VISION:
Connecting communities, governments, the private sector, and research centres of excellence in a unified effort to make a difference


Alliance for Community Excellence

The goal of the Alliance for Community Excellence Program is to promote excellence in policy and practice in mental health and addictions services at the community level by:

  • Increasing public understanding of the complexities of mental health and addiction issues and the broad range of exemplary work being done at the community level in dealing with these concerns;
  • Expanding the existing Kaiser nationwide, grassroots Networks into an integrated national collaboration;
  • Working with community partners in developing and disseminating the ‘best practice’ matrix for evaluating outcomes.
  • Fostering connections among community, corporate, professional and government sectors.

The organization has developed a comprehensive networking model, fostering collaboration within specific sectors and areas of interest within an open, national Network of community-based organizations and programs. Network subdivisions parallel categories within the National Awards Program, geographic commonalities and other explicit themes. Examples include:

  •  the Aboriginal Connections Network
  •  the Eastern Canada Centres for Excellence Network, coordinated by Heather Hodgson Schleich, Drug Awareness Educator and Trainer, Council on Drug Abuse; former sergeant with the Peel Regional Police Service; retired college professor with Niagara College; Board Member of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse; with more than 25 years experience in developing, implementing and evaluating programs on alcohol and other drugs.

The Foundation seeks to promote multiple approaches backed up by research in all areas: medical, social, economic. The constructive solutions communicated through these activities are aimed to impact and influence the public policy and societal awareness of these serious and increasingly destructive public health issues.