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Regional Service Plan 2001/2002 - 2003/2004
Section 1 General Information
Statement of Accountability
A. Governance and Authority
On May 25, 1999, the responsibility for Persons with Developmental Disabilities mandate was transferred to the Ministry of Health and Wellness with the Honorable Minister Halvar Jonson. The Persons with Developmental Disabilities Community Governance Act (June 18, 1997) remains the governing legislation which empowers and directs the Provincial, Community, Foundation and Facility Boards with the authority to carry out their stated responsibilities.
The Northeast Alberta Community Board reports to the Provincial Board through their chairman, Mr. Don Schultz (Barrhead). Board members include Mr. Phil Fluet, Vice-Chair (Cherhill), Ms. Cathy Beer (Vegreville), Ms Christine Botsford (Fort McMurray), Ms. Donna Desjardins (St. Paul), Ms. Laurel Morris-Duncan (Fort McMurray), Ms. Johanne Hassey (Vilna), Dr. Doug Fleming (Westlock) and Ms. Carmela Levesque (Bonnyville).
In keeping with authority invested in the Northeast Alberta Community PAD. Board by the appropriate legislation and the authority granted to the Provincial PDD. Board, it is clearly understood that the Northeast PDD. Board: a) requires the approval of the Provincial PDD. Board for the three-year service plan 2001/2002 - 2003/2004 and total budget allocation and b) is accountable to the people to whom services and supports are provided.
In keeping with this Act and provincial mandate for services to adult Albertans with developmental disabilities, the Northeast Alberta Community Board has developed the following statement of Service Mandate.
B. Service Mandate
The Northeast Alberta Community Board willingly accepts the responsibility of ensuring the provision of quality services to persons with developmental disabilities within the region, in addition to their role in the development of a unified and equitable provincial service delivery model. The Board commits to an overall provincial service delivery framework and governance model, which ensures provincial continuity and regional responsiveness.
To this end, the Northeast Alberta Community Board has included goals, objectives and strategies in its three-year service plan to address the strategic directions and common performance measures as identified by the PDD. Provincial Board. The Northeast Alberta Community Board will:
- Ensure fiscal and public accountability;
- Ensure effective management of resources by:
- working to achieve equity in funding,
- improving the assessment of the support needs of individuals, and
- streamlining administrative processes;
- Ensure outcomes for individuals are the basis for accountability by evaluating:
- quality of life outcomes,
- satisfaction of persons served, families/guardians and service providers,
- participation in the community by individuals with developmental disabilities;
- Ensure they understand the needs in their region and develop strategies to address them;
- Ensure individuals served, families and Service Providers are part of the planning and decision-making process; and
- Examine strategies to address staff wages, training and morale.
Vision
Adults with developmental disabilities, in the Northeast Region, live valued and meaningful lives with dignity and self-worth in safe, caring, and supportive communities of their choice.
Mission Statement
To facilitate collaborative leadership with families and individuals in the creation, development and support of community-based services, programs and partnerships which ensure the Board's Vision.
The vision and mission statements are grounded in the following values and beliefs:
I. Persons Receiving Service
- Adults with developmental disabilities are to be empowered and have choices which are respected and honoured;
- Adults with developmental disabilities are entitled to freedom of choice;
- Adults with developmental disabilities are valued members of the communities in which they live and work.
II. Services Provided
- Individual rights and responsibilities are foremost in all decisions;
- Service delivery priorities will reflect community inclusion as the entry point for all clients;
- Choice is pivotal to all service planning;
- Service delivery priorities will reflect identified needs and are responsive to changes in needs.
III. Family and Community
- There will be recognition of the strong contributions provided by immediate and extended families in the development and support of adults with developmental disabilities and community services.
IV. Service Providers and Partners
- There will be recognition of the contribution that contract agencies and partners make in the quality of life for adults with developmental disabilities.
- Partnership with the Provincial PDD Board, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Learning, Justice, other government departments, Children's Authorities, school boards, Regional Health Authorities, municipalities, elected officials, professional associations, and advocacy groups are critical to achieving our goal of quality services.
V. Community and Partnership Development
- There is a strong commitment to collective planning for community solutions to service needs.
- There is a commitment to openness and disclosure of all we do and how we do it.
VI. Diversity and Social Change
- There is a recognition that risk taking and challenging the status quo is part of development.
VII. Staff
-
PDD staff are highly valued for their contributions supporting the development, provision and monitoring of services.
D. Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities
Ministerial review of PDD Services to confirm current directions and shape or refine new ones;
Potential partnerships with business and industry for employment opportunities;
Housing purchase opportunities in parts of the Region due to economic conditions;
Placements in Post-Secondary Educational Programs;
Advances in technology for communication, streamlining administrative procedures, self-employment opportunities and training;
Engage people with disabilities and their families in the free spirit of community governance;
New opportunities to empower individuals receiving services and their families and guardians;
Opportunities to educate groups about Community Governance;
Responding to and influencing changes at all levels: Government, Provincial PDD Board and communities.
