In November, Rehabilitation Centre for Children (RCC) employees were honoured for their innovative efforts to improve care for youth living with disabilities in Manitoba. The award ceremony highlighted achievements in Quality Improvement, Research and Evidence-Informed Practice and Family-Centred Care.
Family-Centered/Family-Driven Services
Project: Ambulatory Physiotherapy-Led Clinic
Award Recipients: Nicole Carswell & Danielle Klassen
RCC proudly recognizes the exceptional contributions of Nicole Carswell and Danielle Klassen in leading the Ambulatory Physiotherapy Led (APL) Clinic. Launched in April 2023, this innovative clinic provides equitable and specialized care for school-aged children with Cerebral Palsy at GMFCS levels I and II.
The APL Clinic offers comprehensive assessments, including gait analysis, and employs a proactive, holistic approach to treatment. By collaborating with partners like the Manitoba Hip Surveillance Program, Orthopedic Clinic, and community therapists, the clinic ensures timely monitoring of functional impairments and orthopedic concerns while supporting smooth transitions to adult care.
Project: The Jordan’s Principle Facebook Group
Award Recipients: Melissa Campbell
RCC is delighted to acknowledge Melissa Campbell for her leadership in creating and championing the Jordan’s Principle Facebook group, launched in 2021. This initiative fostered connection and provided valuable therapy resources and information to Jordan’s Principle staff, families and caregivers. By engaging RCC therapists from occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech-language pathology, the group offered weekly posts and themed weeks twice a month, delivering meaningful support during a challenging time. Melissa’s dedication has left a legacy in fostering connection and access for families and professionals alike.
Innovation and Responsiveness
Project: Jordan’s Principle Outreach Therapy Housing Group
Award Recipients: Leanne Austin, Pat Kelly, Carmine Lao, Madi Stott, Mallory Trunzo & Stefanie Wiens
We are proud to recognize the transformative work of the Housing Working Group, established in 2021 to address and streamline housing-related requests received by therapists. By conducting a comprehensive survey of Jordan’s Principle occupational therapists, the group identified critical areas of need and developed resources to provide clarity and support.
Notable achievements include the creation of practical tools that have streamlined processes, enhanced advocacy efforts, and clarified referral and assessment workflows. Among these, the OT Housing Referral Algorithm has become an invaluable resource for guiding clinicians and community case managers.
Project: School-Therapy Road Map and Tier 1 Resources
Award recipients: Maricar Alansalon, Amy Cockrell, Raelene Gardiner, Michelle Harder, Elayna Hurtig, Viola Klassen, Joanna Quanbury, Tracy Roberts, Kristin Ryz, Katrina Thompson, Mallory Trunzo & Andrea Worcester
As the demand for school-based therapy services continues to rise, the traditional one-to-one service model has become unsustainable. To address this, RCC school therapists implemented a Tiered Model of Service, focusing on classroom-wide strategies and empowering school teams. A Tier 1 Working Group was formed to create a structured framework for delivering these services, starting with a therapist survey to identify needs and comfort levels with Tier 1 interventions. The group developed a roadmap and a library of evidence-based resources, including fine motor bins, sensory room binders, and presentations on sensory processing, regulation, and neurodiversity. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, Tier 1 interventions were increasingly implemented, providing support to more students, reducing waitlists, and enhancing classroom participation. This transition has improved efficiency and sustainability, benefiting over 300 schools across Manitoba.
Project: Promoting Well-Being in our Schools: Supporting Regulation, Behaviour and Sensory Processing Using a Relationship-Focused and Strength-Based Lens: A Pilot Projecting Providing Education to Frontier School Division Educational Assistants
Award recipients: Maricar Alonsalon, Amy Cockrell, Madi Stott & Pam Becker
The Promoting Well-Being in Our Schools initiative is a trailblazing collaboration between the Outreach Therapy Department and Frontier School Division, addressing key challenges faced by educational assistants in supporting students with complex needs. Through their expertise and dedication, the project delivered comprehensive training to 94 school staff members, enhancing their ability to support student regulation and sensory processing. Early outcomes show remarkable progress, with participants reporting increased confidence and capacity to implement effective strategies. This initiative stands as a model of innovation and capacity building, particularly in rural and remote communities, by prioritizing the professional development of those directly impacting students. We extend our sincere congratulations to these outstanding contributors for their vital role in this transformative project.
Quality Improvement
Project: Assistive Technology’s ISO 13485 Quality Management System
Award Recipients: Reid Mackay & Mary Ragasa
RCC proudly commends Reid Mackay and Mary Ragasa for their exceptional leadership in the ISO 13485 Implementation Project within the Assistive Technology Department. Launched in response to two device recalls, this initiative aims to formalize processes and ensure all assistive technology equipment meets the highest safety and quality standards.
By aligning the department’s operations with the ISO 13485 quality management framework, Reid and Mary have successfully tackled the unique challenges of their specialized work, achieving a crucial balance between clinical effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
Research and Evidence-Informed Practice
Project: Research Department Redevelopment: Five-year milestone
Award Recipients: Stephanie Gibson-Podaima, Elizabeth Hammond, Jane Nguyen, Heather Skelton, Kristy Wittmeier, Barb Borton, Cheryl Susinski
We are proud to celebrate the remarkable progress and achievements of RCC’s Research Department. This high-performing team has accomplished significant milestones, including streamlining the RCC impact review process, embedding consent-to-contact procedures, advancing partnerships with ENRRICH and the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and supporting pivotal research projects such as the DMD pharmaceutical trial. Through clear policies, strong partnerships and a shared vision, the Research Department has not only advanced RCC’s mission but has also created an inspiring model for innovation and collaboration in pediatric rehabilitation research.
Family Centredness & Innovation
Project: Preschool Occupational Therapy Service Pathway (Winnipeg)
Award Recipients: Erin Dojack, Meagan Haluk, Paige Kirby, Lena Kublick, Branigan Le Pla, Jenn Nicdao, Hon Ha O’Donovan, Brittany Slater, Chaye Wild, Erin Gamey & Barb Borton
In April 2024, a new service pathway for preschool occupational therapy was introduced to address challenges such as increasing referral volumes, complexity, and long wait times, which often left children aging out before receiving care. By focusing on early contact with families, group interventions, and goal-directed episodes of care, the pathway aims to reduce wait times and alleviate stress for families. The pathway incorporates online education, virtual and in-person group interventions, and streamlined communication with families and other service providers. Initial results show reduced wait times, faster access to resources, and positive feedback from families and staff.
Project: The Reflection Garden Pilot Project
Award Recipients: Erin Dojack, Ursula Kowalski-Wiebe & Brenlee Perillo
Funded by the Children’s Therapy Network of Manitoba, the Reflection Garden Project aims to provide an evidence-informed regulation program accessible to service providers and families across Manitoba. The program addresses a critical need for equitable and timely support for preschool and school-aged children with regulation challenges. In the program, children participate in three sessions of hands-on sensory play, exploring tools that promote well-being while caregivers practice the skills they’ve learned. Following positive feedback from pilot groups and evaluation interviews, the program is set to expand, with a manual, “train the trainer” initiative, and presentations at various conferences, including RCC’s Pediatric Conference in May 2025.