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November 26th, 2012
Homewood Human Solutions Goes Completely Mobile!
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Toronto, ON, November 26, 2012 — There’s a new app in town that makes accessing a complete range of health and wellness services as easy as touching a screen. 

Homewood Human Solutions, a recognized industry leader in organizational health, employee wellness programs and Employee and Family Assistance Programs, announced today the release of the industry’s most comprehensive app — e-AP. 

“Our clients have told us that they’re struggling with the increasing demands of work and home and need our services — but they’re often too busy to access them,” says Craig Thompson, CEO for Homewood Human Solutions. “e-AP is designed for mobile searching for health information to help make people’s lives a little less stressful. They can browse our library while on the bus home or quickly request face-to-face services while waiting for their lunch order.”

What Thompson is hearing from customers is reflected in a new study by Linda Duxbury of Carleton University and Christopher Higgins of the University of Western Ontario. The 2012National Study on Balancing Work and Caregiving in Canada found that almost two-thirds of Canadians are working more than 45 hours a week — 50 percent more than two decades ago. Work weeks are becoming more rigid, with flex-time arrangements dropping by a third in the past 10 years. So it’s not surprising that about 60 percent of people are using the convenience of the Internet to get their healthcare information.

“Persistently high levels of stress among such a large segment of the workforce is problematic for both employers and our healthcare system,” continues Thompson. “Increased stress means more mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These already cost employers about $20 billion annually and account for three-quarters of short-term disability claims in Canada. Our new app is one approach to help alleviate this challenge.” e-AP includes the following key features:

    1. An extensive collection of streaming videos and podcasts, specifically created for e-AP on such subjects as relaxation and reducing tension, visualization, caregiving and work-life balance, building self-confidence, working after retirement, anger management, and addiction.
    2. Expert written articles on parenting, nutrition, physical and emotional wellbeing, legal and financial issues, retirement, workplace issues, as well as information for people leaders.
    3. Interactive tools that help with decision-making for physical, mental and lifestyle improvement goals including quizzes, checklists, and action planners. (e.g. parenting skills assessment, nutrition quiz, childcare checklist and anxiety self-assessment).
    4. Mobile requests to access counselling, and pathways to Assistance Program e-services (e.g. e-Courses, health improvement planning tools, child and eldercare locators).
    5. Detailed Assistance Program information to help with workplace planning and decision-making.
    6. Mobile integration of social media sites with direct links to Homewood Human Solutions’ Healthy Workplaces blog, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

      Making the app even more attractive is that it offers bilingual access. A single download automatically displays the user's preferred language (English or French). Accessing health and wellness has never been easier!

      e-AP is free, and compatible with the latest release of iPhones and iPads. It is available on ITunes, Google Play™ (formerly the Android™ marketplace), and via the Homewood Human Solutions’ website.



August 31st, 2012
Homewood Human Solutions Releases Action Plan to Support 2012 Mental Health Strategy For Canada
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August 31st, 2012, TORONTO. Now available to business leaders — ‘Resilience, Respect, and Mental Health Knowledge’ — a workplace mental health tool kit with suggested action plans and services for organizations adopting the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s 2012 Mental Health Strategy. Organizations can choose from a number of mental-health-related tools and resources, and form a collection that will help them develop their own customized workplace mental health strategy. Each option focuses on education, training and awareness around mental illnesses, and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness.

“Research states that between one fifth and one quarter of us will experience a mental health illness in the course of our adult lives,” says Judith Plotkin, vice president strategic growth, Homewood Human SolutionsTM. “As supporters of the 2012 Mental Health Strategy for Canada and its objectives, we encourage organizations to develop their own mental health action plan. This means providing training programs that enable peers and people leaders to be effective mental health resources, providing tools and resources that improve resilience, fostering respect, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness.

