CEO Blog May 2022

Kids and youth with disabilities and their families have been disproportionately and negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a member of Empowered Kids Ontario, Grandview Kids raises our voice along with other children’s health organizations making up the Children’s Health Coalition including CHEO, Children’s Hospital – London Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Kids Health Alliance, McMaster Children’s Hospital and SickKids.

The Children’s Health Coalition is asking all parties in Election 22 for a bold commitment over the four-year term of the next government ensuring that Ontario will make kids count.

Today in Ontario, one in three kids receives community-based rehabilitation services within the clinical standard of 90 days from referral to service: the majority wait almost three years to access care.

Kids are more than 50 percent more likely to wait beyond the clinical standard of care compared to adults. More than 30,000 Ontario kids are waiting for community-based rehabilitation and specialty clinic service. In the Durham Region, this translates to 5,614 kids waiting for community-based services at Grandview Kids.

In Ontario, more than 50,000 Ontario students are waiting for School-Based Rehabilitation Services. In the Durham Region, this translates to 6,080 students waiting across all seven School Boards serving the Durham Region.

Many families that required minimal support prior to the pandemic now require more intensive support to regain what has been lost. This will create greater pressure on a system in which children are already waiting years to access care.

Kids with disabilities and those recovering from illness or injury are at risk of significant long-term health problems because critical early intervention windows are being missed.

A system approach for children is essential for Ontario’s paediatric recovery. This must include investment in community-based care.

Kids who are not meeting developmental milestones, kids with disabilities, kids with neurodisabilities and kids recovering from illness and injury need timely access to leading clinic care and support programs close to home.

Investment by the Provincial government is critical to ensure that the children’s health care system manages pressures which significantly intensified during the pandemic.

The nature of children’s health care is interconnected. Changes and pressures in one area have profound impacts throughout the system.

We ask all parties to commit to the following:

• Adopt and commit to a bold 1 billion dollar Make Kids Count investment across all child health sectors so Ontario can address urgent needs and bring children’s healthcare to the same level of attention as the adult system.
• Convene a children’s health care summit with government and children’s health care organization to agree on principles for a long-term children’s health strategy.
• Release the Province’s first ever children’s health care strategy and further build Ontario’s health care capacity.

Continued support for children with autism

Every child with autism has individual requirements. A needs-based approach is appropriate. Both the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Advisory Committee’s and the Implementation Committee’s recommendations are based on this principle. There is broad agreement and support for this.

Grandview Kids wants to deliver on a needs-based program. Along with others in Ontario, we want to continually improve access and delivery for all of our services including the OAP.

It makes sense that public providers are funded to deliver elements of the OAP as these programs offer valuable supports with proven benefits for kids and their families, many of whom are already receiving care in our system.

The 50,000 kids waiting and the growing waitlist for OAP services must be addressed by the Provincial government.

Learn more

Read more about the Children’s Health Coalition’s calling to candidates and Party leaders to #MakeKidsCount by visiting the Empowered Kids Ontario webpage.

Review the Make Kids Count action plan and watch the Children’s Health Coalition Make Kids Count Media event on YouTube.

CEO Blog – November 2021

Expansion of School-based Rehabilitation Services

In September, Grandview Kids expanded school-based rehabilitation services into three neighbourhoods of Scarborough: M1B, M1C, M1X. The expanded services include occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language pathology. The expansion meant working closely with our partners at VHA Home Health Care/VHA Rehab Solutions and Closing the Gap Healthcare to ensure a smooth transition for clients. I am happy to report that our clinicians completed successful transitions for many students, and our Toronto District School Board partners have welcomed us to the neighbourhood. We look forward to working closely with our Toronto partners to help support students with diverse needs.

Our new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

At Grandview Kids, we aim to provide family-centred care. This means that we need to recognize, acknowledge and adapt our services in a way that is culturally-safe for each family. Our newly formed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee aims to do just that. This group of staff champions come together monthly to discuss ways in which Team Grandview can improve their awareness, knowledge and skills of offering family-centred care in a way that is meaningful for every client and caregiver. Their first action will be to host an organization-wide training on recognizing bias, barriers and privilege.

