Volunteer Advisory Committee Member (Caregiver)

COMPLEX TRANSITION FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER CAREGIVER WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE

About the Complex Transition Fund

The Complex Transition Fund (CTF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), is a provincial initiative that offers 30-90 days of short-term flexible financial assistance to support transitions related to live-in treatment with Ministry of Health Child and Youth Mental Health (MOHCYMH) funded agencies. Funding can be accessed to enhance a CYMH’s capacity to ensure children and youth experience successful transitions into or out of live-in treatment (LIT) programs when significant levels of need that may preclude admission and/or continued treatment within the program. Applications are voted on by a committee of members across the province with expertise and experience with MOH-funded live-in treatment programs.

Position:

CTF Advisory Committee Members are an integral part of the Complex Transition Fund, working as a

cohesive team to approve funding requests that will help decrease barriers for children and youth accessing intensive out of home treatment programs across Ontario. The primary focus will be reviewing individual funding applications, submitted by CYMH agencies on behalf of children and youth with complex mental health needs accessing LIT programs across the province. Caregivers with lived experience are key stakeholders with this program, ensuring the integration of family perspectives and voices into all decision-making processes, including applications for funding and program decisions. Members are responsible for ensuring equitable access to funding, and maintaining consistent, transparent, and fair decision-making. Committee members will work alongside caregivers with lived experience navigating intensive mental health services in Ontario, and program supervisors from the Ministry of Health. We are seeking individuals interested in making an ongoing contribution to the group. Participation and membership will be reviewed from time to time to ensure there is availability, a mutual fit, meaningful engagement, and alignment with the group’s objectives.

Role and Responsibilities:

Working as a Team:

• Collaborate with the Team: Work alongside CTF Advisory Committee Members, including child/youth mental health professionals and caregivers with lived experience navigating intensive child/youth mental health services in Ontario, CTF Coordinator and CTF Associate, and program supervisor from the Ministry of Health.
• Guide with your Experience: Use your personal journey with intensive services to keep the committee’s decisions grounded in what families need.

Application Reviews and Decisions:

• Read and Review: Review funding applications in advance of meetings, ensuring adherence to confidentiality protocols and addressing potential conflicts of interest.
• Make fair choices: Vote on funding applications as a team. You will help make sure every choice we make is transparent, fair, and follows our guidelines.
• Respond to Urgent Requests: Occasionally vote on urgent, time-sensitive funding requests between meetings when a family cannot wait.

Meeting and Time Commitment:

• Attend Application Review Meetings: Meet twice per month to review applications and vote on decisions to approve, decline, and/or defer. Upwards of 30 applications can be reviewed in a single meeting. o Meetings are held virtually via Zoom from 11:00AM – 12:30PM on the first Tuesday and third Wednesday of each month.
• Semi-Annual Meetings: Meet twice a year to look at emerging system trends and discuss how to keep improving our program to better meet the needs of families.

Identify Barriers and Advocate for Equity:

• Spot Barriers and Hurdles: Spotting barriers and unfair hurdles: Help us identify where families face gaps in getting care across Ontario. This includes understanding the unique challenges of raising a child with complex mental health needs, as well as the specific barriers faced by diverse and underrepresented communities (including factors like race, culture, language, disability, religion, family setup, gender identity, sexual orientation, or regional differences).

What We Are Looking For:

• Lived Experience: You are a parent, guardian, or caregiver who has accessed intensive mental health services for your child or youth. This might include live-in treatment, day treatment school programs, intensive in-home support, or similar programs.
• Understanding Family Barriers: You understand the challenges and hurdles families face when trying to get mental health care. You understand the unique barriers faced by families from diverse communities, including Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) families, 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and other underrepresented groups.
• Problem-Solving & Heart: You are a thoughtful problem-solver who acts with integrity, values honesty, and is comfortable helping us make decisions that put families first.
• Flexibility: You know that a "one-size-fits-all" approach doesn't work for families in crisis. You can stay open-minded and flexible when dealing with complex, changing situations.
• Good Communication: You are comfortable sharing your thoughts, listening to others, and observing what is working well and what needs to improve.
• A Team Player: You are great at building positive relationships, working alongside a diverse group of people (like clinicians, program staff, and other families), and respecting different cultures and values.
• Commitment to Quality & Ethics: You are driven by what is right and fair for families. You know how important it is to keep information private, and you want to use your voice to help us make the system more accessible for everyone.
• Time Commitment: You can join our committee for a two-year term and attend daytime virtual meetings on the 1st Tuesday and 3rd Wednesday of each month. Your consistent presence helps us make timely decisions for families, and you will receive full support from our coordinator if there are ever any barriers to attending meetings.

Things That Are Nice to Have (But not essential):

• Committee Experience: You have spent time as a member or leader on a committee, community group, or council.

• Knowledge of Funding Programs: You are familiar with provincial funding programs (like the

  Ontario Autism Program or Complex Special Needs funding) or local support funds (like Community Enhancement Funds).

• Championing Families: You are passionate about making sure families have a real voice and are treated as equal partners and key decision-makers in children’s mental health services.
• Experience with membership or chairing a committee and/or community table.
• A Vision for Change: You are great at spotting gaps in services and want to work together to remove hurdles for families, creating lasting, positive change in the system.

What You Will Get:

• A Chance to Make a Real Difference: An opportunity to use your unique insights to bridge the gap between service providers and the families they serve, ensuring the family voice is at the heart of every decision we make.
• A Supportive Community: Connect with a dedicated team of caregivers and professionals who understand the complexities of the system and share a common goal: breaking down barriers for families.
• Ongoing Guidance and Learning: Guidance from the CTF Coordinator and Associate, including emotional support, ongoing learning, and real-time updates on the evolving mental health system to ensure you are empowered and informed
• Compensation For Your Time: To honor your time and the emotional labour of this work, and the specialized expertise you bring as a caregiver, an honorarium of is provided for each meeting and application review.

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about breaking down barriers and ensuring family voices are at the center of every decision, we would love to have you join us. Apply today via Complex Transition Fund (CTF) Caregiver Recruitment Form – Fill out form Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to know more about the role, please contact the CTF Coordinator at jallison@yorkhills.ca.

You can also learn more information on our website at: https://www.yorkhills.ca/services/complextransition-fund/