Friday, July 20, 2007
July 19 SDAG Report-Back: The Service Delivery Framework Transition Project
The focus of yesterday’s Employment Ontario Service Delivery Advisory Group meeting was a presentation on one the Transitional Project "Service Delivery Model and Standards."
Project lead Susan Underhill presented on the very preliminary research MTCU has undertaken to move towards the long-term goal of designing Employment Ontario's Service Delivery Framework. The goal of this project is to move towards "Integrated Service Delivery" with an explicit focus on serving clients more efficiently and effectively. MTCU is focusing on strategies to improve client access, build "seamless" pathways and increase capacity across in-person, voice and web channels to provide integrated service for clients.
In other words, MTCU is envisioning integrated service delivery, in which clients have an easier and more successful time navigating and accessing services and programs within Employment Ontario. The project will also look at how to integrate in-person services with the other service channels of telephone and web.
The long-term objective over the next few years is to develop a service delivery framework and standards to lay the foundation for longer-term enhancements. The shorter-term objective is the "Enhanced Information and Referral Service" to identify tools, resources and functions that will build capacity across in-person, web and voice channels to serve clients more seamlessly.
MTCU recognizes that the Service Delivery Framework project is of great concern to the sector, and they have committed to involving community stakeholders (both service providers and, ideally, clients) through the process to truly build a strong system based on the strengths that already exist.
Project lead Susan Underhill presented on the very preliminary research MTCU has undertaken to move towards the long-term goal of designing Employment Ontario's Service Delivery Framework. The goal of this project is to move towards "Integrated Service Delivery" with an explicit focus on serving clients more efficiently and effectively. MTCU is focusing on strategies to improve client access, build "seamless" pathways and increase capacity across in-person, voice and web channels to provide integrated service for clients.
In other words, MTCU is envisioning integrated service delivery, in which clients have an easier and more successful time navigating and accessing services and programs within Employment Ontario. The project will also look at how to integrate in-person services with the other service channels of telephone and web.
The long-term objective over the next few years is to develop a service delivery framework and standards to lay the foundation for longer-term enhancements. The shorter-term objective is the "Enhanced Information and Referral Service" to identify tools, resources and functions that will build capacity across in-person, web and voice channels to serve clients more seamlessly.
MTCU recognizes that the Service Delivery Framework project is of great concern to the sector, and they have committed to involving community stakeholders (both service providers and, ideally, clients) through the process to truly build a strong system based on the strengths that already exist.
Labels: Issues_and_Trends, MTCU_Updates
MTCU’s Transition Projects: Get Involved!
MTCU has a number of "Transition Projects" in the works to advance the work of integrating and transforming Employment Ontario – Ontario’s employment and training network with the goal of enhancing service to Ontarians. These projects provide opportunities for key stakeholders and service delivery agencies to participate in the design and implementation of Employment Ontario, because many of the projects will have specific time-limited and focussed working groups or reference groups that will include community stakeholders.
Understanding the complexity and inter-related nature of creating the system, MTCU has divided the projects into six project "suites." Community agencies are encouraged to identify areas of expertise and interest to ACTEW. We may be able to put your name forward for consideration to participate on a working group for the project. Note that all projects are in very preliminary stages, and are operating on different timelines, and not all projects will have working/reference groups.
Understanding the complexity and inter-related nature of creating the system, MTCU has divided the projects into six project "suites." Community agencies are encouraged to identify areas of expertise and interest to ACTEW. We may be able to put your name forward for consideration to participate on a working group for the project. Note that all projects are in very preliminary stages, and are operating on different timelines, and not all projects will have working/reference groups.
Here's a summary of the areas of focus (the 6 "Suites") for the transition projects:
1) Program & Policy Coherence:
These projects cover implementation of the changes at the program and policy levels; development of mid-term initiatives which include research, Targeted Employment Supplements (TES), and employer involvement with training; long-term policy strategies; and program evaluation.
2) Organizational Development:
This category looks at classifications; management strategies related to the changes, such as communications, leadership, program structure, and implementing training plans; and workforce realignment and management. There will not likely be community stakeholders involved in this mostly internal suite.
3) Service Delivery Management Framework:
These projects involve service delivery models and standards, including long-term strategies, standards and measures, and examining delivery models quantitatively; access strategies related to client barriers and client flow; and contract administration.
4) Channel Development:
These projects look at branding, and strategies related to content management, voice channel integration, and web tools.
5) Governance and Accountability:
There are a number of projects in this category, which is more about MTCU's internal processes and also not likely to have service provider input: federal-provincial governance issues, which include future governance, protocol, audits, and the financial relationship between MTCU and Service Canada; inter-ministry engagement; stakeholder engagement; and business planning, reporting, and accounting at the provincial level.
6) Enterprise Management and Business Continuity:
This is another large group of projects largely related to MTCU's internal operational structures. They cover longer-term issues such as the federal interface, business case development, and security of external access; privacy issues; accommodation; controllership review; contingency, security and disaster recovery; making financial processes operational, including those related to EI Section 25, EBSM, and the Family Responsibility Office, as well as a budget and forecasting process; re-engineering the business process; and records schedules.
For more detailed information on any one area listed above, please contact ACTEW’s Deanna Yerichuk, who sits on the Employment Ontario Service Delivery Advisory Group at deanna@actew.org.
Labels: MTCU_Updates
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Golden Horseshoe Agencies Share Their Experiences of Policy Changes
In June, ACTEW hosted a meeting with MTCU and employment and training service providers from the Hamilton-Burlington-Niagara region. Following a presentation by MTCU's Regional Director, Sherree Mahood at the 2nd Annual Golden Horseshoe / Bi-Regional Networking Day, the 180 attendees had the opportunity to share their concerns, experiences, and ideas in a working session.