Challenges
Meaningful community inclusion options (e.g., retirement and leisure) for an aging population;
Equitable distribution of resources given economic growth patterns in the Region;
Introduction of new future service directions for the new millennium coupled with established styles and approaches;
Clear communication to our "publics" on the realignment of Government Services and resulting service impacts;
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of financial monitoring (projections and expenditures) and statistics on service outcomes and persons served;
Developing innovative ways to address needs with sustainable funding and services;
Listening, acknowledging and responding to the needs of different communities.
Section 2 Core Business Goals, Measures and Targets
A. Core Business of the Board
On behalf of persons with developmental disabilities and as trustees of public resources, the Northeast Alberta Community Board is accountable for the following:
adherence to Provincial and Regional policies:
development of Regional Board Policies and Regulations;
leadership which looks to long-range, client-centered service directions and priorities;
fiscal responsibility and public accountability;
advocacy;
linkage to the community (communication and consultation with the community);
assurance of organizational performance, including monitoring of results and constraints;
funding and resource support to Persons Served and Service Providers in the region.
B. 2000/2002 - 2003/2004 Service Plan and Budget
Resources: Result Statement
In preparing the Three Year Service Plan, the Board has adopted the following overall result statement and accompanying requirements.
Overall Result Statement
Persons with Developmental Disabilities will achieve increased quality of life as a result of choices made in areas such as:
safety and security;
leisure and recreation;
community inclusion;
life-long learning;
required services;
employability' retirement;
housing;
Requirements
To achieve this overall result, the Board will ensure the following requirements are in place:
Opportunities exist for linkages with the community;
Persons Served, Parents/Guardians, Service Providers have opportunities to provide feedback to the Northeast Alberta Community PDD Board;
Appropriate and adequate resources are provided;
Service plans, agreements and contracts are established with Persons Served and Service Providers;
Monitoring systems are in place in all key areas with results reported regularly to the community.
- Provincial Strategic Directions, Priorities and Regional Goals
The following section outlines the Northeast goals, strategies, performance indicators and timelines to support the attainment of the overall Result Statement for the Three Year Service Plan. Regional goal statements are presented in relation to each Provincial Strategic Direction.
Section C.
Strategic Directions
The three strategic directions provided by the Provincial PDD Board are listed below. In addition, provincial priorities for persons with developmental disabilities focus on: 1) homes in the community, 2) employment in the community, and 3) community agency workforce. Each of the goal statements presented below are the Northeast Region service initiatives which address the provincial strategic directions and priorities. Individual goal statements addressing the three Provincial Board priorities and Provincial Key Performance Measures are shown in italics.
Strategic Direction I: Ensure that adults with developmental disabilities have opportunities to be fully included in community life.
|
Goal |
Objectives |
Strategies |
Performance Measures |
Timelines |
Target Performance (quantify outcomes if possible) | |
|
1. Increase opportunities for community inclusion |
To increase service provider accountability for community inclusion To increase awareness of the options and issues of community inclusion To reduce barriers to community inclusion |
· Continue partnership with AARC · To ensure service provider certification is based on external peer review and CET standards, reviewed every 3 years. · Prepare staff and service providers to advocate, facilitate and liaise with community |
Number of service providers receiving CET-AARC certification
Number of individuals and percentage of time included in community options |
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/ 04
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 |
33% of contract agencies reviewed 66% of contract agencies reviewed 100% of contract agencies reviewed
Actual Increased by 10% Increased by 10% | |
|
|
|
· Link community inclusion plans to service expectations
|
% of individuals experiencing an enhanced quality of life as measured by the CET Quality of Life standards |
2004 |
85% or more of individuals
| |
|
2. Increase culturally appropriate programs for aboriginal clients
3. Increase employment opportunities Provincial Priority: Employment in the Community |
To identify and present culturally appropriate activities
To encourage self- employment. To develop employer support initiatives in all communities in the region. To encourage natural supports such as co-workers in employment. To increase awareness among educators and other service providers To develop Community Business partnerships |
· Conduct needs assessment survey · Consult with aboriginal groups · Explore partnerships with Human Resources and Employment · Identify regional resource network · Promote one day forum on entrepreneurship · Obtain seed money for self-employment options · Educate caregivers, service providers and families about options · Fund employers to develop natural or co-worker supports · Establish pilot projects in selected work sites and expand as appropriate |
Number of service plans reflecting cultural and ethnic opportunities
Number of individuals in self-employment Number of individuals in other paid employment (part- or full-time) Number of Community Business partnerships |
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 |
Actual Number increased 100% completed
Actual Increased by 20% Increased by 20% | |
|
4. Increase community residential housing options Provincial Priority: Homes in the Community
5. Increase retirement options |
To identify and develop potential options To stabilize funding for residential options
To identify retirement options |
· Hold regional workshop with key stakeholders · Develop transition plans for Michener Centre residents · Request proposal from service providers. Review with public guardians and Michener Centre · Fund Options for home ownership
· Hold regional workshop on retirement for PDD · Develop individual retirement plans (based on community inclusion) for clients 50+ years · Explore retirement options within each community · Identify interest in existing and new options |
Number of individuals within independent and supported community living.
