Risk / Opportunity
Mental health organizations across Ontario were facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges, e.g., health care transformation, system fragmentation and complexity, mental health stigma, and important and varied equity issues. The provincial organization representing many of these community organizations required a new strategic plan to facilitate future success.
Foresight’s Approach
Foresight led an extensive consultation process with staff, external partners, local community mental health organizations, and the board. We challenged them to articulate the difficult choices they were facing and helped them structure their thinking to develop an ambitious, but realistic, strategic plan. Structure and candour were especially important given the complexity of the mental health system and the sensitivity around the issues for which mental health organizations are responsible. Our knowledge of the policymaking process in Ontario complemented internal expertise.
Outcome
The board approved a one-page strategic plan that captured the most important strategic choices, no small task given the complexity of the community mental health sector. In addition to receiving board approval, the plan earned enthusiastic support from staff and local organizations, and work plans were adapted to align with the new strategic direction.