Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Delegate Arrivals
Noon - Lunch
1:00 - Program Begins
2:30 - Networking Break
3:00 - Program Continues
6:30 - Networking Reception
 

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 
7:30 am - Breakfast  
8:30 - Program
10:00 - Networking Break
12:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 - Program
2:30 - Networking Break
4:30 - Free Time
6:30 - Dinner

Thursday, June 19, 2025
8:00 am - Breakfast
8:45 - Program
10:30 - Networking Break
12:00 pm - Depart

 

SESSION DETAILS

Supporting Advocacy for Individuals with Support Needs Using Data-Driven Decision Making

Presented by:  Bailey Scherbak and Nicole Klobucar, Monarch House

Advocacy for individuals with support needs is most effective when grounded in clear, data-informed strategies. This presentation explores how everyday data sources—such as sleep logs, daily journals, and behavior tracking—can be transformed into meaningful, quantifiable insights to support advocacy efforts. Attendees will learn practical approaches to identifying and utilizing existing data to build strong, evidence-based cases for change or continued support. Emphasis will be placed on measuring quality of life through key indicators including individual engagement, reductions in maladaptive behavior, decreases in restrictive procedures, and overall social validity. This session will empower professionals, caregivers, and advocates with tools to translate lived experience and observational data into compelling advocacy narratives that truly reflect the needs and progress of those they support.

Bailey Scherbak, is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Registered Behaviour Analyst based in Toronto and Regional Director of Monarch House in Ontario. With over 15 years of of experience in diverse settings including inpatient hospitals, schools, group living environments, community spaces, and clinics. Since 2011, she has specialized in supporting individuals with complex behaviours and their families live the best life they can. As the Regional Director for Monarch House, Bailey collaborates with clinics and community teams across Ontario to build high-performing teams and ensure top-quality service delivery. Her special interests include advocating for equitable access to services for underserved populations, and building safe work environments for both team members and people served.

 

Nicole Klobucar is a Registered Behaviour Analyst with over a decade of experience in the developmental sector, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness across the lifespan, including those presenting with unsafe behaviours. She has delivered behavioural services in clinics, homes, day programs, and group homes and presented workshops to families and teams. Nicole is deeply committed to providing high-quality, person-centered services that empower individuals to lead meaningful lives. She emphasizes collaboration with individuals and their support networks to target socially significant goals that enhance overall quality of life—including communication, social skills, personal care, domestic responsibilities, vocational development, and sexual education.

 

The Ready Set Go Program and Transitional Planning Conferences for Youth

Presented by:  Kathryn Rock, Manager of Family Group Conferencing Toronto, George Hull Centre

Research demonstrates that youth living in CAS care frequently experience negative outcomes in comparison to their non-care peers.  Concern about this research led the MCCSS to review the supports offered to youth transitioning from care and address these needs through the Policy Directive ‘Preparing Youth for Successful Transition from the Care of Children’s Aid Societies’.  This presentation will provide an overview of the core features of the Ready Set Go Program introduced on April 1, 2023 with a focus on the development and implementation of Transitional Planning Conferences. Participants will learn how to support youth to request a Transitional Planning Conference, understand their role in the process and know what to expect from the three phases of Transitional Planning Conferences.  

Kathryn Rock is the Manager of Family Group Conferencing Toronto an Alternate Dispute Resolution program with the George Hull Centre. She is also a rostered Family Group Conference Coordinator and Transitional Planning Coordinator. Kathryn has extensive experience as a senior leader in the private sector, Children’s Mental Health, Child Welfare and Youth Justice. She has expertise in new service development and evaluation, leadership coaching and mentoring and strives to create inclusive and equitable work environments. As a creative problem solver, she has led transformation and business planning process that foster innovation and collaboration. Kathryn is also a Board Director for Children’s Mental Health Ontario and the Vice-Chair for the Adoption Council of Ontario Board.

Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024 – Part II: Overview of Upcoming Changes to the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

Presented by:  Lisa Corrente, Torkin, Manes LLP 

Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024 has resulted in sweeping amendments to the Ministry’s enforcement powers under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2021. Lisa Corrente of Torkin Manes LLP is returning for the second part of her series on the upcoming legislative changes including compliance orders, restraining orders, management orders, orders to return funds, administrative monetary penalties, Director’s referrals, higher fines and the new review and appeal process.  Operators will gain valuable insight into the new regulatory framework and how they can prepare their operations for these important changes.

Lisa Corrente is a partner in the Litigation Department at Torkin Manes LLP. As part of the firm’s Health Law Group, she advises and represents healthcare facilities and health professionals. Lisa provides assistance to long-term care homes, retirement homes, group homes, treatment foster homes and other residential care facilities and their staff members.  Lisa advises and represents these clients with respect to ministry inspections and compliance matters; licensing issues; Directors’ reviews and appeals; responding to complaints, including professional complaints and discipline proceedings; civil litigation; dealing with CAS verification decisions; employment and human rights matters; tenancy disputes; privacy and requests for access to information; and the resolution of issues concerning residents and their family members. 

In 2018, Lisa acted as counsel to a long-term care operator at the Gillese Public Inquiry.  Since March 2020, Lisa has been assisting long-term care homes and other congregate living settings with matters relating to COVID-19, including with respect to the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. 

Lisa is the past chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s health law section and the Canadian Bar Association’s national health law section.  She is also a recipient of the Ontario Bar Association’s Susan Hillary Davidson Memorial Award for Excellence in Health Law.   Lisa has been recognized for her work in health law by both Best Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal.  As well, Lisa remains actively involved in Pro Bono Ontario’s legal clinic at Sick Kids Hospital through which she provides free legal services to the families of children at Sick Kids, an initiative which she helped establish in 2009.   

Succession as Success

Presented by:  Penny Gagnon, Chief Advisor at CARF Canada

This workshop offers a dynamic overview of building a culture of “Succession as Success.” Too often, organizations do not prioritize succession planning and only address it when faced with unexpected emergencies or other unwelcomed requirements. This presentation emphasizes the significance of succession planning within the context of organizational development and sustainability building on five key themes. These five themes will form the integrated approach creating “Succession as Success. Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate themselves in relation to the themes, identify organizational strengths, pinpoint areas for improvement, and begin the process of developing their own succession plan. Emphasizing the importance of proactive and responsive succession planning, this workshop aims to motivate organizations to take action and foster resilience through their planning efforts.

Penny Gagnon, M.A., is the Chief Advisor at CARF Canada, bringing over 20 years of executive leadership experience in health and human services. She specializes in advancing organizational excellence through strategic planning, person-centred approaches, quality assurance, and performance-driven environments. Penny is known for building strong, partner-focused relationships and fostering cultures of learning, collaboration, and ethical practice. Her work is grounded in evidence-based methods and continuous quality improvement, with a deep commitment to inspiring others and driving meaningful, sustainable change.

 

MCCSS Update on Journey To belonging: Choice and Inclusion

Presented by:  Christine Kuepfer, Director, Community Services Division, MCCSS 

The ministry will present the Journey to Belonging vision, work to date and future looking aspects of the Developmental Services Reform.