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Crisis Hotline
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Wood’s Homes is almost 100 years old. How did it begin?
A: In 1914, Rev. George Wood made a promise to Bob Porter - a widower with two small children. He pledged to look after Willie and Mary while their father served overseas. Mr. Porter did not return and that promise marked the humble beginnings of an organization that has cared for thousands of children.
Q: Where is Wood’s Homes located?
A: There are 2 Calgary campuses: one in Bowness (site of the original orphanage); the other in Parkdale. The Tuer Children's Mental Health Centre is located on our Parkdale campus. Services are also offered in Lethbridge, Strathmore, Canmore, Fort McMurray and Fort Smith, N.W.T.
Q: How many programs does Wood’s Homes provide?
A: As a children’s mental health treatment centre, Wood’s Homes provides more than 30 programs including:
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24-hour intensive residential treatment
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In-home family support
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Crisis intervention and mobile crisis response
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Community outreach to homeless youth
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Foster care
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Addiction/substance abuse treatment
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No-fee, walk-in counselling.
(Demand for all of these services has increased 400% in the past decade.)
Number of clients at any given time:
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10,000 families served every year
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15,000 calls from children and parents to the crisis line annually
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460 children and their families are treated every day (64 children and youth in intensive residential programs on two Calgary campuses)
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35 children in foster care
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18 young adults in community group homes and supported independent living
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12 in youth shelter; 80 in day shelter
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10,000 families served every year
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15,000 calls from children and parents to the crisis line annually
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2,500 in-home visits every year
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1,800 homeless young people assisted every year
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350 stabilization interventions to defuse crisis situations a year.
Q: What is the annual operating budget?
A: $25 million. (In 1984, it was just $2.6 million.)
Q: Is Wood’s Homes financially stable?
A: Wood’s Homes operates on a conservative, stable financial structure. The agency does not deficit finance, nor does it carry long-term debt.
The value of buildings that Wood’s Homes owns is approximately $19,752,900. Land value is estimated at $9,300,000 for a total real estate value of $29 million. In addition, the Wood’s Homes Foundation was created in 2000 for the purpose of raising endowment funds.
Q: How is the agency funded?
A: Funding comes principally from the Ministry of Child and Youth Services, Alberta Health Services: Calgary Region, Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports and in contracts with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Separate School District. Approximately 63% of government operating support is on a contract basis. The contracting ministry purchases a number of treatment beds. The use of these beds is, of course, at the discretion of the contracting department. These are very expensive services and only government can afford the long-term costs. For example, maintaining a child in 24/7 residential treatment costs about $350 per day.
The non-residential operating costs are supported from a range of sources – the United Way; Family and Community Support Services; Social Services; partnerships with other government and social agencies; the Calgary Board of Education; the Calgary Separate School District; and from the community.
Capital costs and improvements are primarily the responsibility of the agency, although in 2008, the province made a contribution to an expanded mental health facility on our Parkdale campus.
Q: Does Wood’s Homes solicit charitable support from the community?
A: Yes. The Wood’s Homes Foundation is governed by a separate Board drawn from the community that raises funds from multiple sources - community events; service clubs; corporations; foundations and individuals. The funding is applied to initiating programs; upgrading and expanding facilities; and maintaining reserves to ensure financial security.
Q: What changing trends does Wood’s Homes foresee?
A: Over the past 95 years, Wood’s Homes has maintained a commitment to providing relevant services that address the critical needs of our community. We are committed to providing timely, accessible services that adapt to society’s changing needs.
Children are coming into care at increasingly younger ages with increasingly complex and mysterious mental health conditions.
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Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canada's youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents (15-19) in Canada.
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It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders
MEASURING SUCCESS
Q: How does the agency measure the success of its services?
A: Wood’s Homes started its own Research Department 10 years ago. It has developed a focus on research, evaluation, evidence-based practice and continuous improvement. We are a nationally accredited organization. In addition we have a research department and a comprehensive system of outcome measurement. This is a complicated area as there are no simple quantitative measures when dealing with children with mental health problems. Nevertheless, Wood’s Homes is committed to a variety of qualitative and quantitative evaluations of program results. Our Research Department is responsible for results measurements and evaluations; investigations of changing practices; and literature analysis. Outcome measures include:
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Measurement of child improvement and reduction in risk issues;
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Sustained quantitative evaluations while a child is in care;
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Longitudinal follow-up after treatment;
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Parent/caregiver satisfaction assessments;
Results are reported to an Advisory Committee of professional practitioners and to the Governing Board bi-annually.