The release of ‘Resilience, Respect, and Mental Health Knowledge’ will assist organizations with their wellness goals, give them a multitude of options, and is one more way that Homewood Human SolutionsTM is continuing to change the face of Employee and Family Assistance Programs, and workplace mental health services.”



May 14, 2012
Appointment of Dr. Ann Malain to Vice President, Client Services
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Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 2012 — Furthering the company's commitment to supporting healthy workplaces and the mental health needs of employees, Homewood Human Solutions is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ann Malain to Vice-President Client Services. The announcement was made today by Craig Thompson, CEO. 

Dr. Malain will be responsible for leading Homewood Human Solutions' national clinical service delivery, and clinical network. She will oversee service delivery in three primary divisions: Employee Assistance and Family Program (EFAP) services and Crisis Management Services (CMS); Organizational Wellness services; and Employee Health Assessment Services. She will also lend clinical expertise to the development of employer mental health strategies designed to increase employee performance and reduce absenteeism. 

Dr. Malain is a registered psychologist with more than 20 years experience in EAP, community mental health, psychological assessment, and substance abuse treatment. She holds a doctoral degree from the University of Washington. Her areas of expertise include clinical diagnosis, dual mental health/substance abuse assessment and treatment, and clinical supervision. She also has extensive experience with depression, anxiety and the treatment of trauma.

Most recently, Dr. Malain was Practice Lead, Psychological Assessment and Treatment Services with Homewood Human Solutions. Prior to this, she directed a university EAP, served as clinical director of a community mental health agency, and directed a domestic violence perpetrator treatment program. Her experience also includes developing substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment programs within university and community mental health settings. In addition to teaching graduate courses on psychodiagnostics and clinical interviewing at several universities, she has also provided expert witness testimony in legal proceedings and organizational consulting services to a number of organizations. Dr. Malain is a leader in the field of workplace psychology and provides training at regional and national conferences across North America. 


February 23, 2012
Homewood Human Solutions TM Launches Health and Wellness Social Media Program
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Using social media to meet the informational wellness needs of a mobile generation

Toronto, ON, February 23, 2012 – Homewood Human Solutions™, an industry leader and pioneer in mental health and addictions, organizational health, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs, is now pioneering the use of social media to provide Canadians with expert and meaningful health and wellness information. This initiative includes a new blogging website – http://www.healthyworkplaces.info – packed with posts and opinions by medical and organizational health experts.

“Fifty-nine percent of adults now use the Internet for health information,” says Craig Thompson, CEO for Homewood Human Solutions. “While there is a great deal of useful health and wellness information on the Internet, there is also a lot of inaccurate, biased and misleading data and opinions as well. It’s often difficult to know where to go for expert opinions and accurate facts.”

Research finds that 68 percent of Canadian adults use a general search engine such as Google to research health and wellness topics. While that may not be so surprising, what is surprising is that they found the second most popular search engine after Google is YouTube.

“Social media sites – YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs—are rapidly replacing traditional sites for accessing health-related information,” says Judith Plotkin, Vice President, Strategic Growth for Homewood Human Solutions. “Research shows that 34 percent of people searching for health-related information use social media. This figure is much higher with younger adults – the 18 to 24 demographic. We decided it was time to provide all ages with up-to-date health and wellness information via these social networking platforms.”

Over the past few months, Homewood Human SolutionsTMhas been developing and mounting a comprehensive social network presence and today they are actively Twittering, posting on their Facebook page, initiating discussions via their LinkedIn group, and uploading YouTube videos. From the latest breaking health news to pertinent opinions, from information on national conferences to articles from around the world, from sharing research materials and business cases to voicing opinions, Homewood Human Solutions’ social networking project is gaining in popularity as more and more people and organizations discover their activities.

However, Homewood Human SolutionsTM has not forgotten employers who continue to create healthy workplace cultures where both employees and the organization can thrive – not an easy task in challenging economic times. The Healthy Workplace website is unique in the Employee and Family Assistance Program industry, containing daily posts about mental health and addiction, organizational and employee health and wellbeing, and disability management. The site also contains blogs by medical and industry experts responding to issues affecting the workplace as well as resources and invitations to free webinars on a wide range of topics. Users can even choose to receive daily site updates via their email.

“It is about convenience and ease of use,” adds Plotkin. “A growing number of people are accessing online information from their smartphones so the site has been designed with that in mind. We have optimized web content to make mobile searches simple which is important considering the fact that in just three years there will be 78 million mobile only Internet users globally!”

While the site is of benefit to anyone seeking accurate and timely health information and resources, it has been created primarily to benefit people leaders, human resources professionals and others working in the occupational and organizational health fields. Currently, healthyworkplaces.info contains dozens of posts, blogs, resources and surveys, but soon the site will be fully interactive and people can share information and participate in ongoing discussions on emerging workplace health issues. It will be a true social media platform providing fully interactive experiences.

Homewood Human Solutions’ online community is located at:

www.healthyworkplaces.info
www.linkedin.com/company/homewood-human-solutions
twitter.com
www.facebook.com/HomewoodHumanSolutions

Homewood Human Solutions™ is a leader in mental health strategies for the workplace and provides Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAPs / EAPs), workplace interventions, health promotions, psychological assessments and disability management services. The Company serves over 1,600 organizational clients across Canada and supports over one million employees in managing their health and wellbeing.

For further information contact:
Laura Macdonald, Director of Marketing Homewood Human Solutions TM
lmacdonald@homewoodhumansolutions.com
1.866.850.5824 ext. 5215



December 22, 2011
New President and CEO at Homewood Health Centre
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GUELPH, ON, Dec. 22, 2011 - James Schlegel, President and CEO of Schlegel Health Care, and interim CEO of Homewood Health Centre, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jagoda Pike as President and CEO of Homewood Health Centre.

Ms Pike brings significant experience in Ontario health care including serving on the Board of Hamilton Health Sciences and recently was elected as the inaugural Chair of the Board for the newly merged Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. She also serves on the Board of Governors of McMaster University.

Ms Pike has over 25 years of senior executive leadership experience. She spent 22 years at Torstar Corporation in a variety of positions including General Manager, Vice President Operations, Vice President Human Resources, Publisher of the Hamilton Spectator and ultimately President, Star Media Group and Publisher of the Toronto Star. Most recently, she was the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Bid Corporation.

Trained as a lawyer, Ms Pike was called to the bar in 1986. She also studied economics at the University of Toronto, Trinity College. She was named to 'Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award' in 2007, and was named one of the most influential women in sport by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport in 2009.

Mr. Schlegel said that in all of these roles she has provided dynamic, highly capable and inspiring leadership. She has also learned how to manage complex organizations with diverse stakeholder interests, a significant external profile and a mission which includes a broader public purpose.

"Jagoda is interested in and committed to making a positive difference in the world", said Mr. Schlegel. "I am pleased that she will deploy her considerable experience and talent in leading Homewood to make a positive difference in the mental health and addictions field. We will need world class leadership to achieve this goal and I believe Jagoda brings such leadership to our team."

"I am thrilled to be joining such a respected organization. Homewood has a reputation for excellent programs and patient outcomes. I look forward to working with everyone at Homewood and our many stakeholders to build on that great record of achievement."

Homewood Health Centre is Canada's leader in mental health and addiction treatment providing highly specialized psychiatric services to all Canadians. Located in Guelph, Ontario, Homewood has improved lives since 1883. Unique in Canadian health care, Homewood is fully accredited and a recipient of numerous national awards, and serves as a provincial and national resource.

For further information:
Ric Ament
Director, Marketing and Communications
Homewood Health Centre
519.824.1010, ext. 2459
amenric@homewood.org



July 20, 2011
In Lanaudière, an Employee Assistance Program will provide support to workers in the health and social services network starting January 2012.
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July 20, 2011 – Montreal – Homewood Human Solutions and the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Lanaudière have signed a three-year agreement for the provision of psychological and family support to 9,500 employees of six institutions in the region. Homewood will implement the employee assistance program (EAP), which includes health promotion, mental health and addiction disorder treatment, and prevention-oriented work-life balance services.

The Agence, CSSS du Nord de Lanaudière, CSSS du Sud de Lanaudière, Centre de réadaptation Le Bouclier, Centres jeunesse and CHSLD de la Côte Boisée have joined forces to promote a workplace that fosters the development and maintenance of harmonious human relations. “We care about our employees’ wellbeing and that is why we want to provide complete, high-quality support services to employees who are dealing with personal or work-related issues,” said Gilles Ruel, Human Resources Director for the Agence.

Every year, 10 to 15% of employees working in Quebec’s health and social services network experience difficulties. “The employee and family assistance program is the first line of support and referral to obtain immediate help,” said Jacques Sauvageau, Homewood Vice-President and General Manager, Quebec.

The employee assistance program includes access to a direct line 24/7. Homewood counsellors guide the employees to psychologists or specialized resources that can help them with their personal or work-related issues. Health information and promotion services are available online, allowing employees to obtain information on a wide range of subjects. Working with the institutions, Homewood will provide all promotional materials and will encourage the employees to use the EAP services through activities, talks, video capsules and articles in the internal newsletter.

About Homewood Human Solutions™

Founded in 1979, Homewood Human Solutions is an acclaimed Canadian company specializing in the delivery of employee and family assistance programs (EFAP). The company, which had a turnover of over $32 million in 2010, supports more than 1.2 million workers in Canada, including 200,000 in Quebec. Homewood delivers its services through a network of 2,500 professionals across the country. Every year, Homewood assists over 70,000 persons, including close to 1,000 in crisis.

For further information:

Denis Arbour
514-875-8882 or 1-877-632-3164, ext. 6226
darbour@homewoodsolutionshumaines.com



July 19, 2010
Human Solutions™ and Homewood - two quality industry leaders coming together.
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July 19, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Homewood Corporation Acquires Leading EAP Provider Human Solutions™

Guelph, Ontario – Homewood Corporation today announced it has acquired Human Solutions International Inc., based in Vancouver, one of Canada’s leading providers of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

Human Solutions™ has 250 staff and more than 1,200 corporate clients in Canada. It will be carefully integrated with Homewood Employee Health, an EAP provider wholly owned by Homewood, to form a new business named Homewood Human Solutions. Craig Thompson, Senior Vice-President of Strategic Growth for Human Solutions™, has been appointed as chief executive officer of the new organization.

Homewood Corporation is a national leader in mental health and addiction treatment, employee assistance programs, mental health disability treatment, and senior care.

“The addition of Human Solutions™ is a major step in further establishing Homewood as a leading provider of Employee Assistance and Disability Treatment services," said Edgardo Pérez, MD, Homewood’s Chief Executive Officer and President. “The acquisition of Human Solutions™ will provide Homewood with a broadened client base, expanded product lines and services, and a larger network of professionals for out-patient and after-care services. It will add significantly to our capabilities in disability treatment and increase Homewood’s national presence for the mental health and addiction treatment services we provide to the employees of our corporate clients.”

Human Solutions™ will continue to operate offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. The Guelph and London offices of Homewood Employee Health will continue to operate as regional centres. Guelph will continue to be the administrative office for Homewood’s Disability Treatment Program (HDTP), a service that addresses mental health and addiction issues, including intensive in-patient and out-patient solutions, with a focus on return to work.

“Our two organizations are extremely compatible. As well as having complementary services and regional strengths, we share a common vision, and a commitment to quality and to improving the lives of the people who use our services,” said Mr. Thompson. “We both operate according to evidence-based practices and research, and we share a common focus - the prevention, assessment and treatment of individuals with mental health and addiction issues.”

Integration of Human Solutions™ and Homewood’s employee health company will be achieved gradually with the companies continuing to operate as separate entities for the remainder of the current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2011. As part of the transition, Dr. Robert Wilson, CEO of Human Solutions™, and Fran Pilon, CEO of Homewood Employee Health, are retiring. Both have been outstanding leaders in the industry for decades and built the foundation for what will become Homewood Human Solutions.

“We believe the joining of these two companies offers many advantages to our existing clients,” said Dr. Perez. “We can combine the best practices of both organizations, bringing a unique approach to employee assistance programs and disability services. In addition, Human Solutions™ operates a disability service which will complement HDTP. We will be able to offer an unmatched continuum of services - spanning workplace health, addictions, treatment and prevention - with the highest level of clinical expertise available within our industry.”


About Homewood Corporation

Homewood Corporation is a healthcare organization focused on improving individual quality of life. Through its operating companies, it provides a continuum of care ranging from mental health and addiction disorder treatment through individual and employer programs as well as quality care for seniors to suit their needs. Homewood shares trade over-the-counter with trades reported on the Canadian Unlisted Board.

For more information, contact:

Ric Ament, Director, Marketing and Communications
Homewood Corporation
Telephone: 1.519.824.1010, ext. 2459
Email: amenric@homewood.org

Laura Macdonald, Director of Marketing
Human Solutions™
Telephone: 1.416.964.1875, ext.5215
Email: lmacdonald@humansolutions.ca



March 24, 2010
Human Solutions™ 2010 Annual Report - Taking a Stronger Stance for Accommodating Workers with Mental Disorders
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Vancouver, BC: Mental disability is the fastest growing health-related disability in Canada… and has claimed this title for over 20 years. It is clear from a variety of research sources, insurer data, and business reports that disability due to mental disorders is a serious concern for business, insurers, and government.

Human Solutions™’ 2010 Annual Report titled: Able Minded: Return to work and Accommodations for Workers on Disability Leave for Mental Disorders addresses this concern. “We commissioned this report for our customers and key stakeholders in an effort to bring the most current and empirically validated perspectives to this very important issue. It is our hope that by illuminating the many advances in this area, we can help employers be more proactive and/or respond effectively when the need arises,” says Craig Thompson, Human Solutions™’ Senior Vice President Strategic Growth.

The business-focused report translates research and survey results into proactive steps that employers and leaders can take to accommodate mental disability in the workplace, including:

  • A discussion of the most common accommodations for mental disability.
  • Key components of successful Return to Work (RTW) initiatives as they pertain to mental disability.
  • Employer benchmarking and innovative practices of RTW accommodations in Canadian business.

A few of the key findings from the report include the following:

  • Employers have legal responsibilities to employees relating to mental health disabilities. In fact, there has been a 700% increase in the number of court-awarded settlements due to mental injury in the workplace since 2004 in Canada.1
  • There remains significant debate about the role of working while in recovery from mental health-related disability and the use of early to return work practices as a therapeutic strategy. This is an area that requires more research.
  • Reducing stigma and promoting accurate understanding of mental health disorders is a key component of successful Return to Work initiatives.
  • Despite progress by some employers, employer benchmarking studies reveal that most organizations are not yet embracing mental health prevention and Return to Work accommodation best practices for mental health disability. However, there is progress being made at some organizations and signs of hope as many positive steps are being taken at national levels.

“ Our report takes a strong and supportive stance for accommodating mental disorders, and ensuring appropriate actions are taken to support workers suffering from mental disorders,” Mr. Thompson said. “In the end, it is important to keep the focus on the person – not the disability. Workplace accommodation is about increasing the ability of a person suffering from a mental disorder to get back to work and contribute again to the workplace and to the community.”
Human Solutions™ is a leading Canadian provider of employee, workplace, and organization health solutions that has been serving organizations for more than three decades.
For additional information on this report or our services, please contact us at 1.888.689.8604 or busdev@humansolutions.ca

