The Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) is the evidenced-based, standardized assessment for the community mental health sector. OCAN promotes a consumer/client driven approach with the inclusion of a self-assessment. The tool supports conversations with consumers about their strengths, needs, and actions to address their unmet needs.
The OCAN Community of Interest (CoI) is co-led by Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin and Ontario Health with the support of EENet.
Objectives | Goals | Working Group | Lead Organizations | Leads
CoI Objectives
The OCAN CoI's objectives are as follows:
- Provide a forum for sharing OCAN-related information.
- Share recovery-oriented practices using OCAN that enhances a consumer-centred approach.
- Share challenges and strategies related to OCAN use.
- Share approaches to using OCAN data for quality improvement planning at various levels.
- Engage with users of other standardized tools to identify common challenges and strategies and work towards a more streamlined and integrated system.
- Engage new members in the COI working group to broaden the stakeholder base.
Knowledge Mobilization Goals for 2024-2025
The OCAN CoI's knowledge mobilization goals are the following:
- Provide a forum for sharing OCAN related information, including challenges and potential strategies for OCAN completion and utilization
- Share recovery-oriented practices using OCAN that enhance a person-centred approach
- Share approaches to using OCAN data for quality improvement planning at various levels
CoI Working Group
The OCAN Community of Interest Working Group meets monthly to provide leadership and support as it accomplishes its goals and objectives. This working group has approximately 17 members and includes representatives from the following stakeholder groups:
- Persons with lived experience
- Community-based organizations
- Hospital organizations
- Researchers
- Government of Ontario representatives
Through the years, the OCAN Community of Interest has engaged in the following activities and developed the following resources:
- A 3-hour interactive virtual refresher training for OCAN trainers and/or staff completing OCANs
- A 2-hour interactive virtual training for OCAN trainers and/or managers-directors on how to use OCAN content to support quality care
- A two-hour “ask the expert” event allowed members of the online space on EENet Connect to have their questions about the OCAN answered by OCAN experts in real-time.
- A resource on how to harness OCAN data for quality improvement
- A resource on how to use OCAN in day-to-day work with clients
Stakeholders who may be interested in participating in the activities of the CoI include:
- Persons with lived experience
- Mental health and addiction service providers, including peer support workers
- Ministry of Health representatives and Ontario Health representatives, including the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of ExcellencePeerWorks members
- Scientists analyzing OCAN data to better understand the characteristics and needs of client/consumer populations using community mental health services
- Connex Ontario representatives (their information on organizations is built into the OCAN tool)
- Other networks interested in OCAN use and OCAN data.
CoI Lead Organizations
CoI Leads
Annalisa Rasmussen
Program Manager
Bramalea Multi-Disciplinary Team
Canadian Mental Health Association, Peel Dufferin
RasmussenA@cmhapeel.ca
Jennifer Berger
Clinical Assessment Education Specialist
Ontario Health
Jennifer.berger@ontariohealth.ca
Related resources, news, and events
Webinar recording: OCAN refresher training: 3-hour interactive webinar for OCAN trainers and/or staff completing OCANs
Resource | Mar 1, 2024Webinar recording: Using OCAN content to support quality care: 2-hour interactive webinar for OCAN trainers and/or managers-directors
Resource | Feb 9, 2024Join the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) Community of Interest Working Group
News | Oct 2, 2023QI in Action: Bridging the Gap - Harnessing OCAN data for quality improvement
Resource | Sept 18, 2023Experience Exchange: Using OCAN in day-to-day work with clients at CMHA Niagara
Resource | Aug 10, 2023Webinar series: Virtual training series for OCAN leads, trainers and coaches
Resource | Jun 7, 2023Experience Exchange: OCAN Blended training at CMHA Peel Dufferin
Resource | Jan 25, 2023Webinar Recording: Training activities to enhance the quality of OCANs - part 1 of 2 part series
Resource | Oct 31, 2022Train the trainer webinar series: Strategies to enhance the quality and practical use of OCAN
Event | Sept 12, 2022Experience Exchange: Using the Ontario Common Assessment of Need to support client care in York Region
Resource | May 9, 2022Webinar recording: A blended approach to OCAN training for new and existing staff
Resource | Mar 21, 2022Webinar recording: Using the Ontario Common Assessment of Need tool during and after COVID-19
Resource | Nov 25, 2021Webinar: Using the Ontario Common Assessment of Need tool during and after COVID-19
Event | Nov 8, 2021Ask the experts: OCAN JAM
Event | Sept 30, 2021Promising Practice: Using a recovery approach to completing the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN)
Resource | Mar 9, 2021Experience exchange: Using the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) during COVID-19
Resource | Mar 8, 2021Using standardized tools to improve services: World Café highlights and themes
Resource | Mar 3, 2021Promising Practice: OCAN quality improvement network
Resource | Oct 16, 2020FAQs: Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) & COVID-19
Resource | Jul 29, 2020Webinar recording: Use of recovery model to support staff & client engagement & use of OCAN data to support system planning & improvement
Resource | Jun 11, 2020Webinar recording: Using the OCAN in quality improvement and an overview of the interRAI Child and Youth suite of assessment instruments
Resource | May 29, 2020The Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN) and recovery oriented practice
Resource | Jun 12, 2018How are agencies around Ontario using the Ontario Common Assessment of Need (OCAN)?
Resource | May 11, 2016