Program & Registration

Fostering Relationships Since 1971...

The Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth (OARTY) is a charitable association for independent residential care and treatment providers.  OARTY members provide vital support, a place to call home and faces that become family. Since 1971 OARTY members have been providing homes, help and hope for children, youth and young adults; and for the last 25 years OARTY has worked to create connections in the residential care and treatment sector via their annual Conference. 

OARTY Conferences were developed with the understanding that it takes a village to raise a child, and that we must foster relationships and share best practices to ensure children in care receive the best outcomes possible.  We believe that a child in care is, and should be, the center of a shared community of residential staff, foster parents, social workers, psychologists, educators, and others critical to the child's wellbeing. 

In whatever role you play, you will find something at OARTY’s 25th Anniversary Conference that speaks to you.  Topics include residential schools and reconciliation, education and learning, human trafficking, trauma, and supports for transitional age youth.  Let’s work together to ensure a bright future for those in care, and foster new relationships to empower ourselves and others to do more for Ontario’s most vulnerable children, youth and young adults.

 OARTY 25th Anniversary Conference Brochure (pdf)
 OARTY 25th Anniversary Conference Registration Form (pdf)

 Program 

Wednesday June 1st

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Registration
Pick up your 25th Anniversary Conference bag, and purchase tickets for the 50/50 draw (3 for $5, or 7 for $10).  The draw supports OARTY’s ongoing work- promoting high standards, working towards a better system, conducting valuable research, and knowledge sharing for improved outcomes.

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Canada's Best Kept Secret - Working Towards Reconciliation
Jenny Sutherland, Indigenous Treatment Coordinator, Connor Homes
Jenny will provide insight from her professional experience in the field of child welfare and children’s mental health, as well as personally from her experience as an Indigenous woman sharing her own personal journey of understanding and healing from the “Indian Holocaust”.  Delegates will gain a deeper understanding of the history and impact of the residential schools era, including an exploration of intergenerational trauma and insecure attachment.  The importance of trusting and respectful relationships between Indigenous and allies is critical to bridge the gap of misunderstanding, create cultural sensitivity and provide tools in how to move forward together in reconciliation. This interactive workshop will provide delegates with tools to better assist Indigenous children, youth and their families in the journey towards healing, all within a safe space to encourage open discussion. 

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - 25th Anniversary Reception
Celebrate 25 years of excellence in residential care and treatment education.  Join delegates in fostering new relationships and reigniting existing ones.  The 50/50 raffle will be drawn at the end of the reception, so be sure to have your tickets with you!

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM - Opening Dinner

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - Opening Keynote
Karl Subban, Leadership Speaker, Educator, and Father of NHL Star P.K. Subban
In his thirty years of coaching, teaching, parenting, and leading, Karl Subban has learned how to inspire people. "Your greatest gift is your potential,” he often says, “and your greatest gift to the world is the development of that potential." Hailing from the Caribbean, where he never played hockey, Subban has nonetheless raised three NHL players, including Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban—one of the league's brightest stars and an Olympic Gold Medal winner. As parents, Karl and his wife, Maria, have raised five accomplished children. Their two oldest daughters are teachers, one a record-setting university basketball star and the other an acclaimed visual artist. Each of their three sons, P.K., Malcolm and Jordan, have been drafted and signed by NHL teams. The Million Dollar Question he is often asked about his family is, "How did you do it?” A natural storyteller, Subban mixes personal stories with lessons he learned as a coach and principal—lessons about goal-setting, perseverance, and accomplishment—that resonate with audiences from the boardroom to the classroom. Subban is presently writing a book with Toronto Star writer Scott Colby.

Thursday June 2nd

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Trade Show

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Minister's Address - Ministry of Children and Youth Services
The Honourable Tracy MacCharles, Minister of Children and Youth Services

9:45 AM - 11:00 AM - Residential Services in Ontario
Dr. Kiaras Gharabaghi, School of Child and Youth Care, Ryerson University
Dr. Gharabaghi will review the changing landscape of residential services in Ontario, particularly in relation to children and youth in care.  Recent research and reviews will be explored, with an emphasis on lessons learned and best practices.   Time will be allotted for discussion.

