Meet the people behind the great programs and services offered at Ometz! Our colleague Marcie Klein discusses Ometz Mental Health Support services, and how our team offers recovery-oriented support services and a mental health support network that helps you develop your strengths and pursue your goals.

What is your work position and how long have you been working at Ometz?

My position at Ometz is Manager of the Mental Health Support services department. I have been with the agency for 22 years.

I am very proud of our mental health team and the very important work that we do to support our clients in their recovery and in their day-to-day lives.

What are your day-to-day activities?

My day-to-day activities are focused on supervising and supporting my team in order to ensure that the services we are offering are client focused and that we offer our best practice in the area of promoting and enhancing mental health.

What can clients expect from the Mental Health Support services?

On a daily basis, our team of 6 case managers, our adult education teacher and our social work interns help people living with serious mental health issues to pursue goals they have identified which they feel will make their lives better. These include increasing and improving social connections, finding and maintaining safe and affordable housing, returning to school, connecting to volunteer work or finding employment. Our team often works out in the community visiting clients in their homes, and/or accompanying them and advocating to help access necessary medical care as well as government benefits and services. We always work in partnership with the hospital and CLSC psychiatric teams who are also working with our clients.

Our young adult support program assists young adults living with high functioning autism spectrum disorders and/or mild intellectual challenges to pursue such goals as independent living and employment with ongoing individual support as well as skill-building groups to improve life skills, social skills and employability skills.

How will the Mental Health Support services evolve in the future?

New to the Ometz Mental Health Support services department this year will be our creative alternative therapy groups including animal-assisted therapy, photo-therapy and our eco-therapy community garden program which was launched this summer. We also continue to offer clients the opportunity to participate in our weekly Glee Club Choir, run by a qualified music therapist.

Ometz is an amazing place to work because as staff we are inspired and encouraged to be innovative in delivering services and we rely on feedback from our clients to continuously improve upon these services.

To find out more about our Mental Health Support services, click here.