Number of individuals involved in home ownership
Range of options identified in each community Number of individuals with retirement plans Number of individuals utilizing retirement options |
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
March 31/02 March 31/04
March 31/02 March 31/03 |
Actual Increased by 5% Increased by 5%
Actual Increased by 10%
Number known Number increased Number increased | |
|
6. Ensure program planning and assessment strategies for new individuals |
To ensure all new clients have individual service plans To identify adults with Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome To provide appropriate assessments and program strategies To identify individuals eligible for service in remote rural areas |
· Funding support contingent on approved plan by C.S.C.
· Hold regional workshops with stakeholders
· Review suitability of existing programs for persons with FAE/FAS · Investigate mechanisms for referral to medical and other professionals (e.g., psychologists) · Partner in a mobile FAS Diagnostic Clinic · Participate in regional FAS prevention initiatives · Partner with Service Providers, Community Councils and self advocate groups to identify service needs in remote rural areas
|
Individual Service Plans include assessment information and service outcomes Participant satisfaction with workshops
Number of individuals with FAE/FAS identified Service providers aware of referral mechanisms
Number of individuals served in Mobile Clinic Number of individuals assessed Number of new individuals Satisfaction of partners |
Ongoing
June/02 June/03 June 04 March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 Ongoing
March 31/03
March 31/04
Ongoing
Ongoing |
March 31/02 100% March 31/03 100% March 31/04 100%
85% or greater positive 85% or greater positive 85% or greater positive Number identified Number identified Number identified Number of individuals referred
Number identified
Number identified
Number identified
85% or greater | |
Strategic Direction II: Ensure that services provided under the PDD Board structure will be based on equitable funding and access to resources.
|
Goal |
Objectives |
Strategies |
Performance Measures |
Timelines |
Target (Quantify Outcomes if possible) |
|
7. Increase staff morale and reduce wage inequities Provincial Priority: Strengthening Community Workforce |
To recognize the contributions of service providers and PDD staff
To maintain a human resources strategy for the NE Region
|
· Participate in Ministry- wide strategies to address wage inequities · Monitor wage equity · Hold public events to recognize staff and Service Providers
· Review Employee Assistance Programs throughout the region · Identify cost of living differences by community · Involve other ministries and Service Providers in developing regional and agency strategies for recruitment, retention and training |
% of community service provider staff turnover Increased satisfaction among Boards, staff and service providers % of PDD staff who report overall satisfaction with their work
Cost of living indices
Increased availability of qualified staff |
TBA
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 TBA
March 31/03
March 31/03
March 31/02 March 31/04 |
TBA
70% or greater positive 80% or greater positive 90% or greater positive 80% or more of survey respondents
Information report
Information report
Satisfaction of Service Providers Satisfaction of Service Providers |
|
8. Increase skills and knowledge of individuals working in the field Provincial Priority: Strengthening Community Workforce
9. Ensure individuals served meet Provincial eligibility requirements
|
To provide training opportunities to service providers and PDD staff To develop training and service partnerships
To provide services to eligible persons
To identify persons served who are not eligible |
· Continue Regional Professional Development Committee and regional workshops · Identify target groups and provide training appropriate to their needs · Identify inservice needs · Identify Regional Inservice Standards
· Continue partnerships with Children's Authorities, AACL, AARC, Ministries of Learning, Health, Justice
· Initiate review of current client eligibility by Client Service Coordinators · Make funding contingent on eligibility · Ensure clients currently receiving services, but deemed ineligible, are either "grandfathered" or alternative appropriate services are identified |
Satisfaction of participants with training events
Inservice Standards are met
Partnerships and joint initiatives
Compliance with eligibility criteria for new individuals Percentage of individuals served who meet eligibility requirement No disruption of services to persons served |
Ongoing
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
Ongoing
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 |
85% or greater positive
Percentage achieved Percentage achieved Percentage achieved Number reported Number reported Number reported
100%
Percentage known 80% 90%
100% 100% 100% |
|
10. Increase efficiency of administrative requirements for Service Providers |
To streamline the current administration procedures To increase efficiency of Client Service information and Invoice system To modify current Service Contract requirements to emphasize outcomes
|
· Introduce electronic budgeting transfers and invoicing within the Region · Hold regional workshops on administrative requirements · Participate in Provincial Standard Reporting Initiative · Involve Service Providers in developing strategies and standards for reporting information · Obtain Service Provider input in review of Contract and IFA requirements |
Quality and timelines of information
