Summary of Survey Results - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Summary of Survey Results

LBS working with Ontario Works (OW) from 2 Perspectives:Regional literacy networksandLiteracy and Basic Skills (LBS) service delivery agenciesJanuary 26, 2017Slide2

Background to Surveys

November 2014 - Ministry of Community and Social Services implemented new social assistance delivery technologyNamed “Social Assistance Management System” (SAMS) – mandatory province-wide system to deliver the Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) across Ontario

OW and ODSP experienced challenges implementing the new system that impacted on LBSSlide3

Background to Surveys

2016-17 Literacy Link Niagara business plan deliverable: “Collect strategies, best practices and barriers, from network and program perspectives, of a) working with local OW offices and staff, and b) recruiting learners from OW”Survey sent to regional literacy networks, November 201615 of 16 networks

responded

Survey sent to LBS programs,

December

2016

134 of 200 agencies

respondedSlide4

Networks: Role of OW in Literacy Services (LS) PlanningSlide5

Networks: Best question to ask at the LSP table about working with OWSlide6

How would you describe your relationship with OW?Slide7

Networks: Comments on relationship

Different communities/OW offices = different relationshipsIn larger/compact communities – OW may have multiple offices/contactsIn North/rural communities – LBS programs in small communities have more access to OWRelationship depends on community, office, contact, manager case managerReferrals from OW have generally decreased since OW new info system (SAMS) was implementedSlide8

Programs: Comments on relationship

Formal protocols/agreements for assessments and/or referrals in place but a decline in use Relationships depend on individual case managers, sites and supervisors - lack of common approaches among offices/staffLack of OW communication, follow-up, monitoring and client commitment once OW client referredSlide9

How was your relationship with OW affected by the introduction of SAMS? (November 2014) Slide10

Networks: Comments on impacts

of SAMS implementationOW staff less available, increased focus on employment, not LBSReduced OW referrals Limited OW participation in network Professional Development opportunities, planning, joint presentationsDiscontinued or decreased fee-for-service centralized assessmentsSlide11

Programs: Comments on impacts of SAMS implementation

OW focus on adapting to new system and meeting client’s basic needs (mental health, housing, addictions) not LBSCase managers have less time – overwhelmed, still dealing with cheques and pressing needsDecline in referrals to programs or to network for assessment/referralMany OW on-site LBS info sessions, joint meetings and assessments ended or declinedSlide12

Programs: Comments

on impacts at SAMS implementation (cont.)Incomplete/limited referrals/lack of follow-upNew OW $ cash employment supports = clients accessing more LBS $ training supportsOW Staff turnover, new hires and labour issues had impact on LBSOverall decrease in communication from OWSlide13

“Referrals

went from 50 per year to zero. We used to go to the weekly OW intake meetings to do a short presentation about our program (2 years ago). With the changeover in staff, we lost our contacts and they moved to a new intake system which they informed us would not require us to be present anymore.”“They told us that their priority was not to refer anyone anywhere--just to focus on getting cheques to people. They have a huge clientele who are dealing with mental health and addiction issues, so those folks need to focus on higher needs (housing, addiction, health) before they can think about learning.”Slide14

If your relationship was affected by SAMS 2 years ago, any changes in last 6 months?Slide15

Programs: Comments on changes in last 6 months

Mixed responsesYes, no, better, worse, in some waysMore learner self-referralMany new OW staff Less case management, follow-up, communicationSlide16

Programs: Is building a strong relationship with OW a priority?Slide17

Programs: Comments on OW as a priority

Yes, a priority becausemany of our learners are on OWused to have a lot of referralspartnership is still strongNo, not a priority becausemany clients don’t come to or stay in programd

on’t have the resources to support them

n

ow focusing on other types of learnersSlide18

“I can appreciate that since OW has access to a significant client base that it would be a priority; however, when they need to maintain their case load to meet targets perhaps their focus is on where they will receive the best return. LBS students are in a foundational preparation stage so it takes a little longer to measure results utilizing OALCF

methodology.” “Each of our students who are on OW have their own specific case workers as they can be located from different areas around the region. It would be helpful if a few more of them were encouraged to come to LBS, for a more solid foundational preparation. The win-win would be to help the students’ capacity for learning and academic retention which in turn would also help to boost LBS targets.” Slide19

Programs: Barriers and challenges with OW

(in order most often identified by respondents)CommunicationsLack of knowledge about LBS (Both OW staff and clients)Not enough time (LBS and OW) to build relationships Lack of opportunities for meaningful dialogueUnreturned phone calls and emails from OWLBS perception that OW is too busy for LBSSlide20

