Message from the Executive Director
By Jeanette Lewis

The 2008 Joint Conference hosted by Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies was a rewarding experience for the 665 participants, including 145 youth, who attended over 100 workshops and seminars.

Over three days, conference attendees listened and learned from talented presenters, speakers and each other. The theme for this conference, “Shoulder to Shoulder: Strengthening Partnerships for Positive Outcomes,” illustrated how working together in successful partnership can result in improved outcomes for children and their families.

A collaborative conference such as this provides a good opportunity to encourage partnership and cooperation among communities, partner agencies and professionals to ensure that services and supports needed by children and youth are always accessible and available. OACAS acknowledges that professionals and researchers in child welfare and mental health contribute to improving the lives of the children in Ontario receiving service and care from a child welfare or children’s mental health agency.

OACAS thanks the planning committee for working together to organize this conference. This special conference edition of the Journal features a review of the conference, the Annual Awards Dinner and articles on the presentations by the Youth Policy Advisory and Advocacy Group (YPAAG) and the Paediatric Death Review Committee (PDRC). The conference highlighted those research projects and initiatives in practice that improve the lives of all Ontario’s children.

Jeanette Lewis
Executive Director