Launch of Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs

As the lead agency of the Ontario Autism Program – Durham Partnership, Grandview Kids is pleased to offer Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs as part of the Ontario Autism Program. In the summer, families started receiving letters from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services inviting them to participate. Grandview Kids, Lake Ridge Community Support Services and The Regional Municipality of Durham are proud to offer three programs in the Durham Region. To help caregivers make the decision on which program is best for their children, Grandview has created an informative website, virtual slideshow and is hosting a live information session on November 17 to help answer any questions caregivers may have.  Click here to view this information.

Continued partnerships with the Ontario Health Team and others

Did you know that Grandview Kids is a part of the Durham Ontario Health Team (OHT)? The Durham OHT is comprised of 19 partners, including client and caregiver advisory groups, that work together to improve access and delivery of coordinated health services. The Paediatric Complex Care Program offered at Grandview Kids is funded in partnership with the  Durham OHT and supported by Grandview Kids, The Hospital for Sick Children, Lakeridge Health, and the  Central East Home and Community Support Services. Through these incredible partnerships, Grandview is able to provide integrated care services to children with medical complexity that is closer to home.

The Grandview Kids collection at the Ajax Public Libraries

The Ajax Public Library has partnered with Grandview Kids to offer an exclusive online catalogue of books, videos, and resources free with any Ajax Public Library card. The collection is available online (http://www.ajaxlibrary.ca/grandview) and has been curated by Grandview clinicians, Peer Navigators and the Youth Advisory Council. There are resources for parents, caregivers, clinicians, youth and our youngest readers. The Peer Navigators have also partnered with the Ajax Public Library to offer a Sensory Story Time for children and a coffee chat discussing the experience of being a parent of a child with autism. Learn more by visiting the Ajax Public Library website.

Upholding ethical clinical standards

The Grandview Kids internal Ethics Committee meets regularly to review newly adopted ethical decision-making tools, which are supported by our partnership with the Ontario Shores Bioethicist. Earlier this year, Grandview Kids adopted an Ethics Framework and tools that can help our team members make decisions and take action in a way that is ethical, responsible and transparent. To help assist with ethical decision-making, all Grandview team members, as well as clients and caregivers, are able to consult with the Bioethicist by emailing ethics@grandviewkids.ca.

Reaching 100% vaccination status

We are still amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but Team Grandview has not allowed a global health crisis to slow down their dedication to their clients. Earlier this fall, we followed the Letter of Instruction from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and implemented a vaccine policy. Our team’s commitment to evidence-based practice came through as we quickly reached 99% vaccination, with the remaining 1% committed to daily rapid antigen testing. With daily active screening, wearing appropriate amounts of personal protective equipment, and practicing exceptional cleaning practices, Team Grandview continues to maintain a safe environment for all clients and caregivers.

Facing transformation, modernization and change

Grandview Kids continues to undergo rapid growth and changes to Ministry-funded programs and services. In the past two years, we have grown by 117% and increased the number of positions at Grandview to now include 271 people across clinical and supportive roles. With exceptional growth comes a few growing pains. We are working diligently to recruit and retain the highly skilled clinicians and administrative roles Grandview is known for. Grandview Kids has much to offer new graduates, as well as mid and late-career clinicians. Keep an eye out for new opportunities on our new LinkedIn page!

Stay connected

Thank you for taking the time to learn what’s new at Grandview. Please join me in showing your appreciation to our incredible team for their hard work throughout 2021. I am inspired daily by the emerging talent, exceptional mentorship, and innovative ideas cultivated by our incredible staff.

Thank you, #TeamGrandview.

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What else is going on at Grandview Kids? I also encourage you to review the Grandview Kids Foundation Impact Report available now on the Foundation’s website.