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM - Networking Break

11:20 AM - 12:35 PM - Breakout Sessions

A. Day Treatment Programs: No Data, No Direction
Jenn Phillips & Rob Schoemaker, Enterphase Child and Family Services
The speakers will provide a comprehensive look at Enterphase Child & Family Services’ Day Treatment Programs, and the data driven processes used to ensure the changing needs of the children served are met.  Enterphase operates 14 Day Treatment Classrooms, located primarily in mainstream schools to service children with social and emotional/mental health challenges and/or acquired brain injuries that impact the child’s ability to successfully participate in a traditional classroom setting.  Delegates will be brought through a review of the current data collection process that “feeds” Enterphase’s performance evaluation system, including the use of this data as part of the strategic planning process for future service provision.

B. SAFETY Program for Suicidal Youth
Daphne Korczak & Kate Stadelman, Hospital for Sick Children, SAFETY Program
Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in Canada; however treatment of adolescents at risk (for example, those who have made a previous suicide attempt) vary and are frequently not evidence-based.   The SAFETY Program is an intensive adolescent and family treatment program providing a new manualized intervention for acutely suicidal youth and their families.  This presentation will look at the workings of the program itself, outcomes for youth and their families, and lessons learned of benefit to caregivers working with suicidal youth. 

C. Human Trafficking – A Police Perspective
Sergeant Ron Kapuscinski, Durham Regional Police, Human Trafficking Unit
Human trafficking victims are exposed to all forms of abuse, and may even face death. Youth are among those who are likely to be at-risk, specifically children in care and runaways. This presentation will address human trafficking from a police perspective, exposing the extent of the activity in Ontario and the efforts made by police services province-wide to prevent and counter this criminal activity, and to support human trafficking survivors. Time will be allocated for a question and answer period.  

12:35 PM - 1:35 PM Lunch
Minister of Community & Social Services - Minister's Address
The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community & Social Services

1:35 PM - 2:50 PM - Breakout Sessions

A. Impact of Trauma on Learning
Allison Jones, Trillium Lakelands District School Board
This session helps caregivers and educators understand the impact of trauma on a child’s development and demonstrates how healing can happen through relationships. Often the behaviours and emotional volatility of children/youth in care is challenging and confusing for caregivers.  This training will not only explain the behaviour but will offer specific, relationship-based strategies to support healing and connection for children and their caregivers. 

Delegates will leave with a greater understanding of the impact of trauma on the developing brain and self-regulation; specific trauma-sensitive strategies for the home and classroom.  Self-care will also be explored as an important principle in becoming trauma sensitive.  

B. Breaking Down the Walls Surrounding "Complex" Youth
Dr. Craig Ross, Psychologist, Child and Parent Resource Institute
One of the most significant challenges in providing care to “complex” children and adolescents is determining what is most relevant to their needs.  In particular, these youths can be accompanied by documentation outlining a number of different mental health or behavioural diagnoses, but the strategies to manage those can be vague.  Through discussion of two clinical profiles (one primarily mental health, one developmental in nature), this breakout session will provide a framework for understanding key factors in complex presentations and recommendations for intervention and/or management.  In particular, principles from learning theory and trauma-informed care will be highlighted, along with common factors for common overlapping (co-morbid) diagnoses.

C. Human Trafficking: A Survivor's Perspective
Emily Forward and Karly Church, East Metro Youth Services
Hear first-hand from survivors of human trafficking, and how they were able to work through the trauma and find healing.  Emily and Karly are leaders in the fight against human trafficking, providing support to survivors and education to those working with high-risk youth. Delegates will learn how to best protect youth from human traffickers, and how to assist youth that come into care with this particular trauma.  Time will be allotted for a question and answer period.

2:50 PM - 3:10 PM - Networking Break

3:10 PM - 4:40 PM - Breakout Sessions

A. OARTY Talks (Members Only Open Forum)
OARTY Talks is a moderated open dialogue between OARTY members on timely and relevant issues.  Questions based on input from OARTY members will serve as the basis for a formal cross-pollination of ideas and knowledge sharing.  Members are encouraged to share best practices and to explore alternate approaches to issues and opportunities with their colleagues.