Agencies and service providers paid on time Number of correct transactions Satisfaction of administration and Service Providers
Number of contracts with performance based outcomes |
March 31/03
Ongoing
Ongoing
Annual
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 |
Satisfaction of Provincial and Regional P.D.D. Staff (95%) 95% or greater
95% or greater
85% or greater
33% 66% 100% |
|
11. Increase public awareness and confidence in services to persons with developmental disabilities |
To involve key stakeholders in the budget and decision-making processes To increase opportunities for community involvement in decision making To inform the public about nature of services provided
|
· Develop mechanisms for stakeholder input · Request agency budget submissions for on going services and new initiatives · Review submissions at PDD Staff and Business meetings · Facilitate community board liaison with agency boards, MLAs and elected officials · Create opportunities for families to share information · Continue to invite service provider boards and other stakeholders to NE PDD Board meetings · Continue to create opportunities for Regional review and input into budget · Continue to create opportunities for input from Community Councils and advocacy groups · Develop public image and information campaign |
Stakeholder satisfaction with involvement in decision making
Public awareness and confidence in services (NE Region) % of individuals, families and guardians who are aware of and understand the purpose of the boards % of individuals with developmental disabilities, families/ % of individuals with developmental disabilities and families/guardians satisfied with PDD services % of individuals, families/guardians and stakeholders satisfied with direction and role of PDD Boards |
Ongoing with key Budget dates met March 31/04
2002-03
TBA
TBA
TBA |
85% or greater positive satisfaction with involvement
70% or greater
Incremental increase each year 80% or more survey responses
TBA
90% or more of survey respondents
TBA |
Strategic Direction III: Support the ability of communities to include adults with developmental disabilities.
|
Goal |
Objectives |
Strategies |
Performance Measures |
Timelines |
Target Performance (quantify outcomes if possible) |
|
12. Increase community capability to include persons with developmental disabilities
|
To increase public awareness of Community Governance Model To encourage Post-Secondary education options
|
· Encourage development of Community Councils · Provide resource staff (P.D.D.) and financial support to Community Councils and self-advocacy groups · Circulate and post the Board Annual Report and Service Plan on the website · Continue communication mechanisms such as the newsletter and the website · Sponsor workshops on: Empowerment of Families, Leadership Development, Roles of Service Provider boards and Community Councils · Establish linkages with Athabasca University and Portage College · Develop a family focused life transition planning manual (CD Rom, Internet, video) · Continue the agency twinning initiative |
Demonstration of interest in Community Councils, e.g., meeting attendance Community satisfaction with Governance model Number of persons visiting website
Satisfaction with newsletters
Number of workshops Participant satisfaction
Number of individuals enrolled at post-secondary institutions Number of requests for transition manual
Satisfaction with twinning |
Ongoing
March 31/02 March 31/04 Ongoing
Ongoing
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 March 31/02
March 31/02 |
Number of Councils
85% or greater positive
Number of visitors to website
3 newsletter annually 85% or greater positive
Annual Workshops Participant satisfaction (85% positive)
Number attending Number attending Number attending Number known
80% or greater |
|
12. (Continued) |
To recognize the outstanding contributions of
Partners To provide grants in the areas of:
|
Publicize roles/activities of Board and Councils
· Involve community in development of recognition process and events
· Involve community in development of grant process · Hold public recognition events
|
Number of Recognition events
Number of individuals recognized Community satisfaction
Number of grants awarded Community satisfaction
|
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
Annually
|
Number of events Number of individuals recognized
Community satisfaction (85%)
Community Satisfaction (85%)
|
|
13. Increase collaboration for enhanced services |
To develop partnerships with service provider agencies and other boards/authorities |
· Continue partnership with AACL and AARC · Support Regional entrepreneurship project · Support transition planning and continuity of services for individuals and families |
Number of partnerships and Shared Service Initiatives Satisfaction of Partners |
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04 |
Number identified
85% positive Satisfaction |
|
14. Increase availability of accessible transportation |
To identify transportation needs: Fort McMurray, Westlock, Vegreville and Bonnyville |
· Set up Task Force |
Task Force recommendations
|
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
|
Fort McMurray Bonnyville Vegreville Westlock
|
|
15. Increase understanding of needs in targeted communities
16. Increase Service Provider Options |
To implement needs assessment for Athabasca, Vegreville, and Westlock
To increase choice for families and individuals |
· Set up Needs Assessment committee · Hire consultant
· Promote opportunities for new Service Providers in local communities |
Needs identified for next 3 years Report and recommendations presented to Board Number of choices |
March 31/02 March 31/03 March 31/04
Ongoing |
Athabasca Vegreville Westlock
Number of new Service Providers |