India Rainbow Community Services of Peel

AnnualReport2015-16

“Reaching out to those in need since 1985”

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Volunteering on the Board of Directors of IRCS for the past five years has been a great experience for me. For two of those years, I have had the distinct privilege to serve as the Chair. I have been very ably assisted in this by my colleagues who have devoted countless hours while trying to give back to the community.

The agency has seen tremendous growth and has continued to build upon its solid foundation which was established thirty-one years ago. Recently, we have reviewed our governance policies and updated our by-laws to align with the requirements of the Provincial Government. We have also finalized our rebranding, which will allow us to serve a broader area while reducing barriers for those who need the programs that we provide for our communities. The f inanc ia l cont ro ls have been strengthened and we have had tremendous support towards this from our funders and were also ably assisted by our staff and auditors. We have embarked upon an ambitious program towards being a pioneer to provide for Seniors' Housing for our community. There has been a long standing demand for such a service and we need to be at the forefront with the generous support of everyone. The Board will seek your guidance and support for this venture.

As I leave the organization's Board of Directors, I am confident that this work will continue unabated with the professional services rendered by our superb staff; and the welcome a s s i s t a n c e o f o u r m e m b e r s , volunteers, partners, donors and funders.

Thank you, Sandeep Atwal, Chair

The past year has been an exciting time at India Rainbow as the agency has repositioned itself for growth. This time of renewal and expansion has seen the creation of a sixth location in north Brampton, an upgrading of our technology and a comprehensive financial review.

Our staff continues to uphold the highest standards of dedication and culturally appropriate service delivery. Two Staff Awards were again presented this year. Firstly, the Outstanding Leadership Award Winner was Swarnali Chakraborty for exemplifying exceptional leadership in making the senior's multisensory enrichment program a wonderful success.

Secondly, for working closely together to raise funds for a great cause and going almost 200% over their goal, the Exceptional Teamwork Award went to the staff Fundraising Committee comprising of Shalini Kapil, Sarojini Sinnathurai, Anju Arora, Angela Amin, Jayashree Varadharajan, Venant Ferreira and Deepika Bhalla.

At the present time staff are focused on achieving reaccreditation for the agency and the management has every confidence that we will achieve this.

In the coming year, our dedicated staff team in cooperation with our dynamic Board will continue to align all our activities with our new Strategic Plan in order to ensure that we are managing a modern and forward thinking organization that is both fair and compassionate.

Warm regards,Gurpreet S. Malhotra, Executive Director

Messagefrom the Chair of the Board

Message from the Executive DirectorŸ Sandeep Atwal – Chair

Ÿ Mandeep Grewal – Vice Chair

Ÿ Harish Athale – Treasurer

Ÿ Swaroop Dogra - Joint Secretary

Ÿ Gurwinder Gill

Ÿ Nazli Rehman

Ÿ Dinesh Sawhney

Ÿ Jatinder Tiwana

Board of Directors:

Funders and Funding Partners:

Ÿ Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship

Canada

Ÿ Ministry of Health -

Mississauga-Halton LHIN &

Central-West LHIN

Ÿ Supportive Housing in Peel

Ÿ Ministry of Attorney General

Ÿ Ministry of Community and Social

Services

Ÿ Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration

and International Trade

Ÿ Ontario Trillium Foundation

Ÿ Catholic Family Services of

Peel-Dufferin

Ÿ Region of Peel

Ÿ Service Canada

Ÿ United Way of Peel Region

Ÿ Community Foundation of

Mississauga

Ÿ Sheridan Institute of Technology and

Advanced Learning

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Settlement Services – Integrated Program

Our skilled counsellors provided units of service on settlement issues to new immigrant clients this year to help them settle into Canadian communities. A total of group workshops and information sessions were organized to educate newcomers on the various government and community services available to them.

clients participated in these sessions. In addition, our counsellors offered a number of targeted employment related services. Job Search training sessions were conducted to provide necessary skills required for newcomers to successfully enter the Canadian labour market. job seekers participated in these sessions to tailor their resumes, practice job search and interview techniques and learn about employment standards in Ontario. Clients looking for employment also received individual employment counselling.

9,5855,419

71

1,798

24

136

Our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program offered English language training to adult newcomers in Mississauga and Brampton. A total of unique clients participated in the program, including graduate clients. The purpose is to provide life-skills training to new immigrants to help them settle into Canadian society. Instructions were provided on all four aspects of language learning i.e. listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The Canadian Language Benchmarks are the national standards used to evaluate a learner's proficiency. This past year has witnessed a sharp increase in newly arrived refugee clients particularly at our Mississauga location. In January 2016, we added an additional site in north Brampton, starting with four LINC classes and settlement services. Additional programs will be added, based on demand and growth in the area.

Care for Newcomer Children (CNC) is an integral part of the LINC program, where children aged 19 months to 6 years are engaged in age-appropriate physical, sensory and cognitive activities. We offered services to children in the program this past year.

2,456 837

447

Language Training

Settlement Services

Health Services

The Adult Day Services program provides comprehensive preventative services to cognitively impaired and/or the frail elderly with a chronic disability or illness from our Matheson, Cooksville and Queen sites. The program serves individuals with complex care needs with challenging behaviours and provides specialized care for clients with dementia and Alzheimer's.