Q: What are the near-term problems for the agency?
A: The principal and recurring problem is the recruitment and retention of qualified and experienced staff. This type of work is difficult at the best of times, and this child population has many complex issues that place inordinate pressure on staff. In addition, the residential programs require 24/7 support.
In a good year, staff turnover (in the entry-level setting) is approximately 20%. However, in the past two years, this rate has jumped to 33%. There are multiple reasons but the primary cause is the level of compensation. Wood’s Homes and comparable agencies cannot compete with salary packages offered by the private and public sectors. Other factors include attracting young people to the social service sector and improving the standing and respect for the profession.
Q: How is Wood’s Homes governed?
A: It is an independent, community-owned and governed agency. The governing Board is comprised of 13 members drawn from the community. The Board of Directors is supported by multiple board committees that include additional parties with a depth of professional credentials and experience in the sector.
Q: What are the key factors influencing Wood’s Homes?
A: Wood’s Homes aspires to three key commitments:
1. We Never Say No.
2. We Never Give Up.
3. We Never Turn Anyone Away.
Wood’s Homes lives these values on a daily basis. Indeed, as a result of these strong beliefs, Wood’s Homes is frequently confronted with children with the most complex mental health, behavioural and family issues. We are often considered ‘the end of the line’ for these young people.
Q: How does Wood’s Homes maintain contact with the various government ministries and members of caucus?
A: Wood’s Homes is engaged in multiple levels of advocacy on behalf of the agency and the general child and family sector:
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Regular meetings with MLAs;
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Periodic contact with Calgary aldermen;
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Presentations to community groups involved with child and family supports;
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Informal contact at various public functions and Wood’s Homes community events;
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A member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Wood’s Homes is also an active member of the Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families (AASCF) which includes 140-member agencies from around the province. The AASCF has delivered submissions to the Standing Policy Committee (2005); the Cabinet Policy Committee (2007) and the Field Policy Committee (2008).
Q: Does Wood’s Homes have partnerships with other children’s services groups?
A: Yes. They include:
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Foothills Hospital Young Adult Program: Wood’s Homes receives several children from YAP as a step-down level prior to the child returning to the community.
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Alberta Children’s Hospital.
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University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work: Wood’s Homes shares research and adjunct lecture activities with the faculty.
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University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine (Family Counselling Centre): Wood’s Homes has administrative, financial and supportive responsibilities with the centre.
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The Calgary Board of Education: 60-year partnership. The CBE provides teaching staff and Wood’s Homes delivers clinical/therapeutic services to the schools located on the Parkdale and Bowness campuses and to the Children's Village.
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Separate School District: Wood’s Homes provides clinical services to students at Our Lady of Lourdes.
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A myriad of partnerships and/or collaborations with parallel child and family agencies; the United Way; Family and Child Social Services (Calgary); Calgary Committee of Volunteer Organizations and Governors for Children.
QUICK FACTS
Q: How many people does Wood’s Homes employ?
A: Approximately 320. The majority are professionals trained in social work with several others trained in clinical, medical, accounting, construction and related professions.
Q: What and where is the Tuer Children’s Mental Health Centre?
A: David Tuer, a longtime friend and supporter of Wood’s Homes, as well as the past chair of the Board of the Calgary Health Region lent his name this past spring, to our expanded Parkdale campus – the location of the centre. Construction of a 3-storey, $5.6-million building is expected to be complete by summer, 2009. Renovations to existing buildings are scheduled to begin shortly afterward.
Q: Do the services include secure treatment?
A: No.
Q: Does Wood’s Homes have experience with various ethnic sectors?
A: Yes. In the early ‘90s, Wood’s Homes responded to an emergency situation with children from Davis Inlet who had major troubles with solvent abuse. Treatment, for various young people, continues today as does Eagle Moon Lodge, a program for Aboriginal children involved with substance abuse. Young people from Ontario, Western Canada, the Yukon and N.W.T. have participated in treatment. As well, Eastside Family Centre - a walk in mental health clinic, serves multi-ethnic groups from across Calgary, particularly from the northeast quadrant. The agency also boasts a staff diversity committee that facilitates training in complex diversity issues.