ANNUAL REPORT
June 2017
2016/17 Annual Report
Calgary Service Provider Council 2016/17 – Significant change with signs of progress calgaryserviceprovidercouncil.org
Being heard, seeing change. There will always be more to do A message from Chair, Erin Waite There’s been a shift within our agency membership and it’s a good one. The momentum is building. The feeling of change is palpable. There appear to be two factors motivating the shift. First, the successful Safety Standards Consultation was well received. Conducted throughout the province, the final report accurately reflected long-standing concerns and issues. It was one of the few times when a consultation process felt open, honest, fulsome and the report that followed equally so. With that record of input and recommendations reflecting many of the underlying values of choice and rights, there has been renewed confidence in the opportunity for community to shape policy and services.
Contents 2
Workforce Council report
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Henson Trust Bill to be tabled this fall
2 Darlene Murphy 1955-2017 3 Our Storybank Project is launched 4
Service Provider Council Members
Second, after years of feeling buffeted by endless change, restructuring and added processes, it finally felt that the community reached a point of realizing it was time to shift the focus to what we can do, rather than responding to what was being done to us.
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New Contract major focus
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Disability Advocate: Bill 205
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The combination of an inspiring consultation process and reaching a point of exhaustion led to some real gains this year.
Advance Care Planning Lunch ‘n’ Learn
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Treasurer’s Report
Continued on Page 4
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Executive Committee members
Calgary Service Provider Council had six regular meetings, Storybank Workshops, a Lunch ‘n’ Learn, plus a special meeting in 2016/17. Meetings for 2017/18 are on Wednesdays: September 13, November 8, January 10, March 14, May 9 and a June AGM.
ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2017
Policy initiative strengthens families including an individual with a disability
Workforce Council Report Calgary Workforce Council (CWC) represents 12 organizations and focuses on crucial initiatives designed to strengthen and support our workforce. This work is enhanced by working closely with our related umbrella organization, Alberta Council of Disability Services, and ensuring work is complementary to Alberta Disability Worker Association strategies. Provincially, the Workforce Councils are focused on: 1. Communication and building awareness of the disability sector; 2. Gathering human resources information; and, 3. Development of a skilled and healthy workforce. In Calgary, responding to our members’ top priorities has resulted in continuing to support Nurturing Cultural Diversity. With formal training completed over the past two years, CWC will survey members to inform the next steps. As an extension of the training provided at the leadership level, CWC turned its focus to Succession Planning, recognizing its importance when most community organizations are between 15 and 30 years of age. This initiative aims to strengthen organizational capacity through recognizing potential successors to mission critical roles. A subcommittee has been struck and a project is underway reviewing organizational charts and structure for member agencies, identifying three roles as critical for focusing this work (chief executive officer, director and manager), developing core and job specific competencies required for key positions. Continued on page 3
Henson Trust Bill to be tabled this fall MLA, Brian Malkinson, is consulting with individuals and groups around the province so that he can table an Alberta Henson Trust Bill improving protection for community living. Most provinces have adopted Ontario’s originating “Henson Trust” legislation that allows a family to pass on an asset like the family home to their son or daughter with a disability, but without affecting disability supports in place. New policies in support of adults with disabilities mark important protection of rights and choice.
Our community lost a friend and advocate, and In-Definite Arts, its leader Our community was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Darlene Murphy in January. Darlene was our long-standing member of Council Executive, acting as Secretary to Council. She was an important voice in the disability and arts communities. With her leadership, Darlene helped In-Definite Arts blossom as an organization, providing creative arts programming to hundreds of individuals with developmental disabilities and participating in high profile projects, like the “A Meaningful Life” sculpture now installed in the Alberta Legislature.
Darlene Murphy
Darlene was a quick wit who always saw the humour in situations and, over the years, devoted extensive hours to support our Council. She will be missed.
November 28, 1955 - January 22, 2017
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ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2017
Workforce Council Report continued….
Our Storybank Project is launched…finally!
The next steps are identifying a skills inventory to align with competencies for each role. The project includes developing tools for agencies to use with succession planning.
In last year’s annual report we reflected on the new opportunities we were seeing to table our input to shape and strengthen supports for people to live in the community and make their own choices. With confirmation that we have the government’s ‘ear,’ Council members stepped up with enthusiasm and follow-through to launch a Storybank Project.
