A social integration through work program

L'Équipe Entreprise
750 Dawson Avenue
Dorval, Qc  H9S 1X1
Telephone:  (514) 636-1081
Fax: (514) 636-5103
Email:  equipeentreprise@bellnet.ca
Web:  www.equipeentreprise.org
 

President's Report

L’ Équipe Entreprise has completed 13 years of operation.  How successful are we and what keeps us going? 

Our success, I believe, is measured by the number of hours we provide to our participants. This remains our main objective. This past year (2008-2009) we recorded 14,937 participant hours. This compares with the previous record year ( 2007-2008) of 12,801 hours.

What keeps us going is the commitment by our dedicated staff to the success of our mission and the ongoing efforts of our Director Marie-Claude to find new opportunities to challenge our participants and expand their horizons.

Line, our Chef and Food Services manager, takes on the increasing demands for frozen meals as well as catering contracts all in stride. Ruth, our Program Coordinator, continues her good work with the participants. Our new Human Relations Agent, Sedighe, has proven to be an asset to the team. Nancy continues to provide invaluable service in handling our accounting functions. A special mention to Andree, our volunteer graphic artist, for producing professional looking
documents for all occasions.

The Board of Directors is grateful to the Cite de Dorval for their ongoing support.  Their response to requests for improvements in our workspace has allowed us to be more productive. We also appreciate the support of our MNA Mr. Francois Ouimet who is always available.

Although our funding from the Provincial Government has increased we are nonetheless dependent on many benefactors for their contribution to balance our budget. We express our sincere gratitude for their generosity.

In conclusion, I wish to thank my colleagues on the Board of Directors. These are dedicated volunteers whose commitment to our mission is invaluable.

Respectfully submitted,


Emile LaCoste
President

A word from the Director

I would like to start by acknowledging the great work done by my coworkers Ruth McLellan, Line Rainville, Nancy Miraglia, Ginette Lapointe and our new employee Sedighe Ghassemnejad. They do a fantastic job and continue to show their creativity, abilities and professionalism.

Again this year the participants at L’Équipe Entreprise have undertaken new challenges both in their personal life and at work, they continue to amaze us! I congratulate every one of them for their involvement in the community.

I want to personally express my gratitude to the board of directors for their continued support. At every turn of our progress they are involved by their devotion to our mission and their interest in the well being of the employees and participants.

Activity Report

Program development at L’Équipe Entreprise

In the fiscal year 2007-2008 we proceeded to the analysis of our needs to ensure a healthy growth of our program as well as additional services to our participants. Following a revision of all job descriptions we developed a new position and in November we hired a Human Relations Agent.

Our new employee Sedi brings exceptional knowledge in the development of measuring tools that permit our staff to better evaluate our participants potential. She has designed new services by means of programs and workshops based on the needs of our participants.

A Program Committee composed of a board member, employees and participants was formed to established goals relating to short, medium and long-term issues facing the growth of our social integration program.

In the next year, recommendations by this committee will be clearly defined to improve services to our participants. We will evaluate the results of the workshops developed by Sedi and be in a better position to qualify and quantify our program.

We would like to comment on the excellent work done by our summer students, Gillian Kennedy and Nancy Cannella  The body of their work consisted of the following:

• Work activity training manuals and workshops
• Hygiene and food safety manuals for our kitchen staff
• Sales Statistics
• Marketing plans

Statistics

83% of the participants at L'Équipe Entreprise work a maximum of 4 hours a week and receive a bi-weekly allocation for their work activities.

Others who participate in the Assistance and Social Support Program through Emploi et solidarite sociale Quebec (Interagir Program), receive a monthly allocation.

L'Équipe Entreprise also receives a subsidy for salaried participants through Contracts of Employement Integration from Emploi-Quebec (C.I.T.).

Income Distribution

PSOC Grant (Programme de soutien aux organismes communautaires)

The Agency granted us an amount of $140.837;

Other grants
The grants from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, in the program "Canada Summer Jobs-2008", and Emploi Québec in their programs “Integration contract to work” and “Assistance and Social Support” allows us to employ temporary staff and subsidize the allocations and salaries of some of our participants.

Self-financing
The self-financing of L’Équipe Entreprise comes from the sale of frozen meals and catering contracts. Our sales have reached $109,016, which represents a substantial percentage of our income permitting the purchase of ingredients and contributing in part to the allocations of our participants. Our products which are sold remain low priced for the community.

Donations
The donations to l’Équipe Entreprise from various foundations and individuals represent a large part of our income and have kept the organization alive and thriving. This generous contribution allows us to offer work activities to our participants in all our programs which help the seniors in the community. The donations are also used to maintain our equipment in good order for the optimal use of our kitchen.  West Island Community Shares provided 33.4% of our donations.

