Homewood announces acquisition of Human Solutions

Homewood Corporation today announced it has acquired Human Solutions International Inc., based in Vancouver, one of Canada's leading providers of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

Human Solutions(TM) has 250 staff and more than 1,200 corporate clients in Canada. It will be carefully integrated with Homewood Employee Health, an EAP provider wholly owned by Homewood, to form a new business named Homewood Human Solutions. Craig Thompson, Senior Vice-President of Strategic Growth for Human Solutions(TM), has been appointed as chief executive officer of the new organization.

Homewood Corporation is a national leader in mental health and addiction treatment, employee assistance programs, mental health disability treatment, and senior care.

"The addition of Human Solutions(TM) is a major step in further establishing Homewood as a leading provider of Employee Assistance and Disability Treatment services," said Edgardo Pérez, MD, Homewood's Chief Executive Officer and President. "The acquisition of Human Solutions(TM) will provide Homewood with a broadened client base, expanded product lines and services, and a larger network of professionals for out-patient and after-care services. It will add significantly to our capabilities in disability treatment and increase Homewood's national presence for the mental health and addiction treatment services we provide to the employees of our corporate clients."

Human Solutions(TM) will continue to operate offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. The Guelph and London offices of Homewood Employee Health will continue to operate as regional centres. Guelph will continue to be the administrative office for Homewood's Disability Treatment Program (HDTP), a service that addresses mental health and addiction issues, including intensive in-patient and out-patient solutions, with a focus on return to work.

"Our two organizations are extremely compatible. As well as having complementary services and regional strengths, we share a common vision, and a commitment to quality and to improving the lives of the people who use our services," said Mr. Thompson. "We both operate according to evidence-based practices and research, and we share a common focus - the prevention, assessment and treatment of individuals with mental health and addiction issues."

Integration of Human Solutions(TM) and Homewood's employee health company will be achieved gradually with the companies continuing to operate as separate entities for the remainder of the current fiscal year, ending March 31, 2011. As part of the transition, Dr. Robert Wilson, CEO of Human Solutions(TM), and Fran Pilon, CEO of Homewood Employee Health, are retiring. Both have been outstanding leaders in the industry for decades and built the foundation for what will become Homewood Human Solutions.

"We believe the joining of these two companies offers many advantages to our existing clients," said Dr. Perez. "We can combine the best practices of both organizations, bringing a unique approach to employee assistance programs and disability services. In addition, Human Solutions(TM) operates a disability service which will complement HDTP. We will be able to offer an unmatched continuum of services - spanning workplace health, addictions, treatment and prevention - with the highest level of clinical expertise available within our industry."

Source: HOMEWOOD CORPORATION