PRHHA Presidents Report
Greetings to all members and friends of the PRHHA, we have had a very busy year since we last congregated in Winnipeg in September 2007. I hope everyone will enjoy and learn from the conference offerings this year, as we have in the past. This is the sixth such gathering as we continue to build our organization into a stable, well established Association.
Part of building the organization this year included a "Visioning Day" for the Board of Directors during which we were able to refine our Mission Statement, develop a Vision Statement and set a series of five year goals. These Statements and the goals are included with your package and will be presented at the Annual General Meeting. They will also be placed on our website so that the larger community will see where we are going and what we want to accomplish.
The website, itself, is part of developing organizational communication and includes a blog space for members to communicate with each other about issues, training or any other ideas. Hopefully, we will be able to inform members about training opportunities and get feedback from members about what is needed and how the training is working for them. During the past year the association facilitated local and regional training concerning diversity, women's mental health and risk management. We also finalized an agreement with the British Columbia and Yukon Halfway House Association for our members to gain access to their online training for halfway house frontline staff.
The communication and cooperation between, and among, the various Associations across Canada culminated in a National Meeting in Halifax in April of 2008. The representatives of the Associations have agreed to continue to work together to achieve common goals, and had the opportunity in Halifax to meet with CSC representatives to discuss issues facing the Associations and halfway house operators. As a result, CSC agreed to fund another National meeting, appreciating the importance of cooperation at that level and the benefits it will bring to CSC and their community partners.
The stability of our association is enhanced when it is part of a National consultation which helps bring credibility to ideas and issues put forth. We have improved communication with government and increased community awareness about the importance of providing the necessary supports for successful transition from prison. As a result of the work we have done in our region over the past year CSC has agreed to a further three year funding contract providing financial stability until 2011.
The progress made and the work accomplished over the past year is only possible because we have an Association Manager — a great one at that. Brenda Ingham has worked tirelessly to bring our Association to the level it is at now and I know it would not have happened without her. The Association's Board of Directors has provided immense support for Brenda and the membership has responded well to the various requests for information. As an Association we are already well on our way to making a difference.
Gordon Sand
President, Prairie Region