News

DTFP Projects Have New Web Space!

October 30, 2013

We’re pleased to announce a new dedicated web space for the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) projects. For the most up-to-date information about the DTFP, please visit this new web space, which is now live here!

Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) developed this web space in partnership with Health Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and in response to requests for a central resource where DTFP project tools and reports can easily be accessed.

Click here to read the latest news about the DTFP projects.

Working Together for Change

EENet is pleased to share the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) Ontario Systems Projects video, “Working Together for Change.”

In a series of interviews with DTFP stakeholders, the video tells the story of coming together to lay the groundwork for a substance use treatment system that is more connected and evidence-informed.

The video was a truly collaborative effort, and EENet wishes to thank all participants for their contributions!

EENet shares its message, and people with lived experience have their say

March 2013

On March 7, the EENet project team met with stakeholders and decision-makers in Ontario and across Canada at the Ontario DTFP Knowledge Exchange (KE)  Event. Nandini Saxena, Manager of Knowledge Exchange (pictured below speaking at the event), gave an overview of the network’s achievements.

The EENet team has been busy with various projects, including supporting knowledge exchange for the Ontario DTFP projects, as well as increasing the system’s capacity to make evidence-informed decisions.

For example, EENet brought together the Persons with Lived Experience and Family Members (PWLE) Advisory Panel. This panel infused some of the DTFP projects with a valuable form of evidence: the perspective of those who have experienced mental health and addictions as well as their family members.

To read Nandini’s main messages click here. Or you can see the presentation slides here.

The PWLE panel also gave an overview of their activities at the DTFP KE event on March 7. One of the key messages was that the panel’s experience informed and enhanced some of the Ontario DTFP projects. The impact that the panel had shows that lived experience is a valid and important form of evidence. To read the PWLE panel’s main messages click here. Or you can see the presentation slides here.

Taking care of KE

November 2012

EENet continues to develop products and tools that make evidence about mental health and addictions in Ontario more accessible. The network has also been helping agencies determine how they use evidence. EENote, the network’s new blog, has offered perspectives – some quite moving – from its stakeholders. EENet is now supporting Communities of Interest and continues to host webinars about the DTFP projects.

“There’s a lot of really good work that’s taken place…”

November 2012

So says Dr. Brian Rush (pictured left, with team), the lead on four projects that are part of a larger suite funded by the Drug Treatment Funding Program. Evidence Exchange Network (EENet), working with Dr. Rush’s project teams, has produced an update about this really good work for Fall 2012.

Discover how the Costing Project is taking on costly issues and how the Screening, Assessment, and Recovery Monitoring (SARM) Project is gaining ground in Ontario. Some (preliminary) results for the Client Satisfaction Project are in; the DATIS Project, meanwhile, has been developing a Data Dictionary. The goal of the projects: to improve assessment and performance monitoring in Ontario’s addiction system.

Also, learn about how these projects have been informed by the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, including the Advisory Committee (pictured above) and the Ontario Systems DTFP Persons with Lived Experiences and Families Panel, hosted by EENet. It’s all here. And for the French version, go here.

Planting the Seeds: a Day of Knowledge Exchange for DTFP

November 2012

“As you listen today, stop and think about how much work has been done in a year,” Dr. Brian Rush (pictured left) told a packed conference room recently. “I’ve just been blown away by the level of cooperation across the system.”

He was addressing stakeholders of the Ontario Service and System Projects, funded by the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP). Researchers, service providers, policymakers, and others had gathered for an all-day knowledge exchange event, kicked off by Sheree Davis, Director of the Community and Population Branch of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Ms. Davis emphasized the importance of focusing on children and youth before giving the floor to a series of engaging presenters. On the agenda: the progress the DTFP projects have made to date.

Developed in 2008 by Health Canada, the DTFP is a federal contribution program designed to support provinces and territories in their efforts to strengthen evidence-informed substance abuse treatment systems; and address critical gaps in substance abuse treatment services, particularly for at-risk youth. Eleven Ontario Systems Projects and seven Service Level Projects have taken root in Ontario.

