July 18-21, 2005, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Highlights
The following Web page offers highlights of the successful 2005 National Summer Institute (NSI) and follow-up information on the results of this national advanced learning event.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Addictions Research Centre (ARC), Correctional Services Canada, recently partnered to deliver the third National Summer Institute (NSI) on Addictions in P.E.I. (July 18-21, 2005). Our theme was Mapping Change: Assessment and Treatment Planning.
This year, we sold out registration at the NSI with 90 participants (a 50% increase from last year) attending from across the country, including Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario, the Prairies, Alberta, and BC and Nunavut.
Our partnership with the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), which hosted the Institute on their main campus in Charlottetown, reflects our plan for measured growth of the NSI and is consistent with our shared goals and objectives to offer an appropriate advanced learning environment.
Theme
The 2005 NSI theme reflected participant feedback received during last year's NSI as well as through our consultation with members of the Canadian Executive Council on Addictions (CECA) and the Atlantic Association of Addiction Executives (AAAE). In addition, a recent Canadian Addiction Treatment Workforce Survey conducted by CCSA concluded that managers and front-line addiction workers from across Canada have a high level of interest in assessment and treatment planning.
This year, we simultaneously directed attention to system- and program-level topics as well as to the exploration of the clinical applications of assessment and treatment planning. We shifted the pedagogy so that plenary lectures were always followed by small group workshops. This shift created more opportunities for the audience to engage in group interaction and networking. The small groups, facilitated by CCSA/CSC staff, were intended to prepare participants to adopt and enhance best practices in assessment and treatment planning in the field.
NSI Faculty
Dr. William Miller, co-author of the seminal book, Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change, was the keynote speaker for the 2005 National Summer Institute. Dr. Miller led the first day (July 18) on assessment and treatment planning with special reference to evidence-based treatment approaches. The faculty members who presented on the three remaining days of the NSI (July 19-22) included some of Canada's most talented senior clinicians, researchers, and policy/program specialists.
Sponsorship
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the Canadian Executive Council on Addictions for their generous sponsorship of the 2005 National Summer Institute. We would also like to acknowledge the Addictions Ontario/Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation for providing continuing education credits to the participants of the Institute and for their donation to assist with the closing dinner (Wednesday July 20).
For further information:
Greg Graves, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
613-235-4048 ext 249; ggraves@ccsa.ca