Futures 2015 “Ontario Works in an Integrated World” Presented by Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board Facilitated by Gilles Plouffe, Ontario Works Program Supervisor

Mission Statement The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board (DSB) is a municipal service management organization created by the provincial government to oversee the local planning, coordination and delivery of a range of services and programs divested to the municipal order of government. The specific programs our DSB is responsible for are: Ontario Works, Social Housing, Emergency Medical Services (Land Ambulance), and Early Learning and Child Care services. District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs) are unique to Northern Ontario. The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB is one of Ontario's ten DSSABs. They, along with thirty-seven County, Upper Tier or Regional governments make up what is often referred to as Ontario's forty-seven Consolidated Municipal Service Managers (CMSMs). The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB is responsible for the delivery of its services to the residents of the districts of Manitoulin and Sudbury.

Manitoulin- Sudbury DSB Quick facts / Demographics The DSB provides services to 18 member municipalities and Territories Without Municipal Organization (TWOMO) in the Districts of Manitoulin and Sudbury. (Excluding the Greater City of Sudbury) Geography: 45,000 square kilometers with a population of 28,044 residents. No public transportation except Via Rail and Greyhound Main office in Espanola and 4 satellites: Warren –Covering Sudbury East, Noëlville –Covering Sudbury East, Little Current –Covering Manitoulin Island Chapleau –Covering Sudbury North

Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB

DSB Coverage Area Encompasses the Districts of Manitoulin and Sudbury (excluding the City of Greater Sudbury). An area of over 45,000 sq. km Larger than 117 countries in the world Vatican (.44 sq km)Israel (20,770 sq km) Rwanda (26,338 sq km)Haiti (27,750 sq km) Belgium (30,528 sq km)Taiwan (36,193 sq km) Switzerland (41,284 sq km)Fiji (18,272 sq km) Denmark (43,094 sq km)Monaco (2 sq km) Bermuda (54 sq km)Liechtenstein (160 sq km) Singapore (710 sq km)Lebanon (10,452 sq km) Jamaica (10,991 sq km)

Integrated Approach Applications are processed locally Interested Individuals can inquire, apply and update their application at their local DSB office Full Integration of Services at each office allow ease of information sharing across all available programs. One stop – all services

Programs Offered by DSB Ontario Works - Caseload 497 Employment Ontario - 97 Cases EO Incentive / YEF – 21 COJG – 2 employers / 12 employees Jobs for Youth students placed Our Kids Count Children Served Children Services Licensed Spaces Social Housing Services units Healthy Community Fund Cases Direct Shelter Subsidy - 50 Cases

Service Manager System Client/Employer Recreation Subsidies Employment Services Financial Assistance Children’s Services Housing Services Community Partners Skills Training Stable Housing

Brief overview of “Ontario Works” The Ontario Works Program provides income and employment assistance for people who are in temporary financial need. To be eligible for Ontario Works, an applicant must be: -a resident of Ontario; -in immediate financial need; and -willing to participate in employment assistance activities. The amount of money that someone receives from Ontario Works varies depending upon housing costs and family size. Clients may also be eligible for drug and dental coverage, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and community and employment start-up benefits. All recipients of Ontario Works are required to participate in one or more employment assistance activities as a condition of eligibility for financial assistance. This helps people move as quickly as possible to a job and to become self-reliant. Ontario Works provides practical help in finding a job. It helps people determine what they need to become employed. Because different people have different needs, Ontario Works has a number of ways to help its clients. Some participants need to update or upgrade their skills. Some need to complete their basic education or training for a particular job. Others simply need help in finding a job and staying employed. Ontario Works addresses these needs through a range of employment assistance activities based on individual skills, experience and circumstances

New Ontario Works rates Maximum Monthly Benefits As of November 1 st, 2015

Employment and Training Services The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board provides a number of services that assist participants to find employment. These services include: Workshops on various topics specific to job readiness; Referrals to job counseling, training or education; Access to telephones, faxes, computers and job banks; Information on who is hiring.

Job Specific Skills Training offered by the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board Provided 158 in house training sessions in 2014 Provided over 15 specialized training programs  Emergency First Aid  First Aid/CPR  WHMIS  Chainsaw Certification  Smart Serve  True Colors  Boater Safety  Team Excellence  Service Excellence  Automated External Defibrillation Course  Safe Food Handling  Traffic Protection Training  Communication Excellence  Overcoming Negativity  Ethical Excellence

Employment Ontario Delivered by DSB Staff Chapleau Employment Resource Centre Achievements to date (as of March 31, 2014) : Participants Employment outcome - 80% Education – 14% Assisted 1909 in the RC in 2014 Career Fair 2014 – 273 attended with 22 employers

Ontario Works and Employment Services (EO) There are six (6) other DSSAB – Municipalities that deliver both programs under one roof: Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board MS-DSB Municipality of Ottawa Municipality of Halton Municipality of Waterloo Municipality of Windsor

Creativity Considering the vast geography that the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB covers, transportation is often difficult for Ontario Works clients in attending any training or upgrading/educational classes. The DSB currently has 8 vans that are being utilized to transport our clients from their homes to their classes overcoming that barrier.

Children Services The DSB holds Purchase of Service Agreements (POS) with child care providers The POS allows the DSB to support providers via eligibility for the following funding streams: - Fee Subsidies - Wage Subsidies - Special Needs Resourcing - Health and Safety Grants - Best Start Hubs

Best Start Hubs Manitoulin Best Start Hub Sudbury East Best Start Hub LaCloche Best Start Hub Sudbury North Best Start Hub

Social Housing Projects in 11 Communities within the DSB’s catchment Additional units funded for persons experiencing high shelter costs in their current rental unit A range of unit sizes to meet the needs of our communities from bachelor to 4-bedroom homes We house seniors, singles and families with rents that are affordable We’re in Your Neighborhood

Integrated Tenant Process Applicants becoming Tenants may bring their Rent Geared to Income information to their local office Tenants sign leases locally Maintenance issues are handled mostly in-house using Sharepoint to create/track work-orders Local contractors are used wherever possible to support our local businesses Integrated approach to rental arrears In-house training opportunities extended to local tenants on site Community Partners often bring their services to our residents lessening the burden of transportation

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Community Partner –Alpha en Partage- Originally only offered French Basic Literacy English Basic Literacy Formed partnerships with local colleges to offer ACE Contact North for credited course through ILC and Upgrading towards GED. Partnership with Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB for Focus for Change, Computer Upgrading, Quick Start and Jobs for Youth training (PET) Focus for Change Placements Partnership with Employment Ontario

Service System Management Community Engagement Literacy and Employment Services Coordination Local Services Providers Network Member of Local Training Boards Best Start Network Local Economic Development Local Food Security Groups

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