Building a workplace where employees feel like they belong is a key component of improving mental health outcomes within the OPS. For the OPS, programs like the Inclusive Counselling Services are imperative to help change our culture and increase the sense of belonging across the organization. In recent years, it has become more apparent that there is a need to provide more mental health resources for OPS employees and their family members, particularly those in underrepresented communities.
The Inclusive Counselling Services (ICS) program aims to address this need. It was designed based on feedback from many communities across the OPS.
Through the ICS program, OPS employees and their family members can access professional, confidential support that better meets their specific mental health needs.
Goals of the ICS Program
- 1Providing access to counsellors who share lived experiences and sociodemographic backgrounds of the communities that exist across the OPS
- 2Increasing flexibility in the delivery of mental health counselling services
- 3
Offering OPS employees and their families the ability to have a say in who they receive services from
- 4Helping to address systemic barriers and other social factors that have a disproportionately negative impact on mental health and well-being
About Dalton Associates
Dalton Associates, founded in 1995, is a mental health services organization that provides customized wrap-around care navigation services, as well as specialized and quality-assured mental health services (including psychological, behavioural, psychotherapy and social work). Our focus is on providing services that are culturally sensitive, safe, accessible, and timely.
Dalton Associates was selected as the Coordinating Service Provider (CSP) for the OPS Inclusive Counselling Services Program, and will conduct the coordination and administration of the program, along with the Centre for Employee Health, Safety and Wellness, Treasury Board Secretariat. This includes supporting OPS employees and their families in navigating to an appropriate counsellor.