AC KNO WELDG EM ENT We would like to thank ACDS, PDD, Bow Valley College, Mount Royal University, Ministry of Labour, Alberta Works, and many organizations and individuals who have partnered in Workforce Council initiatives.
Council has momentum through: ♦ A series of Workshops in which all Council members had the opportunity to learn about the influence of stories, recognizing good stories, and “mission moments,” ♦ Storybank Guidelines, Lead Generation and Approval Forms, and other project planning tools have been built and shared with membership ♦ “Storybank Project” is a tab on the website calgaryserviceprovidercouncil.org, where much of the information is available
Co-chairs: Kim McCullough, DDRC and Michelle Wolfe, Calgary SCOPE Society
calgaryserviceprovidercouncil.org Members can hop on the Council’s own website and find information from recent meetings, dates for upcoming meetings and events, lists of member organizations and Executive, and a new section on the Storybank Project.
The Council was able to hire Catherine Yates of Yates Communications to lead the Storybank Project start-up and workshops.
The website is meant to act as a ‘filing cabinet’ with Council-related information. As a membership organization, we’re only as effective as the engagement of our members. The website is a way to check on information in between our Council meetings.
A highlight of the workshops was learning about “mission moments.” It refers to those times in a workday when a person thinks, “THIS is why I do this work.” When that thought comes to mind, there’s probably a story worth sharing. “…clear, concise, and informative and can help our sector develop a shared culture through the way we talk about the work that we do.” Forty people attended the workshops and all rated the sessions as excellent with lots learned, and an improved ability to identify and collect stories. “After this workshop I got back to the inspiration and the drive that brought me into this field in the first place. I once again understand that the very reason I was beginning to give up on sharing stories, is the very reason why it needs to continue on a much greater scale.” Funding for the expertise and support came from Council membership dues augmented by a grant from The Calgary Foundation.
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ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2017
Continued from page 1 With new energy among Council members came new initiatives. Executive Committee planning took place in August 2016 and many of the ideas generated were implemented during the year. Executive Com mit tee Plan Ideas Info sharing: - Lunch ‘n’ learns Celebrations/Awards - generate ideas to celebrate staff PR Program - identify resource to collect/share stories Council Meetings - improve agenda/processes - add committee structure for more active involvement
SERVICE PROVIDER MEMBERS Accessible Housing Society Alberta Council of Disability Services Calgary Alternative Support Services
Act ion s
Calgary Community Day Services
- one on Advance Planning - planned event, cancelled - members shared ideas - Storybank project underway
Calgary Progressive Lifestyles Foundation Calgary Scope Society Calgary Society of Community Opportunities Calgary Society for Persons with Disabilities CBI Home Health
- 2 meetings w/added activity - new ad hoc committee on accommodation standards
And now it’s up to us.
Chrysalis Columbia College Connections Counselling and Consulting Foundation Community Living Alternative Services
There will always be room for improvement or desire for change in government processes. But with some positive changes this past year, it is probably time for a look inward. Are we doing the best we can do for the people we support? How can we work better together? How can we anticipate needs and be ready with the right supports? With new-found momentum, we have a wonderful opportunity to build on recent successes, work together and have greater impact.
Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre (DDRC) Excel Society Foothills Advocacy in Motion Society In-Definite Arts Society Independent Counselling Enterprises Inc. L'Arche Calgary New Age Services Inc.
It will be exciting to hear the stories we share to learn about all that is happening every day within our community.
OPTIONS
I’m so grateful for the energy among our membership and want to especially thank Elaine Yost and Options for support of our Executive Committee meetings and for Alexi Davis and Prospect for hosting all Council meetings plus the terrific support for our Workshops.
