NLIS 3
November 30, 2001
(Executive Council)

 

New members of Premier�s Council on Social Development announced

Premier Roger Grimes announced today new appointments to the Premier�s Council on Social Development, the group that provides advice on implementation of the Strategic Social Plan (SSP), and other social policy issues.

New members bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives in the fields of education, health care, aboriginal issues and social justice.

"The Strategic Social Plan is a key government policy, and today�s announcement is an important one. It reaffirms government�s commitment to the work of the council, and acknowledges the value of its role as an advisory group on the Strategic Social Plan," said Premier Grimes. "Our new council members are well-respected in the community for their experience, expertise and commitment, and I look forward to the contribution they will make."

The premier appoints council members based on their expertise on social development issues, and for the diverse points of view they bring to the table. The council was formed in 1998 and introduced during the launch of the Strategic Social Plan.

"The council continues to represent an important partnership between government and community, and that theme is central to the Strategic Social Plan," said Gerald Smith, Minister of Human Resources and Employment and lead minister on the Strategic Social Plan. "The SSP emphasizes partnership, collaboration and consultation and is recognized by policy makers across this country for this approach."

New members on the council are: Dianne Ravalia, a nurse from Twillingate; Geraldine Kelly, an addiction counselor from Conne River; Brendan Doyle, an educator and former president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association from St. Andrew�s; Kathy LeGrow, a school board trustee and former chair of the Avalon East School Board; Jeanette Andrews, executive director of the Association of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador; and John Greene, a writer and co-chair of the Food Security Network of Newfoundland and Labrador.

New council members are appointed for terms of three years and fill vacancies left by outgoing members. The council meets regularly to discuss implementation of the SSP and social policy issues that are referred to the group by the premier or government departments.

"We welcome our new members," said Dr. Phil Warren, chair of the Premier�s Council on Social Development. "They come with expertise and diverse viewpoints that will certainly help us as we move ahead with the Strategic Social Plan and other social development issues."

Media contact: Marcia Porter, SSP Communications, (709) 729-0175.

Backgrounder
Premier�s Council on Social Development

  • The Premier�s Council on Social Development was established in 1998, at the launch of government�s Strategic Social Plan.

  • The council has a membership of about 20 people, appointed by the premier for their knowledge of social development issues and the diverse range of perspectives they bring to the table.

  • Members serve three year terms on the council.

  • The council�s mandate is to advise government on the implementation of the Strategic Social Plan, and on social policy issues. Members provide advice through round table discussions and through research and assessment activities on questions referred by the premier or ministers.

  • The council is chaired by Dr. Phil Warren, and members include:

George Clements - Bonavista
Dorothy Inglis - St. John�s
Eric Norman - Gander
Michele Snow - St. John�s
Peter Woodward - Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Joyce Hancock - St. John�s
Jocelyn Greene - St. John�s
Moyra Buchan - St. John�s
Michelle Melendy - Corner Brook
Penelope Rowe - St. John�s
Don Holloway - Marystown
Bernice Hollett - Happy Valley-Goose Bay

 

  • New Members:
Dianne Ravalia - Twillingate Geraldine Kelly - Conne River, Bay d�Espoir
Brendan Doyle - St. Andrews Kathy LeGrow - St. John�s
Jeannette Andrews - St. John�s John Greene - St. John�s

Geraldine Kelly from Conne River has worked as an addictions counselor in her community of Conne River and supervised the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program for eight years. She has also served on the board of the Provincial Advisory Council of the Status of Women, and was chief of the Conne River Reserve.

Brendan Doyle is an educator and former president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association. He is a volunteer is his community of Codroy Valley, serving on the area development association, the library board and Community Health Western Board of Directors, among others.

Kathy LeGrow began her career as a social worker, but she is perhaps best known as a school board trustee, and former chair of the Avalon East School Board. She also served as president of the Canadian School Board�s Association. She works for a family-owned business, and continues her volunteer activities.

John Greene is writer and former teacher who was instrumental in starting the Community Food Sharing Association. He is very active in the community and some of his work has included volunteering with Oxfam, the Food Security Network, the MacMorran Community Centre, and Voices for Justice in Housing.

Dianne Ravalia is a nurse from Twillingate. She volunteers in her community as coordinator of the Sunday School program at St. Peter�s Anglican Church, and also with the preschool program at Twillingate Island Elementary.

Jeanette Andrews is a nurse, and also the executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Registered Nurses. She is a former president of the nurse�s union and serves as the current president of the Community Services Council.

Strategic Social Plan (SSP)

  • The Strategic Social Plan (SSP) was launched in 1998 after extensive consultations across the province. The plan focuses on improving long term opportunities for people by better linking economic and social development, and by improving delivery of services at the local level.

  • The Premier�s Council on Social Development advises on implementation of the Strategic Social Plan.

  • The SSP is being implemented within government, and across the province.

  • Within government the SSP encourages collaboration, consultation and partnerships across departments, and with communities. Some recent initiatives that reflect these SSP values include:
  • The Early Childhood Development Initiative, developed by two departments in consultation with the community.

  • The Violence Prevention Initiative involves several government departments working with local steering committees
  • There are six SSP regions across the province: Northeast Avalon, Avalon, Eastern, Central, Cormack-Grenfell and Labrador.

  • Each region has a steering committee that meets to identify and focus on long-term regional development issues and priorities. Issues could include health, improving the success of students in post-secondary education, literacy and supporting the leadership role of volunteers in communities.

  • Partners on the committees include regional boards of health, education (including post secondary institutions) and economic development, as well as representatives from federal, provincial and municipal governments and other agency partners. In Labrador, the Innu, the Inuit and the Metis Nation participate on the committee.

  • Some of the ways that regional steering committees work to implement the SSP in their regions include:
  • Planning and consulting with the community

  • Facilitating partnerships that, for example, provide training to community volunteers, and identity strategies to improve the transition to post-secondary education

  • Organizing regional volunteer conferences that bring volunteers together to network, learn new skills and celebrate volunteering

  • Organizing forums that help build community capacity by developing leadership skills at the local level

 

2001 11 30                 11:55 a.m.


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