OMSSA
This webpage highlights the work I have done with the Ontario Municipal Social Services Association from 2021 to the present.
The Ontario Municipal Social Services Association (OMSSA) is a not-for-profit membership association representing the 47 System Service Managers across Ontario who deliver critical services such as EarlyON and child care, housing and homelessness, income and employment.
In my role as Communications and Member Engagement Manager, I lead and manage the development and execution of OMSSA’s communications to a membership of 47 System Service Managers across Ontario. My role focuses on supporting all areas of the Association as it relates to member and sector engagement, including promoting OMSSA programs and initiatives to increase awareness, access, and participation in OMSSA and its services, and enhancing the Association’s reputation.
Some of my significant projects include launching OMSSA’s Knowledge Exchange Blog and RFP Board, develop and launch an advertising and sponsorship program, manage and build the Job Board into a value-added service for members and manage annual membership renewal process
On this page you will find portfolio items relating to conference and forum promotion, member newsletters, annual reports and content creation.
Conference and Forum Promotion
OMSSA hosts two in-person and one virtual event each year. The largest Conference OMSSA holds is the Exchange Conference which is geared to front-line staff and focuses on sharing best practices and information. In late-November, early-December, OMSSA hosts its Policy Conference geared to senior managers and focuses on policy issues and topics that will come up in the year ahead. In between these two conferences is a virtual Forum that is held in September or October and is theme/topic-based.
- 2022 Policy Conference
- 2022 Forum
- 2022 Exchange Conference
- 2021 Policy Conference
- 2021 Defining Pathways to Reconciliation Forum
- Conference & Forum Archives webpage (going back to 2018 – not a complete listing of events as some have been lost over time)
Member Newsletters
OPPI’s main member newsletter is called The Planner. Please see below a selection of newsletters issued before and during the COVID pandemic. These newsletters would be sent to a membership of approx. 4,600 people, including full-time members, candidate and retired members, sister organizations and student members. The newsletters issued during the pandemic consolidated several newsletters into one convenient source for members to access.
- Announcing OMSSA’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors
- OMSSA Today: September 8, 2022
- OMSSA Today: July 14, 2022
- OMSSA Today: February 24, 2022
- Job Board: September 7, 2022
- Professional Development – September 6, 2022
- RFP Board: July 2022
- Submit Your Nomination for OMSSA’s 2022 Awards
- Congratulations to OMSSA’s 2021 Awards Recipients
Annual Reports
I manage the development of OMSSA’s Annual Report. Here are the reports I’ve written and published in my time at OMSSA:
- 2021 Annual Report
- 2020 Annual Report (please note: as part of my transition, my predecessor laid out the report)
Content Creation
Knowledge Exchange Blog
As part of OMSSA’s promotion of our Award recipients, I interview them on their work and its connection to the social services sectors, and publish these on our Knowledge Exchange Blog. Here are the published interviews to date: