Advocacy Abstracts
The advocacy committee creates social media content, advocates for the role of occupational therapy in NS, and advocates to reduce systematic barriers that impact our clients. Advocacy is completed through written letters and attending panels/forums to discuss various concerns. Below are abstracts from those topics that the committee has advocated on.
Date: December 3rd, 2020
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Chuck Porter
Advocating for the importance of affordable housing to health and wellness from an occupational lens.
Date: January 17th, 2021
Tim Houston, PC Leader
Advocating for the role of occupational therapy in mental health and addiction services and the need for occupational therapists to be a vital part of mental health and addiction teams moving forward.
Date: February 20th, 2021
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Chuck Porter
Requesting the NSSOT be a consulted stakeholder during the Nova Scotia Housing Commission’s roundtable discussions, focus groups, etc.
Date: February 23rd, 2021
Premier, Iain Rankin
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is, how we could be utilized to improve health care in Nova Scotia, and hopes to work collaboratively with the new leader.
Date: April 6th, 2021
Minister of Health & Wellness, Zach Churchill
The role of occupational therapy in long term care, and advocating for an equitable funding model to increase access to occupational therapists in long term care.
Date: April 22nd, 2021
Minister of Health & Wellness, Zach Churchill
We are requesting that occupational therapists be included as mental health clinicians when creating the Office of Mental Health and Addiction and the new single session therapy service.
Date: June 23rd, 2021
Minister of Health & Wellness, Zach Churchill; Premier, Iain Rankin; PC Health Critic, Karla MacFarlane; NDP Health Critic, Susan LeBlanc; President of NSGEU, Jason Maclean; Senior Director of Mental Health & Addictions, Samantha Hodder; Director of Mental Health- Central Zone, Rachel Boehm; Health Services Manager, Kim Fleming
Concerns regarding the role of occupational therapy changing in Community Mental Health and Addictions teams.
Date: September 27th, 2021
Minister of Health & Wellness, Michelle Thompson
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is, how we could improve health care in Nova Scotia, and hopes to work collaboratively with the new government.
Date: November 1st, 2021
Minister of Health & Wellness, Michelle Thompson; Senior Director of Mental Health and Addictions, Samantha Hodder; Health Services Manager, Patrick Daigle; Director of Mental Health- Central Zone, Rachel Boehm
Requesting an improved understanding of the recent changes to the scope of employment for occupational therapists in Community Mental Health and Addictions teams.
Date: December 19th, 2021
Minister Responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, Brian Comer
Advocating for the role of occupational therapy in addiction services, and how occupational therapists could contribute to the team of the newly formed Addiction Hubs.
Date: June 21st, 2022
Minister Responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, Brian Comer; Premier, Tim Houston; Chief of Mental Health and Addictions, Dr. Samuel Hickcox
Requesting that occupational therapists be added to the list of professions that are consulted and be named as one of the explicitly identified professions eligible to provide psychotherapy services under the proposed Universal Mental Health Care Plan.
Date: September 9th, 2022
Letter provided to a member who provided the same to local MLA and union rep.
Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists in Nova Scotia and other provinces. Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists and other master level health professionals within Nova Scotia. Requesting occupational therapists be paid accordingly based on education.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister Responsible for Youth, Brian Comer
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Minister Responsible for Youth. Meeting Requested.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister of Community Services, Karla McFarlane
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Department of Community Services. Meeting Requested.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister of Justice, Brad Johns
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Department of Justice. Meeting Requested.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Becky Druhan
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Meeting Requested.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, John Lohr
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Meeting Requested.
Date: January 16th, 2023
Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care, Barbara Adams
Introduction letter of what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can contribute to the current priorities of the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care. Meeting Requested.
April 3rd, 2023
President of NSGEU, Sandra Mullen; President of NSGEU Local 100, Laura MacMillan; Executive Director of NSGEU, Shawn Fuller
Following up on non-response from the NSGEU, following concerns raised about the OT/CT distinction in Central Zone Mental Health and Addictions settings. Meeting requested to discuss this issue and the need to prioritize occupational therapists' concerns.
April 13th, 2023
President of NSGEU, Sandra Mullen; President of NSGEU Local 100 Laura MacMillan; President of Unifor Local 4600, Jamie Pollock; President of CUPE 8920, Bev Strachan
Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists in Nova Scotia and other provinces. Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists and other master level health professionals within Nova Scotia. Requesting occupational therapists receive pay equity as part of the upcoming bargaining of Healthcare Collective Agreement.
April 25th, 2023
CEO of Nova Scotia Health, Karen Oldfield
Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists in Nova Scotia and other provinces. Highlighting the pay discrepancy between occupational therapists and other master level health professionals within Nova Scotia. Requesting occupational therapists receive pay equity as part of the upcoming bargaining of Healthcare Collective Agreement.
NSSOT Engagement
April 1st, 2021- NSSOT participated in the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission Stakeholder Workshop
April 6th, 2021- NSSOT participated in the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission Stakeholder Workshop
April 15th, 2021- NSSOT was invited to and participated in the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission Stakeholder Focus Group for the Vulnerable Populations
Oct 5th, 2022- NSSOT provided a virtual information session on the role of occupational therapy within an interdisciplinary team to health professionals and managers in the province
October 11th, 2022- NSSOT participated in an occupational therapy specific engagement session regarding the Office of Addictions and Mental Health plans to provide universal mental health and addictions care in Nova Scotia
November 30th, 2022- NSSOT was invited to the Primary Health Care Partners Table. NSSOT will have ongoing engagement with the Primary Health Care Partners Table and have representation at each meeting.
March 9th, 2023- NSSOT had a collaboration meeting with the Department of Education, specifically the Provincial Autism Consultant, Manager of the Pre Primary Division Provincially, and the Program Planning Specialist from the Student Services Division. NSSOT focused on the current role of occupational therapy in Nova Scotia schools and provided recommendations on how occupational therapists could be more effectively utilized within the school system.
May 2nd, 2023- NSSOT had a collaboration meeting with the Minister of Seniors and Long Term Care, Associate Deputy Tracey Barbrick and Kim Silver, Director of Home and Community Care. The current role of occupational therapy with seniors in Long Term Care and Aging Place was highlighted and we provided recommendations on how occupational therapists could be more effectively utilized within programs/services for seniors.
May 9th, 2023- NSSOT had a follow up meeting with the Department of Education, specifically the Provincial Autism Consultant, the Manager of Early Learning Consulting Services, and the Newcomers, English as an Additional Language and French as an Additional Language Consultant from the Student Services Division; and the Manager of the Pre-Primary Division Provincially. Conversation focused on what stakeholders would benefit from an improved knowledge of occupational therapy services, in order to have occupational therapy services accessed for a larger array of student needs.
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