Written by Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Kids CEO

Yesterday, we witnessed history-in-the-making as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. In a lot of ways, this ceremony represented incredible hope for the future, after four tumultuous years – even to those of us in Canada. Many of our clients and their families, as well as our staff, have friends and loved ones living in America.

While watching the inauguration coverage, I was struck by some powerful moments, with lessons important to Grandview Kids and the people we serve.

1. Kamala Harris became the first woman to serve as Vice President, and the first person to do so of Black and South Asian decent. I am inspired that children of the world will look to these leaders as proof of their own potential. No matter your political persuasion, inspiring kids to dream big is worth celebrating.
2. Before the national anthem began, people in the audience were asked to “stand if you are able.” This seemingly innocuous introduction demonstrates inclusivity and accessibility in action. This is something we continue to advocate for at Grandview Kids, in service to the children and youth with disabilities who we support every day.
3. Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet ever to perform at a presidential inauguration, calling for “unity and togetherness” in her self-penned poem. It was a dictation commended by global dignitaries, leaders and activists. What you may not know is that Amanda overcame an audio processing disorder – a diagnosis shared by many Grandview Kids – in her quest to become a world-renowned storyteller. She is “living life to her full potential” – our vision for all Grandview Kids.
4. Prominent attendees, including Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, donned purple outfits. Many have picked up on this. Whether intentional or not, purple is a symbolic colour. It represents royalty, heroism, the Suffragette movement and unity. Combining the Republican red and Democratic blue reveals a shade of purple; this subtle nod to bipartisanship reinforces the importance of kindness, respect, empathy and shared purpose – values we try to exemplify every day at Grandview Kids.

As we look ahead to consider what this leadership change means for our American neighbours,
and to the rest of the world, I am comforted by the tone of the ceremony. It set precedent for a
future, one where the potential and diversity of our community’s youngest members are realized
and amplified.

The College of Nurses wrote to nurses across Ontario this week:

It’s a special year for nurses around the world, with May 12 marking 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale. Well known as the founder of modern nursing, her vision for nursing professionals in the 19th century is still very much alive today. Leadership, collaboration, compassion and a commitment to patient care and well-being were values Nightingale upheld and instilled in her nursing students. These values, remain central within the complexity of care today, with nurses applying their knowledge and judgment, along with scientific evidence, to their professional practice.

In honour of the 200th anniversary of Nightingale’s birth, the World Health Organization has declared 2020 the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. This year-long effort celebrates the work of nurses and midwives and highlights the challenging conditions they often face, making it particularly meaningful during a global pandemic. Times like this also remind us of the value of teamwork across all health care professions.

The College of Nurses of Ontario has asked all Registered Nurses to take a moment and share why being a nurse is so meaningful to those of us fortunate to be registered in Ontario

Here is why it is for me:

I have been a Nurse for 32 years.

I have had the honour of practicing in direct care and leadership roles in Trauma, Critical Care, Emergency, General Medicine, Nephrology, Paediatrics and Women’s Programs. I have been a Chief Nursing Officer and now a CEO.  I am often asked if I miss being a nurse and people are usually shocked to know I am still an active Registered Nurse. I explain how nurses practice across many domains ~ research, direct care, education and in my current area of practice, administration. The education and skills required to care for each and every person across settings can be translated to an organization or a population and nurses in administration roles are impacting health policy and health outcomes in significant ways. I LOVE being a nurse. I have enjoyed each domain I have had the privilege of working in. Being the CEO at Grandview Children’s Centre provides the opportunity to bring a nursing perspective to the care and support of the children, youth and families who access the paediatric rehabilitation and other services and programs we offer. That lens combined with the expert physician, health discipline, professional and administration staff across our talented teams makes for a rich, evidence-informed model of care. For 32 years nursing has been a gift in my life, allowing me to meet amazing people like the Grandview families and team.

This nursing week I shout out to all the nurses across the world keeping us safe in this pandemic. May they remain safe too.

Happy Nursing Week. ~ Lorraine