“We’ve built a lot of collaboration capital,” Dr. Rush told attendees. “DTFP has also put Ontario in a national context.” The lead on four of the Ontario Systems Projects, Rush has been focused on improving assessment and performance monitoring in Ontario’s addiction treatment system. The title of his presentation said it all: “Planting the Seeds for System Change.”

Get the whole story here. Download the agenda and presenter bios.

And check out the slides for each presentation below:

Planting the Seeds for System Change, by Brian Rush
Working Together for System Change, by Cindy Smythe and Ruth Stoddart
Rebound Choices, by Michelle Shelswell & Tammy Vandenheuvel
The S.T.E.P. Program, by Denis Boileau and Paul Welsh
School-based Treatment of Substance Abuse and Related Mental Health Problems, by Paul Welsh and Denis Boileau
Trauma-informed Practices in the Substance Use Service System, by Nancy Bradley and Janine Gates
Linkage and Exchange: EENet, by Heather Bullock
Strengthening Evaluation and Performance Measurement, by Brian Rush
Developing Evaluation Capacity, by Sanjeev Sridharan
Observations on Performance Measurement Systems for Substance Abuse Treatment Services, by Bill Luckey

To learn more about the projects, and to get a quarterly newsletter, click here.

Rebound Choices helps young people develop skills

November 2012

Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) invites you to take part in an upcoming webinar on Rebound Choices, a program that supports young people between the ages of 12-17. Funded by Health Canada’s Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP), Rebound Choices focuses on substance abuse prevention and helping young people develop constructive social skills. The program model, developed by Sarnia Rebound, targets social and psychological factors that lead youth to engage in substance use and other risk-taking behaviours. The Choices program is being delivered at seven sites by six community based providers in Erie St. Clair, Central West, North West, North East, South East, and Waterloo-Wellington LHINs. An overall evaluation of the program is also being led by Cindy Smythe at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

This free knowledge exchange event will take place on Tuesday, November 27, 3 pm to 4 pm EST. You can register here. This webinar is the twelfth in a series that is connecting stakeholders across our province, and other Canadian jurisdictions, as we work towards the shared goal of improving our substance use treatment services and systems. Learn more about Rebound Choices here.

Costing Project taking on costly issues

November 2012

Assessing and comparing the costs of addictions treatment services is a key part of measuring the performance of individual treatment services. Led by Dr. Brian Rush, with extensive support by Dr. Garth Martin (pictured left), a consultant on the project and the DTFP project team, the Assessment/Benchmark Addictions Treatment Costs Project – or Costing Project – is working to develop a protocol for producing reliable and valid cost-based performance measures for addictions treatment services in Ontario.

On November 8, 2012, EENet hosted a webinar featuring the Costing Project. Dr. Garth Martin presented on the project’s work to date.

This webinar is the eleventh in the Pan-Canadian: Health Canada DTFP Webinar Series, which connects stakeholders across provinces and territories as we work towards the shared goal of improving our substance use treatment systems.

Watch it here.

Watch webinar about YSSR!

September 2012
On September 25, 2012, EENet hosted a webinar featuring the Youth Services System Review (YSSR). Gloria Chaim, Deputy Clinical Director of the Child, Youth and Family Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and E. B. Brownlie, Project Scientist in CAMH’s Child Youth and Family Program presented on YSSR. They also took comments and questions. Watch it here! And check out the slides!

And while you’re at it, visit yssr.org today and tell them what you think about youth substance use services…

And save the date for EENet’s next webinar on the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) Ontario Systems Projects, which will look at two projects: the Peer Support Services: Best Practices Project, and the Residential Support Services Evaluation Project. The webinar – part of a series that’s connecting stakeholders working to improve our substance use treatment systems – will take place on October 30, 10am-11am ED. Stay tuned to EENet’s news page for more details!

September issue of EENet Update now out!