Programs: Barriers and challenges with OW

(in order most often identified by respondents, cont.)OW’s perceptions that LBS takes too long and does not lead to employmentLBS has little value for clientsHigh OW staff turnover, new staff and large caseloadsLack of follow-through

by

clients

with no consequences at

OW

Lack of a formal referral protocol with OWSlide21

“Referrals from OW are

not always appropriate. Many clients have difficulty committing time and we find that OW workers and the clients do not have a realistic expectation of how long it will take for the client to improve to the level required to move on. We’ve been told that OW workers do not always refer to LBS because it take clients longer to show results than in other more structured programs.” “OW workers often don't know how to talk to learners about literacy. There is still a misconception that low literacy

means people can't read at

all.”Slide22

Networks: Tools, resources and strategies to enhance relationship?

Attend OW team meetings once a yearSend monthly updatesFocus on learner success stories (incl. videos) and task-based activitiesOffer beneficial PD and networking eventsSenior managers at LSPPurchase of service contracts for assessment and referralDependant on OW’s willingness/ability to partner, build relationshipsSlide23

Programs: Tools, resources and strategies to

strengthen relationship?(in order of most often identified)Regular opportunities for LBS to meet with OW face to faceRegularly scheduled meetingsRound tablesService planning groups“Brown bag” lunch at OWJoint presentationsOffice co-locationSlide24

Programs: Tools, resources and strategies to

strengthen relationship?(in order of most often identified, cont.)Have LBS offer more targeted time limited programs with customized curriculum Educate OW managers and casemanagersEnhance LBS brand recognition and marketingLink between LBS and employment skills

Regular reports to

casemanagers

on client progress, timelines and goal pathsSlide25

Programs: Tools, resources and strategies to

strengthen relationship?(in order of most often identified)Get LBS and OW ministries (MCSS and MAESD) to talk and make collaborative services a priorityEnsure OW is at the LBS tableCreate a certificate of LBS progress or completion for OW clientsHold clients accountable to both OW and LBSEstablish clear referral protocols between OW and LBS including roles of eachSlide26

“We

find that there are constant changes with workers in our area so it is important to ensure we are providing them with information about our programs on a regular basis. I feel that it is important that the workers understand the details of how the programs work so that they have realistic expectations of the time commitment as well as the work commitment that is required for their clients.”“We have discussed the idea of implementing an additional checklist within our training plan that provides greater details on the program content and estimated timeframes in order to provide a bigger picture for the clients and for them to share with their workers.”Slide27

Programs: Advice or best practices?

(in order of most often identified)Strengthen communications with OWLearner progress, hours and success storiesAttend OW team meetingsLink between LBS and employmentMonthly lunch at LBS for casemanagersJoint presentation to each other and in communityR

eferral protocol, purchase of service, screening tools

Regularly scheduled meetings between LBS/OW

Office tours, open houses, monthly program updates

Free LBS webinar for OW staff – “What is LBS?”

Slide28

Programs: Advice or best practices?

(in order of most often identified)Reciprocal relationships in person (not phone) between LBS/OW and “Champions” for each others’ services in both OW and LBSOW representatives on boards of directors and at LSP2 specific client programs identified “Getting Ahead” (OW) and “Empower your Future” (LBS)Enhance relationships with other employment programs and leverage their influenceCo-location, kiosks, targeted training (focus or client profile)Slide29

Networks: Outstanding LBS/OW partnerships?

Presentations to OW staff/clientsService providers conduct assessments at OW officeTargeted LBS programs “Getting Ahead” and “Focus for Change”Mandatory OW client info sessions “ Empower Your Future”New referral/screening/assessment protocols and toolsCo-location/program delivery at OW officesFamily literacy programSlide30

Programs:

Outstanding LBS/OW partnerships?Specific partnerships were identified in this surveyLiteracy Link Niagara will be following up with those agencies who agreed to a more in-depth interview for the collection of tools, resources and strategies, which will be shared with the provinceSlide31

Programs: Advice or best practices?

Keep communicating LBS to OWAttend OW team meetings √monthly updates – new info and programs Connect client outcomes to LBS outcomesFree LBS info webinar to case managersOn-site presence at OWSlide32

Programs: Advice or best practices

? (cont.)Formal purchase of service agreements √New screening tools Common referral tools/protocols Mandatory client info sessions with ES and LBSTargeted training (either training focus or client profile)Senior managers attending LSPSlide33

Summary of OW Survey Results

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