Southern Alberta Child & Youth Health Network

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee plays a vital role in guiding the development of SACYHN. The Steering Committee:

•	provides overall direction and advocacy
•	establishes and facilitates implementation of priorities
•	determines Network infrastructure
•	identifies resource needs
•	ensures involvement of stakeholders/decision making partners including families
•	provides the accountability mechanism for the Network
•	oversees process and outcome evaluation
•	includes as many sectors as possible
•	reflects the ongoing commitment of SACYHN to a broad definition of child health that goes well beyond the health care sector

Honorary Chair

Stephanie Felesky, Calgary business woman and community volunteer, has been the Honorary Chair of the Southern Alberta Child & Youth Health Network since 2007. Ms. Felesky is known for her passionate support of children, most recently as co-chair of the Calgary Children's Initiative. Her volunteer commitment was acknowledged in 2003 when she was appointed to the Order of Canada.

In addition to supporting children's causes, Ms. Felesky is a member of several community boards including the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the Calgary Herald Advisory Board and the Calgary Police Commission. She is a past member of the University of Calgary Board of Governors and past Chair of the United Way of Calgary Board of Directors. As well, she is currently a board member for the Canexus Income Fund.

The Steering Committee is comprised of key partners and charter affiliates listed below.

Key Partners		Charter Affiliates
•	Parents	•	Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research
•	Alberta Education	•	Alberta Children and Youth Services
•	Alberta Employment and Immigration	•	Alberta Health Services
•	Alberta Health and Wellness	•	Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security
•	Alberta Justice and Attorney General	•	Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority
•	First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (Health Canada)	•	Central Alberta Child and Family Services Authority
•	Southeast Alberta Child and Family Services	•	Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta
•	Southern Alberta Mental Health Network	•	United Way of Calgary and Area
•	Southwest Alberta Child and Family Services	•	University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
•	Treaty 7 Management Corporation	•	University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine
		•	University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work

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Strategies used by the Steering Committee to fulfill its role and responsibilities:

•	Developing a vision, mission and accountability framework [more…]
•	Ensuring involvement of stakeholders [more…]
•	Advocating as appropriate [more…]
•	Promoting education and research [more…]
•	Acting as a resource and maintaining linkages with other jurisdictions [more…]

	Developing a vision, mission and accountability framework
	•	advance the vision and mission for SACYHN
	•	develop an accountability model that supports the vision and mission, and establish corresponding agreements for members
	•	develop and disseminate information about the values and philosophy of SACYHN
	•	establish annual priorities and develop corresponding action plans with timelines, resource requirements, and monitoring mechanisms
	•	encourage the development of inter-sectoral networks within each region by establishing regional SACYHN committees or by building on existing regional committees

	Ensuring involvement of stakeholders
	•	involve parents and youth in planning and decision-making for SACYHN
	•	identify and involve key stakeholder groups in Network planning and activities
	•	collaborate with Aboriginal community leaders in addressing Aboriginal child and youth health needs
	•	solicit multi-cultural perspectives in needs identification and service planning
	•	ensure that both urban and rural perspectives are considered
	•	establish a working culture where the contributions of service providers in all sectors are valued and respected

	Advocating as appropriate
	•	advocate for culturally sensitive service delivery throughout the Network
	•	advocate for continuous participation of parents and youth in all activities that affect their overall health and well being
	•	advocate for electronic linkages including web-based professional education, clinical supports, and information access for families, community partners, and other key stakeholders

	Promoting education and research
	•	promote cross-sector educational activities and professional development regarding children's health and well being
	•	promote child and youth related research and its dissemination
	•	ensure that evaluation of the impact of SACYHN processes and activities occurs

	Acting as a resource and maintaining linkages with other jurisdictions
	•	maintain linkages with child health initiatives in Northern Alberta and other provinces
	•	maintain linkages with other child-focused provincial initiatives
	•	provide advice and consultation to local authorities and government ministries regarding services that promote child health and well being

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	What is a Charter Affiliate? Charter Affiliates are large organizations that have direct responsibility for development of standards and/or delivery of services to children, youth and families. Charter affiliates help to resource and support SACYHN. What is a Key Partner? Key Partners are ministry affiliates who have responsibility for the development of standards and/or governing the delivery of services to children, youth and families, community affiliates who are non-governmental organizations involved in the direct provision of service to children and youth or have a role in the overall health and well being of children or individual affiliates who are parents, youth or other individuals connected to a charter or community affiliate and who have an interest in the health and well being of all children.