From Clients To Citizens
About Mike Coxon: Mike has been the Executive Director of the Mills Community Support Corporation since 2008. Over the past 30 years, Mike has been a community worker, a civil servant and the executive director of several developmental services organizations. He has served as a board and committee member in both Provincial and regional organizations in the developmental services (DS) and community support services for seniors (CSS) sectors. He has taught in the Developmental Services Worker (DSW) programme at Georgian College in Orillia. Mike started Third Sector Consulting in 1990. Third Sector works with voluntary organizations on board development, strategic planning and organizational change projects.
About "From Clients to Citizens": One of the beliefs that has helped guide me over the past 30 years is that human services are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. The people supported or served are not “our clients’, but rather, citizens, who we as service providers are trying to assist to be included and valued as community members.
My work with the Mills allows me to cross the boundaries of a number of “sectors” in the community services field. It also challenges me to think about human service management and social justice issues. I also try to share my thoughts and resources that I have encountered with friends and colleagues. I’m hoping that this blog will provide a venue to keep on sharing.
Friday, November 18, 2011 - 4:21pm
Our Door is Open – Creating Welcoming Based Cultures in Organizations and Communities
There’s a lot of talk about service systems these days. The people we serve, often labeled as “clients” or...
Friday, November 18, 2011 - 4:20pm
On November 9-10, 2011, the Mills hosted two workshops featuring Bruce Anderson of Community Activators. Here’s a brief overview of these workshops and a few personal reflections.
Hope at Work:...
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 3:04pm
Picketing of People's Homes
Need for Additional Community Supports
People Living in Poverty
DS Sector Sustainability
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 2:58pm
KEY MESSAGES & ASKS
With Respect to ONPHA and the IAH
Community based non‐profit housing:
• Helps tenant populations that the private sector can’t or won’t serve
• Is a sound and efficient...
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 2:57pm
Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) Key Messages
OCSA Home and Community Care:
- Support people in their efforts to stay healthy
-...
Friday, May 6, 2011 - 9:20am
Friday, January 7, 2011 - 2:29pm
In the fall of 2009, I went to a workshop in Ottawa on “Age Friendly Communities”. I guess that I expected to workshop to be about the need for community services for seniors and the...
Friday, January 7, 2011 - 11:44am
When Doug Cartan visited this area in November/December last year, he spoke about “examining the purpose of our work”.
Recently, I read Dave Hingsburger’s excellent blog entry for...
