Curriculum Vitae

highlights | education | experience | affiliations

Highlights of Professional Skills

• Broad network of government departmental, ministerial, and research contacts
• Comprehensive background in policy development, interpretation and application
• Experience in participatory action and community development research (i.e., program evaluation)
• Proven ability in teaching, public relations, presentation, marketing and fundraising
• Applied background in clinical practice, community healing and cross cultural work
• Effective community development, organizational development and executive management skills
• Highly self motivated and a team player

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Clinical Psychology) – Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1985
Bachelor of Social Work – University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, 1990
Master of Social Work – University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., 2005
Provincial Instructors Diploma – Vancouver Community College, Vancouver, B.C., (In Progress)

Experience

Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, B.C.                                                 2007 - Present
Leader, Community Engagement (Aboriginal Communities)

Reporting to the Director, Community Engagement and in conjunction with the Regional Leader-Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives, the Leader, Aboriginal and First Nations Community Engagement provides leadership within Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to enhance and promote Aboriginal community participation in the development and implementation of the VCH Aboriginal Health Plan (AHP) and other relevant planning and policy development processes. Facilitates partnerships with Aboriginal communities that must occur in developing innovative solutions to health service delivery issues in the Health Service Delivery Areas (HSDA). The Leader is responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating VCH community engagement activities with Aboriginal people and communities.  I also provide leadership and support to the Aboriginal Community Health Advisory Committee (ACHAC); works with the Regional Leader-Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives; Health Services Delivery Area (HSDA) Chief Operating Officers and Health Services Directors and acts as a resource to the VCH Planning teams, Project Managers and Regional Leader-Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives in developing the consultation approach required in health planning, and to the Executive Directors of the Networks in developing Aboriginal community engagement strategies.  Other key interactions include Aboriginal organizations, band councils and administration, senior staff in other levels of government, school districts, police, community organizations as well as members of the public.

Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, N.T.                                         2005 - 2006        
Child and Family Practice Specialist, Quality Assurance/Clinical Practice

As a CFS Practice Specialist Quality Assurance/Clinical Practice, my job was to provide support services to the Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) regarding Children and Family Services in accordance with legislation, regulations, GNWT standards and policies. I worked to ensure compliance to the Adoptions Act, Aboriginal Custom Adoption and Recognition Act and Children and Family Services Acts by providing expertise to the Department of Health and Social Services and Regional Authorities through developing, supporting, monitoring, and evaluating Children and Family Services and facilitating the implementation of new initiatives throughout the Northwest Territories. I was also tasked with the responsibility of leading the review and revision process for the Practice Standards for Adoption Services and the Child and Family Services Practice Standards and Procedures Manuals.

Scw’exmx Child and Family Services Society, Merritt, B.C.                      2002 – 2005
Executive Director

Worked in conjunction with a community based Board of Directors from one of the member First Nations (Upper Nicola, Lower Nicola, Shackan, Nooaitch, and Coldwater Indian Bands), this job entailed planning, developing and implementing administrative policies respecting a full range of child protection, family support, and preventative programs, which were concerned with the safety, and well being of children within the Society’s jurisdiction.  The Executive Director was also required to be knowledgeable of a wide range of legislation such as the Secure Care Act; Adoption Act; Child,
Family and Community Services Act;  Family Relations Act;  Forensic Psychiatry Act;  Health Act;  Infants Act;  Mental Health Act;  School Act;  Young Offenders Act;  and any new legislation or regulation affecting the SCFSS members and their families.  The SCFSS Executive Director was also responsible for the administration of an annual budget of approximately $1.5 million, and supervised ten staff and numerous contract service delivery providers.

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, Merritt, B.C.                                        2002 – 2003
Sessional Instructor

Taught Social Work 354, An Introduction to First Nations Issues. This course critically examined the historical process of colonization in Canada, the resulting barriers embedded in policy and practice, and alternative ways of viewing the social-psychological position of First Nations people in Canadian Society. Contemporary issues and the movement toward self determination was discussed in relation to social work theory and practice. Also taught Social Work 200B, An Introduction to Social Welfare in Canada.  This course was an introduction and analysis of major social policies and programs at the community, provincial, national and international levels and included an examination of the role(s) of the social worker in formulating policy specific to Aboriginal human services.

First Nations Chief’s Health Committee, Vancouver, B.C.                              2000 – 2001
Home and Community Care Development Advisor

Worked closely with the Chief’s Health Committee and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada in facilitating the implementation of the Home and Community Care Program.  Responsibilities included maintaining liaison and consultation with First Nations throughout the Province of British Columbia, and First Nations Staff, in regards to current issues and initiatives associated with home and community care.   Specific duties included assisting First Nations with the development of:   training plans,  building linkages with other communities and/or the Provincial Health system, completion of  community needs assessments and providing input and feedback to communities on their respective home and community care service delivery plans.  Also sat on two National committee’s as the B.C. Regional representative:  the Home and Community Care Evaluation National Steering Committee and the National Continuing Care Advisory Committee.