Prospect Human Services Society
Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary Rehoboth Christian Ministries Resicare Society of Calgary Resourceful Futures Residential Support Springboard Centre for Adults with Disabilities
Respectfully,
Supported Lifestyles Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency
Erin Waite, Calgary Service Provider Council Chair June 9, 2017
Vantage Enterprises Ltd Vecova Ventures Society of Calgary Wheat Country Special Needs Society
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ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2017
New P olicy Init iat ives reflect a g overn ment listen in g to ou r d isability com mu nit y
New Contract was major focus of 2016/17
Disability Advocate – Bill 205 Much of the 2016/17 year was focused on our new Contract that came out of a goal for the government to standardize base contracts. As we all know, social services are by their nature complex and the range of community services across the province that support a broad range of disabilities are exceptionally complicated. While clear to agencies that a standard contract would be a challenge, it took a year of discussions and negotiations to work through a contract template that could appropriately support agencies in the work they do on behalf of government. Our membership is indebted to Todd Rich, C EO of CLA S and representatives from around the province, who met every two weeks for much of the year to work through and resolve details of clauses that agencies found problematic. In the end, issues remain on specification of eligble/ineligible costs, audits and outcome reporting, and the fundamental debate about whether the contract reflected agents of government services or an employee/employer relationship. While some clauses remained unresolved, most agencies were able to sign contracts for April 1, 2017.
♦ Tabled by Sandra Jansen, MLA as a private member’s bill on April 6th ♦ First debate reflected all-party support ♦ Brian Mason, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, moved to have the Bill made a government bill ♦ Bill 205 passes 3rd reading on May 24th About the Bill: features the authority to call for a review of PDD; reports to Minister of Community and Social Services, available to people with any disability. Left: Sandra Jansen, MLA celebrates Bill 205 with Marie Renaud, MLA, former ED of LoSeCa in St. Albert.
Lunch ‘n’ Learn: Advance Care Planning Thanks to Alexandra Kushliak, AHS
Resicare and URSA led the way by arranging a guest speaker to address a growing area of concern for agencies – Advance Care Planning. Learning the current and full definitions of Personal Directives, Goals of Care policy, and Green Sleeve document was valuable for membership. Many agencies will have more work to do on this topic, with the presentation providing an excellent overview. Adding a lunch session after regular Council meetings has proven to be an effective way to bring content experts to our membership. 5
ANNUAL REPORT
June 2017
Treasurer’s Report Prepared by Alexi Davis, Treasurer
Our Council maintained a good financial position at the end of the year. We continue to have stable membership, providing dues as revenue. We continue to have 33 members. The Council had overall net loss of $492. Membership voted to support a couple initiatives this year. The first is a strategic communications endeavor, which included contracting Yates Communications (Communications expenditure) and a series of “What’s Your Story” workshops on storytelling. The second is contracting legal services to review the new contract (Legal Fees). The Council also paid for a catered lunch at 2016 AGM for members. Remaining expenses covered ongoing Council operations (Meetings). The retained earnings of $15,017 is available going forward to further the strategic objectives of the Council.
Calgary Service Provider Council Income Statement For the year ended March 31, 2017
Most of our budget was spent on supporting meeting and sharing information.
Thank you Calgary Foundation! 2017
2016
Incom e Membership Fees Other Total Income
$4,950 585 $5,535
$4,060 0 $4,060
Disburseme nt s Marketing and communications Annual General Meeting Professional services (legal advice) Executive and general member meetings Office, postage, network, insurance Special functions Bank charges Total Disbursements
3,150 981 582 607 174 516 18 $6,027
0 999 0 646 1,273 2,600 20 $5,538
(492)
(1,478)
Retained Earnings, beginning of year
$15,510
$16,987
Retained Earnings, end of year
$15,017
$15,510
Earnings (Loss) From Operations
In 2016/17, we accessed expertise – legal input from John McGee for our contract and communications expertise from Catherine Yates.
* Calgary Foundation grant is not reflected in Council financials. Connections, as a registered charity and Council member, acts as fiscal agent for those funds.
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We are grateful to the Calgary Foundation for granting Council $5,000 to support our Storybank Project. Grant received Expended to date: Yates Communications Grant funds remaining:
$5,000.00 (2,619.54) $2,380.46
Thank you t o S ervice P rov ider Cou n cil m emb ers wh o serve on t h e Executive Com mit tee Alexi Davis, Prospect – Treasurer Helene de Klerk, New Age Mickey Greiner, CSPD Ryan Geake, Scope Jayne Myatt, Vantage Garth Reesor, L’Arche Todd Rich, CLAS Aaron Semkuley, CASS Erin Waite, Connections – Chair