Information and education: Upcoming events

View or print a calendar of CARF Canada information and education events (Word document)

Note: Abbreviations might be used, including BH for Behavioural Health; CYS for Child and Youth Services; ECS for Employment and Community Services; MED for Medical Rehabilitation

Also read about CARF education and training events in the United States

CARF Canada Aging Services 101: Long-Term Care & Retirement Residences

Read information about and register online for Aging Services 101: Long-Term Care & Retirement Residences Toronto, Ontario, March 3

Open a brochure, including a registration order form, for CARF Canada Aging Services 101: Long-Term Care & Retirement Residences Toronto, Ontario, March 3

CARF Canada 2010 CARF BH/CYS/ECS 101 Webinar

Read information about and register online for CARF Canada 101 Webinar: March 10 (also available: Word document registration form)

About our presenters

James W. Baxter, Ph.D.

James W. Baxter, Ph.D., received his degree in psychology and measurement from the University of Minnesota. In addition, he has completed academic training in substance abuse counselling and behavioural healthcare administration at the University of Minnesota. Post-doctoral work includes a comprehensive practicum in outcomes measurement and management at the Minnesota Leadership Development Outcomes Laboratory and graduation from the Sheriff's Citizen Law Enforcement Academy and the Hennepin County Leadership Development Academy. Dr. Baxter holds board certifications as a professional in healthcare quality from the National Association of Healthcare Quality and as a behavioural healthcare executive from the National Council of Behavioral Health. Dr. Baxter began his work with CARF in 1973, working on the program evaluation development initiative sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation. This effort resulted in the formal adoption and implementation of CARF's outcome management standards with the 1976-1977 Standards Manual.

Since that time, Dr. Baxter has completed hundreds of surveys for CARF working in Employment and Community Services, Behavioural Health, Medical Rehabilitation, Child and Youth Services, and Aging Services. He has presented at numerous international conferences and, over the past four years, has been actively involved in the CARF Canada and CARF-CCAC regional training and outcome training initiatives. Dr. Baxter considers himself a "blue collar Ph.D." and prefers to be called "Jim." His major interest is providing advocacy support for persons with major life challenges. He views building on the strengths of persons served, advocating for their representation in community, and self-sufficiency as matters of professional and personal integrity.

Karen Hamdon

Karen Hamdon has 30 years of experience in the field of human services, both in government and management within an accredited community-based organization. Her extensive accreditation experience spans standards development, peer review work with another accrediting body, and consultation to organizations preparing for CARF accreditation. Ms. Hamdon is also a CARF surveyor.

Warren Helfrich

Warren Helfrich is a human services researcher, consultant, and trainer focusing on the areas of performance measurement, organizational behaviour, leadership, and human services accreditation. He has many years of experience in a wide range of human service sector settings, including family services, juvenile justice, counselling services, and services to children and youths, including child welfare and early childhood development. He is a contract evaluation consultant with the Canadian Outcomes Research Institute. He currently works with CARF as a surveyor and trainer and has mentored numerous agencies through the accreditation process. Mr. Helfrich holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Calgary, completing his degree on a part-time basis.

June Korbisser

June Korbisser is an accreditation resource specialist at CARF Canada's Edmonton office. She has a varied background in human services, both within the Ministry of Children's Services and community organizations. Her 25 years of experience span education, services to persons with developmental disabilities, outcome evaluation, and accreditation. Ms. Korbisser has also been involved in the development of standards, policy, and curricula.

Christine MacDonell

Christine MacDonell, managing director of the Medical Rehabilitation customer service unit, has more than 35 years of experience as a provider, administrator, and trainer in the human services field. Beginning her career as an occupational therapist, Ms. MacDonell became a rehabilitation administrator of a full continuum of programming that included both medical rehabilitation and behavioural health services in California. As a trainer, Ms. MacDonell worked with a California rehabilitation association in assisting both medical and vocational providers to receive educational experiences to enhance service delivery. Immediately prior to coming to CARF in 1991, Ms. MacDonell was the executive director of the California Alliance of Rehabilitation Industries, a state use program in California that ensured work for persons with disabilities through state contracting. Since 1991, Ms. MacDonell has represented CARF at international and national meetings introducing and promoting the concepts of quality oversight and enhancement of human services through the CARF accreditation process.

Susanne Matthiesen, M.B.A.

Susanne Matthiesen is the managing director of aging services at CARF International, which includes CARF-CCAC. She provides leadership to aging services accreditation, including programs such as assisted living; adult day services; continuing care retirement communities; aging services networks; and person-centered, long-term care communities. She brings more than 16 years of professional experience to CARF-CCAC.

Ms. Matthiesen received her M.B.A., focused on long-term care administration, from The George Washington University. Before joining CARF, she worked in consulting on federal government contracts, providing graduate education on long-term care administration in an academic medical center, and developing long-term care education for a professional association.

Zoie B. Nikov, M.S.A., NHA, CASP

Zoie Nikov, business development executive, CARF-CCAC and Aging Services, has worked in the long-term care and senior living services arena since 1993. She is a licensed nursing home administrator and a certified aging services professional. Prior to becoming the business development executive at CARF-CCAC and Aging Services, Ms. Nikov's career included experience in assisted living residences and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). In her last position, she was the chief operating officer for a faith-based CCRC in Pennsylvania. She previously served as resident services director and health services administrator at Falcons Landing, a CARF-CCAC-accredited CCRC in Potomac Falls, Virginia, for 7 years. Ms. Nikov served as a surveyor for CARF-CCAC prior to joining the staff in 2005.

Ms. Nikov holds a Bachelor's Degree of Science in education from George Mason University and a Master's of Science in healthcare administration from Central Michigan University. She has a passion for working in the aging services profession, which is fuelled by the desire to develop, implement, and recognize quality standards for all persons served.

Anita Snell, Ph.D.

Anita Snell, currently working for the Centre for Health Leadership and Research, Royal Roads University, has over 25 years experience in a variety of human service fields. Her interdisciplinary background includes addictions, mental health, midwifery, persons with developmental disabilities, and geriatric care. Her career in government includes managing an accreditation initiative; policy and standard development; and the design and implementation of performance measurement, outcome evaluation, quality improvement, and quality assurance systems. Dr. Snell is a seasoned facilitator, developing and delivering workshops and courses on a variety of topics, including accreditation preparation. She is a CARF surveyor, has a Ph.D. in educational psychology and has a private practice as a psychologist and accreditation consultant.

Daniel B. Stavert, M.S.W., RSW

Daniel Stavert is the chief advisor of accreditation standards for CARF Canada. He is a published author and has held positions in Detroit, Hawaii, and Alberta. He has over 30 years of direct and management experience in the human services field and has worked in a multitude of service deliveries, including hospitals, community services, public/private guardianship, child welfare, foster care, services to persons with disabilities, adoption, addictions, correctional services, legislation, protocol and policy development, and accreditation standards.

Mr. Stavert has had the opportunity to spend many years with the Alberta government to develop and influence legislative changes to ensure that the rights of children and adults are addressed. Through that role, Mr. Stavert became involved with practice standards and accreditation processes. In 2002, he assumed his role with CARF and has focussed his energy on developing standards that incorporate the voice of the individuals served while meeting the needs of the organizations providing services.

More information

Questions? Comments? Please call:

Toll-free (877) 434-5444.

Or send an e-mail message to info@carfcanada.ca

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