Nicola Native Lodge Society, Merritt, B.C.                                                           1999 – 2000
Planner

Worked closely with a Board of Directors coordinating the research, planning, development, and construction of 35 assisted living units in Merritt, B.C., to primarily serve the elderly and infirm First Nation elders of the Nicola Valley.    In addition to First Nations residents, residential and personal care services will be made available for lower income non Indian residents, of which there is a large and growing constituency in the Nicola Valley. This successful model will serve as a provincial prototype in many critical areas, some examples:  linking First Nation and Regional Health Authorities;  creating an environment that will ensure a continuum of care for the residents;  providing a range of local, culturally sensitive home/community/institutional care services to marginalized populations (both Indian and non Indian);  public/private partnership, whereas the Nicola Native Lodge Society is securing alternative sources of capital funding;  and providing learning opportunities to First Nation and rural health and human service students.

Vlahos Consulting, Vancouver, B.C.                                                                  1999 – Present
Senior Consultant

Have undertaken human service policy, program evaluation, organizational, strategic planning and community development activities as well as assisted in raising funds through proposal writing.  Recent clients have included:  Westbank First Nation (Social Development Review), Lower Nicola Indian Band (Youth Wilderness Project); Coldwater K-12 School (Project H.E.A.L.), Coldwater Indian Band (Youth Services Canada Initiatives), Interior Métis Child and Family Services (Urban Day Care Initiative), BC Ministry of Children and Families – Campbell River Office (development of a North Island Child and Youth Mental Health Strategic Plan); Inter-Tribal Health Authority (FAE/S Training for Trainers Manual, telehealth readiness research); Burrard Indian Band (drafting a community Pandemic Flu Plan); Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (addressing barriers to Aboriginal graduation rates in the area of health sciences) and the Justice Institute of British Columbia (program development, fundraising for the Justice, Public Safety and Emergency Services Preparation Program for Aboriginal Learners). From time to time I also teach at the college/university level and facilitate workshops.

Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council, Cranbrook, B.C.                                                    1999
Consultant

Worked with a community based, multi-disciplinary health and social service steering committee in writing a Primary Care Demonstration Project proposal with the objective of employing a full time nurse practitioner and three sessional physicians (part time, rotational) working from an outreach clinic
located in the ?aq’am Community Care Home (a sixteen bed continuing care facility), St. Mary’s Indian Band.  The goal was to increase primary and preventative health care to 500 on-reserve residents.  I also wrote a health services Evaluation Plan, for Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Health Services that will be used as the guiding mechanism for undertaking a comprehensive health services program evaluation as is mandatory for First Nations communities that are signatories to a Health Transfer Agreement with the First Nation and Inuit Branch of the Federal Department of Health and Welfare.

Heskw’en’scutxe Health Services Society, Lytton, B.C.                                        1997-1999
Manager

Supervised a staff of twenty health service providers, offering a range of professional health services to the Nlha’7kapmx Communities of Kanaka Bar, Siska, Skuppah, Nicomen, and Cook’s Ferry.  Programs included:  Community Health, prevention and promotion; Home Care (assessments and follow-up services);  Health Information System;  Mental Health;  Water Safety;  and  Transportation.   Administered an annual budget of $1.3 million dollars.  Liaised extensively with a wide range of provincial, federal, government Ministries and Departments primarily addressing the key areas of policy development, fund raising, capital development, and capacity building.
Achievements
• Negotiated a Health Transfer Agreement, as a member of a  transfer negotiating team appointed by the Chiefs and Councils of the five communities served by Heskw’en’scutxe.
• Worked with the Cook’s Ferry Band community in securing capital funding to build the Chief Whistemitsa community center–which includes a fully equipped health station.
• Developed a health transportation system for the elders and health patients of the five aforementioned communities, setting the foundation for what will someday be a handi-dart system in the Fraser Canyon corridor, and for both sides of the Fraser River.
• Negotiated funding for three youth services programs (1995 to 1998), in partnership with the B.C. Ministry of the Environment and Human Resources Development Canada.

Fraser Canyon Tribal Administration, Lytton, B.C.                                                        1991-1997
Manager , Department of Health and Social Services

Administered the social development program(s) for four Nlha’7kapmx communities:  Spuzzum, Kanaka Bar, Skuppah, Nicomen.  Planned and coordinated a range of health and social services working closely with several Provincial Ministries, Federal Departments, First Nations organizations, and a group of inspired community members. 
Achievements
• Planned, secured funding for and implemented what was then the third on-Reserve licensed care home for an elder (who is now deceased), in British Columbia .
• One of the original “Community Healing Gathering” planning team members.
• Worked with community members in planning, securing funding (capital, training, and ongoing operational) and building a licensed day care service and facility–fully staffed by fully trained community members (Nzenman Child and Family Development Center Society).
• Worked with community members in planning, securing funding (capital, training, and ongoing operational) and building a local child and family services organization (Nlha’7kapmx Child and
Family Services).
• Worked with community members in planning, raising funds and operating a crisis intervention center, which at one time, served every First Nation in the Fraser Canyon corridor (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
• Coordinated the planning, funding strategy, capital development and implementation of the Lytton and Lillooet Legal Services Society in close conjunction with community members from both communities.
• Worked closely with Nicomen Band members in planning, securing capital dollars and building their community center.
• Have been privileged to work with community members from several communities in the construction of three community playgrounds.

Alberta Department of Social Services, Lethbridge, Alberta                                         1990
Child Welfare contractor

Little Red River Cree Tribe, High Level, Alberta                                                              1989
Community planner

Homes for Independent Living, Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                     1984
Program planning and development for the physically disabled

Professional Affiliations

Board of Registration for Social Workers of the Province of British Columbia                    1991 – Present
British Columbia Association of Social Workers                                                                  1991 – Present

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