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
:
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.
|