Compass and the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action

Abstract

The main purpose of the practicum is to identify recommendations for organizational change to decolonize mental health treatment at Compass, an organization providing children’s mental health services in Sudbury, Ontario. Decolonization means to undo the effects of colonialism that currently impact Indigenous people (Schill et al., 2019). The recommendations around decolonization are in reference to the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada) Calls to Action of 2015. The TRC document contains 94 Calls to Action with a main purpose of redressing the injustices done by the Canadian Government and several church denominations through residential schools (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015). My practicum focused on applying Calls to Action 19, 22, and 23 to Compass. Call 19 reflects the need to close health outcome gaps related to suicide, and mental illness. Call 22 calls for the incorporation of Indigenous culture into health care. TRC Calls to Action 23 requires hiring an increased number of Indigenous professionals and increasing cultural education in the workplace for non-Indigenous people (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015). This practicum is to inspire interest in organizational change within the agency, and it has helped to focus Compass’s strategic plan regarding Indigenous services. The resulting effect has been increased Indigenous education activities at Compass. The following practicum thesis will include a review of literature, methods, and activities employed to identify recommendations for Compass to address the TRC Calls to Action for organizational change.