1 Shain, M. (2009). Stress at work, mental injury and the law in Canada: A discussion paper for the Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, AB: Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Jean Gosselin
Vice President, Business Development
Human Solutions ™



June 28, 2007
Human Solutions™ Growing in Ottawa - appoints Director of Business Development
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Jean Gosselin, V.P. Business Development for Human Solutions™ announced today the appointment of Stephen Kennedy as Director of Business Development, National Capital Region. Mr. Kennedy will be responsible for the generation and marketing of new business across all product lines, including Employee, Organization, and Workplace solutions. Stephen will also provide his expertise in the ongoing delivery of service and consultation to organizations in the Ottawa area.

Mr. Kennedy has a long and distinguished history in the EFAP in Canada. A recognized industry expert, he has an extensive background and formal training in trauma response and crisis intervention work. Mr. Kennedy has held senior positions in clinical delivery and organizational development. Many of Canada’s largest employers have trusted him to manage trying and traumatic workplace situations, and help develop healthier and stronger organizations.

“Human Solutions™ is rapidly expanding in the Ottawa area,” said Mr. Gosselin. “Stephen brings invaluable national and international expertise and skills to our organization. We are excited to have him join our team, grow our business, and serve our local accounts.”

Mr. Kennedy has a Masters in Counselling Psychology from the University of Ottawa. He is a part-time firefighter and certified emergency responder who has worked around the world with international NGO's, providing trauma and disaster recovery. Stephen also works with a volunteer agency that distributes medical supplies to countries in Africa.

"Human Solutions™ is a perfect fit,” said Mr. Kennedy. "I will be able to provide both account service and organizational consultation, which is a unique opportunity for me. I was drawn by their reputation for high quality service. I’m excited about the potential to grow the team in the National Capital Region”

About Human Solutions™

Human Solutions™ is a leading provider of Employee & Family Assistance Programs and WorkHealth™ productivity and performance services. Human Solutions™ is a Canadian firm serving both domestic and international clients. Founded in 1979, it has established an active network of more than 2,000 psychologists, and mental health and organization health professionals.

For more information, please visit www.humansolutions.ca, visit our new Ottawa location at 55 Metcalfe Street, Suite 450 (K1P 6L5) or contact:

Jean Gosselin
Vice President, Business Development
Human Solutions ™



May 25, 2007
Human Solutions™ acquires Baylis & Associates
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Human Solutions™ announced today that it has acquired the Ontario based, national EFAP service provider Baylis & Associates.

In keeping with previous acquisitions, Human Solutions™ (Human Solutions™) will leave the Baylis & Associates senior management team intact and leverage their talents to unfold the rapidly expanding Human Solutions™ service offerings.

Human Solutions™ provides organizational health and EFAP services to clients across Canada and the US. Today’s announcement adds depth to the Human Solutions™ program in Ontario by expanding its client base and tapping the EFAP expertise of Shaun Baylis, who founded Baylis & Associates in 1985, and his team.

“The Canadian marketplace views Human Solutions™ as the better Organizational Health and Productivity service provider alternative. Our growth has come through engaging true innovators in this industry and welcoming them to a team dedicated to superior client service. Baylis & Associates have a tremendous record in both client service and program development. They are a natural fit for Human Solutions™ and we are certain their contributions will lead to increased value for our clients,” said Human Solutions CEO Bob Wilson.

“I’ve been admiring Human Solutions’s steady expansion from its western base to a truly national alternative. Their Human Solutions™ model is an approach my company can easily embrace. Today’s announcement is good for us, it’s good for our clients, and it’s good for companies looking for meaningful answers to their EFAP and organizational health concerns,” said Baylis & Associates President Shaun Baylis.

The Human Solutions™ network includes over 1500 mental health and organizational health professionals serving more than 1200 Canadian and international corporate customers.

Jean Gosselin
Vice President, Business Development
Human Solutions ™

Robert Wilson, PhD
CEO
Human Solutions™