Effecting Change within a Large System: Our Experience
Presenters
Denyse Brushett (she/her), MSW RSW, Clinical Social Worker, Scarborough Health Network
Emily Crocker (she/her), MSW RSW, Clinical Social Worker, Scarborough Health Network
Abstract
The challenges present in effecting change within large organizations can seem insurmountable. This presentation will outline how the Outpatient Mental Health Child and Adolescent Program at the Scarborough Health Network worked to change the dominant paradigm of helplessness and complicity that exist within healthcare. Governments face competing priorities and often are slow to change and as a result the needs of historically overlooked and underserved communities are not met. Recognizing this reality, our team started incorporating principles consistent with anti-oppressive practice. Through the creation of a working group we sought to assess and address the unmet needs of our communities to improve their treatment outcomes and quality of life. We will share our successes, challenges, steps taken and lessons learned.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation, participants will learn:
- How to leverage what already exists to create what you need
- How to maintain passion in the face of unrelenting barriers
- How to work with larger organizational systems