Why BUILT Network Works

The BUILT Network started off as an innovative social experiment in the small city of North Bay, Ontario a few short years ago. It has evolved into a highly successfully national program serving the needs of hundreds of people with disabilities each year. Untold thousands of other Canadians who represent families, friends and work associates have also been positively impacted as a result of the success of this initiative each year.
The program continues to grow and evolve with the expansion of the sixth site in Vancouver in May 2006. Plans are also in the process of being formulated for expansion into Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.
Enlightened leaders and executives in the private, public and non-profit sectors in Canada are fully aware that the existing and old models dating back to the last three decades are not working in 2006. The escalating and alarming social, health and economic issues and costs associated with disabilities and mental wellness in the workplace are well documented and are of grave concern to leaders in these sectors from every region of Canada. The BUILT Network represents a new, effective and efficient model which has received wide recognition from all three sectors.
One of the many reasons why this program has been so effective is the fact that, for the first time in Canada sectors have broken out of their respective silos. The BUILT Network has broken down those systemic barriers and has taken a lead role in developing and nurturing meaningful consultation and sustained involvement of all three sectors in the respective communities.
The efficacy of this program has also been driven by a pure motivation to serve the needs of participants and their families. Revenue generation is a secondary consideration and does not represent the driving force behind this model. On the contrary, this program is so successful that provincial and municipal governments are anxiously embracing this initiative and are providing significant financial support. This is consistent with the philosophy of the National Network for Mental Health which has a solid track record over the past 10 years in divesting programs after a period of three years. These programs become self-sustaining within the individual communities.
The program has also been recognized by several prominent Canadian leaders such as the Honourable Michael Wilson, Honourary Chair and Mr. Bill Wilkerson, CEO of the Global Business Economic Roundtable on Mental Health and Addictions. The program and the National Program Director was also formally recognized by the Honourable Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development at a formal ceremony held in Ottawa in 2005. The program was also praised on the floor of the House of Commons for improving the lives of persons with mental health issues in Canada.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/005_2004-10-08/han005_1055-e.htm

All coverage can also be viewed at http://www.builtnetwork.ca/news.htm

The success of this initiative has been recently recognized by the Conference Board of Canada. The National Program Director of the National Network for Mental Health and founder of the BUILT Network has recently been asked to represent the Canadian disability and mental health sector to assist the Board in setting the three year agenda for the new Skills and Productivity Forum to be hosted in Ottawa on May 8/9, 2006. The purpose of the forum is to help other leaders better understand the social and economic benefits of integrating mental health issues and disabilities, into the Canadian workforce.