The program includes physical exercise, mentally stimulating activities, social and therapeutic activities such as music, horticultural, art therapies and foot care services. Clients enjoy picnics and celebration of cultural events. Nutritious meals are provided to meet their special dietary needs.

We have enhanced the program experience of clients by introducing technology; clients now use iPads and iPods for many activities; and raised our health and safety standards by meeting the requirements under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. The Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant and Community Support Worker provides education and support to staff and caregivers on a variety of subjects. In collaboration with Halton Healthcare Services, the diabetes foot care program is hosted at our Matheson site. Bereavement support group sessions in collaboration with Heart House Hospice were provided to the South Asian community in a language specific manner. Annual evaluation with clients and caregivers was conducted to enhance our programs and service delivery. Additional support services include caregiver education, training, and security reassurance checks. Crisis intervention and assistance was provided to at-risk seniors experiencing homelessness, abuse or isolation.

Adult Day Program

19,700 933Units Units

Day Program

20,431Units

414Individuals served

Individuals served

131Individuals served

1030

Caregiver Support

Foot Care Services

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Family Services

The Violence and Abuse Prevention Program provided hours of support to women who are survivors of

violence and abuse. The program provides crisis intervention and first stage counselling to clients per month, helping women and their families make the transition to a violence free life. Each client was equipped with an individualized safety plan to decrease the risk of further abuse, or intimate partner homicide. Our staff also developed individualized safety plans with children. In addition, women participated in group sessions to support their transition. Francophone or French-speaking women were provided with an active offer of services in French language through our partnership with Oasis Centre Des Femmes.

2,024 444

100+

65471 85

Violence and Abuse Prevention

Eight Senior Wellness programs are offered in Mississauga and Brampton. The main objective of these programs is to educate, engage and empower South Asian seniors over the age of by providing physical, mental, emotional and socially stimulating activities. Various field trips, picnics and outdoor activities were organized. The Seniors Symposium held annualy in June had over seniors in attendance.

55

250

Seniors Wellness Program

Screened and trained volunteers visit isolated physically frail and/or cognitively impaired seniors in their home, in hospitals or in nursing homes and engage them in meaningful activities. In the past year, individuals were served with a total of units of services.

1933116

Friendly Visiting Program

This program supported victims of domestic violence navigating the Family Court system in understanding their legal rights about custody, child or spousal support and the division of property and assets. Our staff provided support to individuals, developed individualized safety plans, debriefed clients; and documented the history of abuse for the development of court correspondence (affidavits, motions, answers etc.) with clients. Staff also provided accompaniment to legal appointments, mediations, case conferences and court appearances. Tous les services de la Cour de la famille en français.

622 484268

305

Family Court Support

This program supported men and women with an identified serious mental illness who are at risk of homelessness or eviction by assisting with securing and maintaining tenancy for clients in SHIP (Supportive Housing in Peel) operated subsidized rental units. By providing community based mental health support, we decreased the risk of eviction, rent arrears, landlord-tenant and/or tenant-tenant disputes, hospitalization, self-harm and suicides. Our staff supported clients by conducting units of service, including weekly visits, empowering clients to maintain t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l s u p p o r t p l a n s , a s s i s t i n g i n landlord/personal relationship building, alternate dispute resolution and supporting their mental and physical well-being. In addition, we also provided hours of support to

clients not residing in SHIP units or waiting for available housing or assessment.

22

44 2186

212 20

Supportive Mental Health Services (Housing and Support Peel HASP)

This program provided youth and families with crisis intervention, supportive counselling and systemic navigational support assisting in balancing cultural and generational duality. Through risk assessments, crisis management plans, individualized local and international safety plans, we assisted in decreasing the risk of self-harm/suicide or forced removal from Canada. The program also assisted families in resolving child, parent, sibling, and peer to peer conflict. Staff assisted clients navigating the mental health, post-secondary education, health, justice and child protection systems by offering culturally responsive services to decrease child protection concerns and risks.

582

Child, Youth, and Parenting

Program Funding at a Glance

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Annual Report 2015-2016

Locations

India Rainbow Community Services of Peel

Mississauga:

3038 Hurontario Street, Suite 206 & Mississauga, Ontario L5B 3B9Phone: 905-275-2369Fax: 905-275-6799

415 Matheson Boulevard EastMississauga, Ontario L4Z 2H2Phone: 905-507-6099Fax: 905-507-1787

Brampton:

21 Regan Road, Unit H & IBrampton, Ontario L7A 1C5Phone: 905-459-4776Fax: 905-459-4347

245 Queen Street East, Unit 2Brampton, Ontario L6W 2B5Phone: 905-595-1669Fax: 905-595-1670

180-B Sandalwood Parkway East, Suite 3000Brampton, Ontario L6Z 4N2Phone: 905-840-6666 Fax: 905-840-6636

Safe Centre of Peel60 West Drive, Unit 110Brampton, Ontario L6T 3T6Phone: 905-450-4650 Fax: 905-450-5478

Head Office:Services for Newcomers, Seniors and Families

Services for Seniors

Services for Newcomers and Families

Services for Seniors

Services for Newcomers

Services for Families

Suite 307

www.indiarainbow.org

Email: info@indiarainbow.org

Federal Charity Business No. 10750-5810-RR0001