September 2012

Did you know that 1 in 4 hospitalized for depression are readmitted within 30 days? That EENet recently launched its 14 Communities of Interest (pictured left)? That the network is partnering with the Ontario Education Research Exchange to make findings about youth mental health and addictions more available?

EENet is pleased to present its Update for September 2012. In it, you’ll discover a SPARK of insight from the Rock, news about our partners’ activities, and much, much more. Read it here and let us know what you think below!

EENet Update for August now out!

August 2012

Have you read the August 2012 EENet update yet? The new issue includes information about the recent activities of EENet and its partners. Read our latest Research Snapshots and Round-ups. Learn more about a new initiative to help you systematically identify how research is being used in your organization, and what gaps exist that may prevent its optimal use. Apply for CAMH’s Community-based Research (CBR) Fellowship.

To subscribe to the EENet Update distribution list and receive our monthly update, please visit  www.eenet.ca and join the network! The update goes out to subscribers the last week of every month.

New issue of DTFP Ontario Systems Projects newsletter now out!

August 2012

EENet is pleased to present the summer edition of the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter.  It contains updates on each project and the initiative as a whole.  To view the newsletter, click here.

To subscribe to the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter distribution list, please visit www.eenet.ca and click “join the network!”

Health Canada Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) Webinar Series, featuring EENet

August 2012

On August 15, 2012, Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) hosted a one-hour knowledge exchange webinar to explore the network itself. Heather Bullock, Director of EENet, offered an overview of the network, and Jason Guriel, Communications Associate for EENet, led participants through an introduction to http://www.eenet.ca.

This webinar is the eighth in the Pan-Canadian: Health Canada DTFP Webinar Series, which connects stakeholders across provinces and territories as we work towards the shared goal of improving our substance abuse treatment systems.

Watch it here.

New EENet Update for July now available!

July 2012

Read the the July 2012 EENet update here. The new issue includes information about the recent activities of EENet and its partners. Discover the Youth Services System Review’s new site, learn about UMIND, and watch our new animated video!

To subscribe to the EENet Update distribution list and receive our monthly update, please email jason_guriel@camh.net. The update goes out to subscribers the last week of every month.

EENet launches new website!

July 2012

Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) is pleased to announce the official launch of its new website, eenet.ca. The site offers network stakeholders a great new space to interact with one another and exchange knowledge. It also features a number of resources aimed at making Ontario’s mental health and addiction system more evidence-informed, including two easy-to-use and intuitive databases. The launch of eenet.ca marks an exciting new phase for the network.

Please take a minute or two to visit the site, and feel free to leave a comment; we would love to hear from you! A webinar about the network and its new site will take place on Wednesday, August 15, 2012, 1pm-2pm EDT. For more info, click here.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope you enjoy and make use of eenet.ca!

New EENet Update for June now available!

July 2012

Read the the June 2012 EENet update here. The new issue includes information about the recent activities of EENet and its partners including a Student Spotlight on Tara Marie Watson and new Research Snapshots focused on youth.

To subscribe to the EENet Update distribution list and receive our monthly update, please email jason_guriel@camh.net. The update goes out to subscribers the last week of every month.

Click on the following links to read some of our previous newsletters: May, April, and March.

Take part in webinar about Health Canada’s Drug Treatment Funding Program

July 2012

Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) invites you to take part in a free one-hour virtual knowledge exchange webinar to explore Health Canada’s Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP). Join Claudio Rocca, DATIS Director, on Tuesday, July 17 1pm-2pm EDT to learn about Ontario DTFP’s Addiction Treatment Data Elements and Provincial Service Categories Project. Register here.

Watch webinar about Client Satisfaction Project, featuring Dr. Brian Rush

June 2012

Watch Dr. Brian Rush – Group Head of the Health Systems and Health Equity Research Unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – as he discusses Ontario DTFP’s Client Satisfaction Project! The webinar took place on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 EDT, and can be viewed here. Check out the slides here and please let us know what you think.

