Prior to her graduate work, Sara completed her undergraduate degree in community health, and has spent several years working at the community level in various roles. During her 12-week practicum at OPHA, Sara will be involved with the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA); her main role is to assist with the OCDPA’s project, Toolkit to Healthier Communities: Influencing Healthy Public Policies.

Julie Wong is in the Masters of Public Health program at the University of Waterloo. Julie will be involved with the Towards Evidence Informed Practice project along with the Alcohol Policy Network during her 12-week practicum at OPHA. Julie’s main deliverables will be assisting in the planning and facilitation of various training seminars, evaluation planning and key informant interviews as well as creating knowledge translation documents.

OPHA extends a warm welcome to Cecilia, Sara, and Julie!