Leggat, Mucha take top St.Amant jobs

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This article was published 08/08/2012 (5035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new leadership duo at St.Amant wants to continue developing the organization’s services and its connection to the community.

John Leggat recently took the reins as St.Amant’s new president and CEO, replacing the retiring Dr. Carl Stephens. His previous position was acting assistant deputy minister for Child and Family Services and Labour for the province.

Juliette Mucha is the new director of St.Amant Foundation. Most recently, she was the acting director in that role and previously spent two years in a fund development position at St.Amant.

St.Amant, a non-profit located at 440 River Rd. in St. Vital, is a resource for Manitobans with developmental disabilities, including autism.

“I’m here because I think St.Amant is a leader,” said Leggat, who lives in Linden Woods. “St.Amant has gone down the road of providing services as new needs have been identified in the community.”

The organization offers a range of programs and services for both children and adults and their families, including an in-house residence (approximately 200 individuals live on-site), a research centre, a school and a community child care facility, Leggat said.

It also operates more than 50 community homes with support staff across the province. Many are located in south Winnipeg, but there are also residences in the North End, Charleswood and rural Manitoba.

 St.Amant is funded on a program-by-program basis primarily by Family Services and Consumer Affairs and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Leggat added.

More than 10% of the organization’s annual operating budget is spent on autism-related supports, including ABA (advanced behavioural analysis) programming.

Leggat said his new role is a “big job” that will present some challenges.

“We can always strive to do better, as there are unmet needs out there. How many homes will we open? How do we continue to meet our core values? As we grow, we need to pay attention to the services we’re providing.”

Leggat noted a research partnership with the University of Manitoba helps the organization evaluate its programming through a “quality assurance lens.”

Mucha, whose main function will be to help raise funds for the foundation, also hopes to crystallize the role of St.Amant in the eyes of the community.

“I find people often know our name, which has a positive association, but don’t always know what we do,” said Mucha, who lives in Windsor Park, noting the St.Amant Free the Spirit Festival will be held on Sept. 29.

For more information, visit www.stamant.mb.ca.

 

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com