This webinar is the sixth in a series that is connecting stakeholders as we work towards the shared goal of improving our substance abuse treatment systems.

New EENet Update for May 2012 Now Available!

May 2012

Read the May 2012 EENet Update here. The new issue includes information about the recent activities of EENet and its partners, including a student spotlight on Gillian Kolla and upcoming event announcements.

To subscribe to the EENet Update distribution list and receive our monthly update, please email jason_guriel@camh.net. The update goes out to subscribers the last week of every month.

To read the April Update, click here. To read the March Update, click here. To read February’s, click here.

Second issue of DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter now out!

April 2012

EENet is pleased to present the second issue of the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter.  It contains updates on each project and the initiative as a whole.  To view the newsletter, click here.

To subscribe to the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter distribution list, please email jason_guriel@camh.net.

Watch webinars about the Health Canada Drug Treatment Funding Program

Spring 2012

EENet invites you to watch the latest installment in its webinar series about the Health Canada Drug Treatment Funding Program. On Thursday, May 24, Colleen Dell gave an engaging talk on Saskatchewan’s approach to enhancing the province’s substance abuse treatment system. Watch it here, and check out the slides. After you’ve seen the webinar, please fill out the survey!

This webinar is the fifth in a series that is connecting stakeholders across provinces and territories as we work towards the shared goal of improving our substance abuse treatment systems.

Click below to see earlier videos about the approach taken by other provinces:

BC DTFP (Jane Collins, Amanda Seymour, and Glen Grigg, April 19); Click here for the slides.

PEI DTFP (Shauna Reddin, January 19); Click here for the slides.

Alberta DTFP (Lindsey Howard, February 23); Click here for the slides.

Nova Scotia DTFP (Wanda McDonald, March 30); Click here for the slides.

Watch SystemAction webinar

April 2012

On April 4, 2012, EENet co-hosted a webinar with SystemAction, Canada’s national knowledge exchange network in support of the National Treatment Strategy. To watch “Using a Screening Tool to Build Bridges Across Sectors: The Cape Breton Experience,” click here.

Improving Assessment and Performance Monitoring in Ontario’s Addiction System

February 2012

Click below to read an overview of 5 projects funded by the Drug Treatment Funding Program and how they will impact participating agencies:

 Improving Assessment and Performance Monitoring in Ontario’s Addiction System

Participating Agency Locations Insert

New EENet Update for January 2012 Now Available!

January 2012

Read the January 2012 EENet Update here. The new issue includes information about the recent activities of EENet and its partners. To subscribe to the EENet Update distribution list, please email jason_guriel@camh.net.

First issue of Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter now available!

December 2011

EENet disseminated the first issue of the Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter in December, 2011 to over 700 stakeholders across Ontario.  It contains updates on each project and the initiative as a whole.  To view the newsletter, click here.

To subscribe to the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects quarterly newsletter distribution list, please email jason_guriel@camh.net.

DTFP Ontario Systems Projects launch event attended by over 100 stakeholders 

October 2011

On October 13 and 14, 2011 Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, with support from the Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs, hosted the launch of the Drug Treatment Funding Program (DTFP) Ontario Systems Projects in Toronto.

The event was well attended with over 100 stakeholders (including project teams and advisory groups, policymakers, planners, practitioners and people with lived experience) participating in workshops designed to build capacity and identify knowledge exchange needs for the initiatives.

Click on the links below to see presentations from the event:

“Developing and Implementing an Evaluation Framework for DTFP“, by Sanjeev Sridharan

“Drug Treatment Funding Program: Ontario Systems Projects“, by Project Leads

DTFP Ontario Systems Projects Communications Plan

Fall 2011

EENet has developed a Communications Plan for the DTFP Ontario Systems Projects.  It identifies the communication goals, activities, vehicles, audiences, and roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders for the suite of initiatives.  The plan is a working document that will be adapted and refined to respond to individual project needs and the needs of the overall suite of projects.

 DTFP Ontario Systems Projects Working Communications Plan