Family Advisory Council

Who We Are

Formed in 2006, the Family Advisory Council is the voice of families at The Royal, transforming lives through family partnership in care, policy, programs and research. We are family and/or friends supporting loved ones through their mental health journey, either through care from The Royal or elsewhere.

Families are an integral part of the team supporting loved ones’ mental health recovery. Evidence shows that family engagement in care & treatment leads to better outcomes.

The Royal developed a Caregivers Bill of Rights in October 2019.

What We Do

sit on the Board of Trustees and Board Committees
champion the Client and Family Centred Framework
work in partnership on projects with the Client Advisory Council and contribute to The Client Voice newsletter
co-design new strategies, policies, programs, research and evaluations to support mental health across the lifespan and spectrum of client and family needs
sit as advisors on committees for policy and program review, quality improvement, senior hiring appointment, ethics, etc.
research best practice in family engagement to inform organizational change
represent families at events and consultations held by The Royal
organize events to share knowledge and promote best practice to improve the quality of care and experiences for clients and families
act as a liaison with family support/service groups in the community
update the Welcome Families & Friends displays on the units and in outpatient waiting areas where you can find information and resources for families.

How We Work

Have a look at our Terms of Reference to learn more about our role. Lend your voice to provide the family perspective to ensure the highest quality of care for all those served at The Royal. Come to a meeting and join the Family Advisory Council.

How to Get Involved

If you want more information and would like to get involved with the Family Advisory Council, please complete our Application Form or contact the Family Engagement and Experience Coordinator, Juliet Haynes at +1 (613) 755-6521, ext. 7573 or juliet.haynes@theroyal.ca.

Supporting a family member or friend?

Families & friends are part of the team supporting loved ones’ mental health recovery. Evidence shows that family engagement in care & treatment leads to better outcomes.

And to do this well, they need support for themselves. The Family Information and Family Support Programs at The Royal offers a variety of resources to meet family caregivers’ needs for information, education and support through their mental health journey. Not sure what to choose? There is no wrong choice – all of the groups have some overlap and taking a step towards accessing help is a step in the right direction.