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Member Networks

Connect with your colleagues across the sector

OMSSA’s Member Networks provide a valuable opportunity to connect with and learn from human services colleagues across the province.

OMSSA currently operates five issue-specific networks:

Children's Service Network

Chair:

  • Satinder Klair, Director, Children’s Services, Regional Municipality of Niagara

Responsibilities and/or Deliverables:

  • Provides a forum to share information and strengthen the capacity of OMSSA Members in delivering services, and could also include identifying emerging issues, trends and considerations and implications of these on Members.
  • Work collaboratively with the Children’s Services Sector Leads and other committees to share program delivery and policy ideas and make recommendations for consideration.
  • Identify professional development and training needs to help develop OMSSA education supports for the sector.
  • Information, advice and recommendations will be shared with relevant OMSSA policy tables, networks and the Board of Directors as appropriate to ensure that initiatives are addressed from the perspective of integration among program areas; and to ensure that implementation strategies address both professional development needs as well as advocacy activities.
  • Provide information to OMSSA staff on local considerations of the directions of the Board of Directors and Standing Committees with respect to local realities, capacities, and initiatives.

Terms of Reference: Children’s Services Network Terms of Reference

Annual Meeting Dates: February, May, August, November

Housing Network

Chair:

  • Mike Nadeau, Chief Executive Officer, District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administrative Board

Responsibilities and/or Deliverables:

  • Provides a forum to share information and strengthen the capacity of OMSSA Members in delivering services, and could also include identifying emerging issues, trends and considerations and implications of these on Members.
  • Work collaboratively with the Housing and Homelessness Sector Leads and other committees to share program delivery and policy ideas and make recommendations for consideration.
  • Identify professional development and training needs to help develop OMSSA education supports for the sector.
  • Information, advice and recommendations will be shared with relevant OMSSA policy tables, networks and the Board of Directors as appropriate to ensure that initiatives are addressed from the perspective of integration among program areas; and to ensure that implementation strategies address both professional development needs as well as advocacy activities.
  • Provide information to OMSSA staff on local considerations of the directions of the Board of Directors and Standing Committees with respect to local realities, capacities, and initiatives.

Terms of Reference: Housing Network Terms of Reference

Annual Meeting Dates: March, May, September, December

Homelessness Network

Chair:

  • Stella Danos-Papaconstantinou, Commissioner, Social Services, Regional Municipality of Durham

Responsibilities and/or Deliverables:

  • Provides a forum to share information and strengthen the capacity of OMSSA Members in delivering services, and could also include identifying emerging issues, trends and considerations and implications of these on Members.
  • Work collaboratively with the Housing and Homelessness Sector Leads and other committees to share program delivery and policy ideas and make recommendations for consideration.
  • Identify professional development and training needs to help develop OMSSA education supports for the sector.
  • Information, advice and recommendations will be shared with relevant OMSSA policy tables, networks and the Board of Directors as appropriate to ensure that initiatives are addressed from the perspective of integration among program areas; and to ensure that implementation strategies address both professional development needs as well as advocacy activities.
  • Provide information to OMSSA staff on local considerations of the directions of the Board of Directors and Standing Committees with respect to local realities, capacities, and initiatives.

Terms of Reference: Homelessness Network Terms of Reference

Annual Meeting Dates: February, May, August, November

Social Assistance Network

Chair:

  • Polly Smith, Director of Employment and Social Services, Municipality of Chatham-Kent

Responsibilities and/or Deliverables:

  • Provides a forum to share information and strengthen the capacity of OMSSA Members in delivering services, and could also include identifying emerging issues, trends and considerations and implications of these on Members.
  • Work collaboratively with the Social Assistance Sector Leads and other committees to share program delivery and policy ideas and make recommendations for consideration.
  • Identify professional development and training needs to help develop OMSSA education supports for the sector.
  • Information, advice and recommendations will be shared with relevant OMSSA policy tables, networks and the Board of Directors as appropriate to ensure that initiatives are addressed from the perspective of integration among program areas; and to ensure that implementation strategies address both professional development needs as well as advocacy activities.
  • Members have an opportunity to provide information to OMSSA staff on local considerations of the directions of the Board of Directors and Standing Committees with respect to local realities, capacities, and initiatives.

Terms of Reference: Social Assistance Network Terms of Reference

Annual Meeting Dates: January, May, July, October

Emergency Social Services Network

Chair:

  • Andrew Scavarelli, Director, Community Support & Wellbeing, County of Simcoe

Responsibilities and/or Deliverables:

  • Identify emerging issues, trends and considerations and implications of these of OMSSA Members. 
  • Identify professional development and training needs at all levels to help develop OMSSA education supports for the sector.
  • Share information, advice and recommendations with relevant OMSSA policy tables, networks, Board of Directors, and service managers to ensure that initiatives are addressed from the perspective of integration among program areas; and, to ensure the implementation strategies address both professional development needs as well as advocacy activities.
  • Support advocacy by providing information to OMSSA on the local realities for members and their communities, capacities and initiatives.
  • Seek opportunities to speak as a common voice on issues affecting our sector.

Terms of Reference: Emergency Social Services Network Terms of Reference

Annual Meeting Dates: January, April, July, October

Sector Leads 

OMSSA holds several Sector Leads meetings throughout the year. Sector Leads are designated senior leads within each Member organization for the three human services sectors. These groups discuss policy, financial and program information, interpretation and implementation of policies and programs, as well as the sharing of related best and promising practices. 

Committees and Advisory Groups

OMSSA strikes several ad-hoc Committees and Advisory Groups to help the Association with its events, research, and other work purposes throughout the year, these include:

  • Awards Committee
  • Communications Advisory Group
  • Community Safety and Well-Being Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Exchange Conference Planning Committee
  • Executive Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Forum Planning Committee
  • Policy Conference Planning Committee
  • Stability Supports Advisory Group

Looking to Join?

Any staff of an OMSSA Member organization can join and participate in a Member Network.

How to Join a Network

Why Join a Member Network?

  • share resources and best practices

  • compare experiences in interpreting and implementing policies and programs

  • identify shared issues, capacity gaps and development needs

  • find possible solutions to common challenges

  • stay informed about key trends, new developments and policy issues

Connect with Peers Through:

  • Network Meetings (virtually or face-to-face) with member-driven agendas and updates on provincial policy and key emerging developments

  • Online Discussion Forums

  • Shared Document Library of relevant resources

  • Requests for Information (RFI) process, to gain key information or input from network peers

Already a Network Member?

Login to access Network Portals for any of the above four networks.

Portal Login