B. Transitional Aged Client and Family Engagement
Mardi Ennis-Gregory, Bartimaeus Family Service
This workshop will explore ways to support families of transitional aged clients as they move from child and youth services to adult services.  Various examples of approaches and supports will be provided, with outcomes explored.  Delegates will leave with strategies and interventions that have proven effective for Bartimaeus Family Service in meeting the unique behavioural and emotional challenges these clients and their families face.

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM - Reception, Silent Auction & Dinner
Make a toast to 25 years, network around the Silent Auction tables and enjoy great food and conversation. Interested in donation an item to the Silent Auction?  Download the Silent Auction Donation Form below, or contact the OARTY Office at info@oarty.net. 
 Silent Auction Donation Form (pdf)

9:00 PM - 10:00 PM - An Evening of Laughter
Christina Walkinshaw, Comedian
Christina Walkinshaw is a Vancouver born stand-up comic now living in Toronto who has made an impact in a relatively short career.  Her half-hour Comedy Now special often repeats in the middle of the night on CTV and the Comedy Network, while you’re sleeping.  She was nominated for Best Female Stand Up Comic in the 2012 and 2014 Canadian Comedy Awards (she was working on new material in 2013).

You can catch her on CBC’s The Debaters.  She’s appeared at The Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, JFL42, The Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Vancouver Comedy Festival, and the Glasgow Comedy Festival.  In February 2014 she graced the cover of Toronto’s entertainment magazine, NOW Weekly. 

In general, she chooses to avoid mushrooms and marriage. 

Friday June 3rd

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Breakfast

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM - OARTY Annual General Meeting (Members Only)
The AGM provides an opportunity for the Board and staff to share important information with members, such as audited financial statements, and to appoint the auditor for the next year, and elect the leadership that will govern the board throughout the next year.

9:30 AM - 10:45 AM - Advocating for Ontario’s Children and Youth
Irwin Elman, Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
Diana Cooke, Director of Investigations, Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth
This presentation will explore current initiatives and projects from the Advocate’s office, as well as the Office’s new investigative role. Time will be allocated for a question and answer period. 

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM - Networking Break

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM - Cross Over Youth Project
Dr. Judy Finlay, Principal Investigator, Ryerson University
The Cross Over Youth Project was initiated in October 2013 to investigate what triggers the trajectory of youth from the child welfare system to youth justice, and identify intervention strategies.   The Project is designed to develop local competencies and sustainability of a coordinated approach to serving cross over youth.  An integral part of the Pilot Project is resource coordination at the systemic level and case co-ordination at the “macro” level.

The Project began with a multi-sectoral Committee co-chaired by Professor Judy Finlay, (Principal Investigator) Ryerson University and Justice Brian Scully, Ontario Court of Justice (Judicial Lead).  The project began with a series of forums from multiple service sectors, the results of which guided the launch of the pilot projects in October 2015.  A youth advisory group remains in place to provide consultation and feedback giving cross over youth an ongoing voice in the Project.  This presentation will review the progress of the Project to date, review findings of the report and other literature relevant to cross over youth, and allow participants the opportunity to discuss potential solutions to the issue.  

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM - Lunch

1:15 PM - 2:30 PM - Ministry of Community and Social Services - Current Initiatives
Sal Marrello, Director, Services and Supports Branch
Sal Marrello will provide an overview of current Ministry initiatives related to developmental services, transitional age youth, and residential services for young adults in care.  Time will be allocated for a question and answer period. 

2:30 PM - Closing Remarks

Program and Speakers subject to change.

Conference Registration and Rates

To register for the OARTY Conference either download the  Conference Registration Form (pdf) and complete and return, or login to access online registration. A reminder that full members of OARTY have access to one complimentary registration as part of their membership dues, to access email the OARTY Office at info@oarty.net. 

Conference Refund Policy

Refunds will be provided based on the following schedule:

• 100%  refunds for cancellations up to and including March 31st
• 50% refunds for cancellations up to and including April 30th (the Early Bird deadline). 

 No refunds will be provided for cancellations from May 1st onwards.