Introduction to L’Équipe Entreprise

L’Équipe Entreprise is a non-profit charitable organization, which obtained its patent letters in 1996.

Mission
To provide work to people with mental health problems in a supportive milieu with the goals of improving work habits and improving self confidence while allowing them to acquire enriching work experience and contributing to the well-being of the society.

Goals
This program has two goals: first, to create work activities for people who have a mental illness and second, to offer to the community quality goods and services at a reasonable cost.

What’s new at L’Équipe Entreprise?

• Services designed to promote overall individual growth


• Programs and workshops according to the needs of our participants to improve the quality of life of all who attend


• Individual Career Development coaching


• Leadership courses


• Team Building Training Program for those whose participation is 20 to 30 hours a week

L’Équipe Entreprise contributes to the community in three areas of service:

• Production of healthy frozen meals 21,429 meals were prepared and sold by L’Équipe Entreprise in the last year. This represents 74% of our self-financing income. Through a new association with Volunteer West Island and their Meals on Wheels Frozen Meal Program many seniors experiencing loss of autonomy receive delivery of our meals.
   

• Catering service
  Our catering contracts represent 26% of our self-financing income
   

• Services to seniors

  • Seven senior’s luncheons were organized in collaboration with the seniors of the community. Each event was attended by an average of fifty seniors.

  • Three times a week a team of four participants and a supervisor carry out the lunch service at Maison Donalda Boyer a residence for seniors in Dorval.

  • Our participants served tea and participated in activities at Stewart Hall Seniors Club of Pointe Claire twice a month from September to June.

New frozen meal developed
by l’Équipe Entreprise
 

News from the Participants’ Committee

What’s new: We have a positive addition to our team with Sedighe Ghassemnejad (Sedi) as Human Relations Agent. She offers workshops on self-development and meets participants on an individual basis. Sedi is greatly appreciated by all that know her.

Christmas Party: The Christmas Party was a success again this year. By popular demand, it was requested that we have one at l’Équipe Entreprise in addition to the Collective Christmas Party. Our own party was more intimate and fun was had by all. Also, we were very pleased with the gift certificates we received at the Christmas Party.

HORIZON: Our News Bulletin is a year old. With the help of the participants, you will find the literary and cinema reviews, poetry, testimonials and the thought of the month.

Self-help group: Linda and Daria co-animate a self-help group dealing with work and other concerns (Making it Work). The group meets on the first Saturday of the month. This group is intended for people on the workforce, or that are contemplating on going to
work or who volunteer. The group counts 11 members who are committed to the group and the formula is successful.

The Buddy Program: pairs off two participants together. The experienced participant serves as a mentor to a new participant to guide him or her to the ropes of the job. Sylvie served as buddy for Denise and this is their experience. For me the Buddy Program has been a positive experience. Sharing my knowledge with my buddy has been enriching. To teach the Reception work and have someone learn as fast as my buddy has, showed me a new face of the Buddy Program. Now that my buddy knows everything and she is willing to learn more, this is great!. We remain buddies though the teaching is behind us. It has been a beautiful experience.”

Denise says: ”I have an excellent teacher training me to the work as a receptionist. I calmly learned the routine until I confidently understood the procedures. All the while I discovered team work through my buddy. Sylvie has often reminded me to seek help from the team. When a problem came up, my buddy Sylvie, diligently found a solution. I was continually encouraged to work with the participants and customers. My buddy was a constant support in dealing with the reception work and thoroughly explained the aspect of the task. I gradually acquired the skills, was more assured with the customers, telephone, orders, paper work, etc. My buddy has been indispensable with her kindness and understanding.

Varia: In the summer of 2008, a student that worked here started up a walking group. This spring the group resumed its activity. The participants’ room was painted and we now have lockers. A new counter was installed in the kitchen which we appreciate. It is also important to note that we are happy with our work and the way we are treated.

External Representations

L’Équipe Entreprise is a member of:

• The "Table de concertation en santé mentale de l’Ouest-de-l’Île", regrouping representatives of the CSSS serving the West Island and various mental health organisations in the West Island;

• W.I.T.P.A.R.: West Island Table for Psychiatric Alternative Resources;

• Integration Committee of the "Table de concertation en santé mentale de l’Ouest-de l’Île Montréal ";

• AQRP: Quebec Association for Psychosocial Readaptation;

• RACOR: Réseau alternatif et communautaire des organismes en santé mentale;

• Continuity of Care Committee;

• CMHA: Canadian Mental Health Association - Montreal Chapter
   

Board members at L’Équipe Entreprise are from the public, private and community sectors. Nine monthly board meetings were held in the last fiscal year.

Our last Annual General Meeting was held on June 4th, 2008. Fifty-two persons were present.