Heather Granger Email & Phone Number

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Led revamp of purchase services recreation and social skills groups, music therapy and introduction of new respite and inclusion training program. • LAUNCHED ONLINE INTAKE AND INCLUSION POLICIES: Enhanced online intake, screening processes and development of behaviour protocols in summer camps and year round programs to enhance service quality and staff safety. • REDESIGN OF PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS FAMILY RECREATION NEEDS AND COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS: Enhanced partnerships to provide social and life skill interventions for children/youth reintegrating into recreation after COVID shutdowns; Revamped budget to enable lower ratio programs, respite and supports for complex families

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Manage a team of Intake Social Workers responsible for all referrals received for KidsAbility services as well as the readiness support and enhanced intake program for complex families. • LEADING INTAKE REVAMP PROJECT: deliverables include: single entry point for families, e-referral process and client on-boarding for Behaviour Support Services and Purchased Services • EXPANDING SERVICE NAVIGATION SUPPORTS: identifying service gaps, efficiencies and implementing processes related to enhanced intake services, onsite resource centre, readiness support program, universal resources and parent workshops to address support needs for families accessing KidsAbility services

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Directly supervised a team of 18 Therapists while leading the implementation of a new centre-wide School Years Service delivery model. Team included Occupational Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Physiotherapists and Social Workers who provide rehabilitation therapy across multiple programs including Early Years, School Years, KidsAbility School consultation and Therapeutic Recreation. Project highlights include:• IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SCHOOL YEARS SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL: A tiered service model, comprised of universal resources and workshops, parent coaching clinic model and individualized therapy for children ages 4-21• DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: Working with Youth Engagement Lead and Youth Transition Lead to develop new programming, resources, youth advisory council and transition to adulthood clinic and the development of a new youth mentorship program• UPDATED SERVICE STANDARDS AND PROGRAM STATISTICS: Revamped documentation and data collection to reflect new service models for Therapeutic Recreation and School Years programs• SUPPORTED LAUNCH OF VIRTUAL THERAPY SERVICES THROUGH COVID: Provided coaching, mentoring and supervision for team of therapists during the unexpected transition of moving therapy services to a virtual service delivery model due to COVID restrictions

Guelph, On

-Develop and implement therapeutic recreation programs and resources to assist children with special needs and their families - Initiate and foster recreation partnerships that enhance community capacity to deliver inclusive services, spaces and program- As Profession Lead and Clinical Adviser, promote therapeutic recreation services within KidsAbility and the community, advise on clinical practices and best practices- Supported the development of KidsAbility’s Strategic Plans through participation in the Centre of Excellence Committee, CLASS project, and School Years Carepath initiative Support a team of researchers and professional musicians through the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) to provide a yearly workshop series and Jazz Festival performance for KidsAbility clients and community membersPanel presenter at the IICSI Jazz Festival colloquium (Guelph) and McGill colloquium (Montreal), IICSI poster presentation at OACRS 2017 conferenceAssisted with the development and implementation of the Supporting Kids in Camp (SKIC) project; a community wide program that has lead to enhanced inclusion supports for summer camps and KidsAbility families; presented model at Therapeutic Recreation Ontario/Canadian Therapeutic Recreation Association conferenceCurrent member of OACRS TR workload committee; assisted with developing and presenting TR workload/caseload standards recommendations to OACRS and piloting implementation of standards at KidsAbility

Milton, On

Launched private therapeutic recreation practice serving a variety of community groups throughout Halton and Waterloo Regions. Developed creative dance and yoga programming for a variety of settings including schools, children's rehab centres, municipal recreation departments and daycares. Trained ECE teachers on how to integrate children with special needs into art programs

Post Graduate Diploma, Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Honours English