Service providers were asked to chart their thoughts on the following two questions:
Service providers were asked to chart their thoughts on the following two questions:
- What challenges and opportunities have resulted from the changes MTCU is undertaking due to labour market development policy changes?
- How can agencies and government resolve issues that have emerged?
- Service providers need for more information and clearer communication from MTCU.
- The changes have brought many in the sector closer together in order to share information. Increasing networking and collaboration can ease some of the challenges arising from the changes.
- This is a time of opportunity for improving and increasing services.
- Employment Ontario will likely serve most clients well.
- Measures of evaluation need to be refined. In particular, participants are not convinced that clients with multiple barriers will be well served by outcomes-based evaluation and other aspects of the changes, nor are they clear about the definition of service "success".
- There are administrative and operational challenges arising from the changes, in particular, around funding.
- Regional variation in labour markets must be acknowledged at all levels of the design and expected outcomes of Employment Ontario.
- Political Weather Report – Summary
- Political Weather Report – Chart
- Collective Action – Summary
- Collective Action – Chart
Labels: Meetings_and_Events, MTCU_Updates
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Less Women Working Part-Time, But Not In Ontario
Last week Statistics Canada reported that:
For the second straight month, full-time work increased while part-time employment fell. Adult women accounted for most of June's increase in full-time and all of the decline in part-time employment.
Earlier this year, when Stats Canada released its 2006 Labour Force Survey which highlighted the tremendous employment gains among women, we had questions on this blog about what sort of employment gains these were. Currently women are far more likely than men to be employed in part-time and precarious employment situations, at low wages and without benefits, job security, or even basic employment rights.
This latest information from Stats Canada shows that at the national level, at least, women are getting more full-time work, although the compensation levels and stability of this work is still unclear.
At the provincial level, there's a different story for working women. While the number of working women has been increasing, the Government of Ontario's Monthly Labour Market Report for May indicates that, contrary to the national picture, more women in Ontario are working part-time than in the last five years. In May of last year, 766,000 women held part-time positions, whereas this May, 827,000 women worked part-time. Numbers of women working full-time work in Ontario have been steadily rising over the last five years as well.
The provincial Monthly Labour Market Reports may be useful resources for those determining service directions and seeking funding for employment and training programs. The reports include metropolitan, regional, industry and sector specific data. Gender specific information is available only for part-time and full-time employment.
You can find the reports on this page of the Government of Ontario web site:
http://www.gov.on.ca/ont/portal/!ut/p/.cmd/cs/.ce/7_0_A/
.s/7_0_252/_s.7_0_A/7_0_252/_l/en?docid=004759
Labels: Issues_and_Trends, Resources_and_Research
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Survey on Employment Ontario for Central Region Stakeholders
The following is an invitation to employment and training service deliverers and other stakeholders to participate in a survey on the design of Employment Ontario. The invitation comes from Barb Simmons, MTCU’s Director of the Central Region, as a follow up to the Engagement Meeting that was held in June, but it is also open to those unable to attend that consultation.
Please note that the deadline for the survey is July 13 and that this survey is only for those located in the Central Region. If any ACTEW members in other regions have received notice of community engagement surveys or forums, let Deanna know: deanna@actew.org.
Good afternoon,
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend one of the 2007 Central Region MTCU Stakeholder Engagement Meetings. The stakeholder meetings were very successful and we were able to share the direction of MTCU and obtained a lot of valuable input from you. We look forward to continuous engagement with you and building an enhanced Employment Ontario to better serve the needs of our communities.
Below you will find a link to a survey to provide additional feedback to the Ministry as we discussed at the meetings. The purpose of this survey is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide us with any questions, comments and suggestions that may have come to mind after your participation in the session.
The survey also provides an opportunity for input from other stakeholders who may not have been able to attend one of MTCU's Stakeholder Engagement Meeting. Please feel free to pass this message along to any other colleagues that may be interested.
Please note that the survey will close on July 13, 2007, so please submit your comments before that date. The results from this survey will be rolled up into both a Central Region and Province-Wide summary and published to the Employment Ontario Partner's Gateway in the fall.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zcEL0Y15OIlxBilyayckTw_3d_3d
Thank you in advance for all your comments and feedback and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Barb Simmons
Director, Central Region
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Please note that the deadline for the survey is July 13 and that this survey is only for those located in the Central Region. If any ACTEW members in other regions have received notice of community engagement surveys or forums, let Deanna know: deanna@actew.org.
Good afternoon,
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend one of the 2007 Central Region MTCU Stakeholder Engagement Meetings. The stakeholder meetings were very successful and we were able to share the direction of MTCU and obtained a lot of valuable input from you. We look forward to continuous engagement with you and building an enhanced Employment Ontario to better serve the needs of our communities.
Below you will find a link to a survey to provide additional feedback to the Ministry as we discussed at the meetings. The purpose of this survey is to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide us with any questions, comments and suggestions that may have come to mind after your participation in the session.
The survey also provides an opportunity for input from other stakeholders who may not have been able to attend one of MTCU's Stakeholder Engagement Meeting. Please feel free to pass this message along to any other colleagues that may be interested.
Please note that the survey will close on July 13, 2007, so please submit your comments before that date. The results from this survey will be rolled up into both a Central Region and Province-Wide summary and published to the Employment Ontario Partner's Gateway in the fall.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=zcEL0Y15OIlxBilyayckTw_3d_3d
Thank you in advance for all your comments and feedback and we look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Barb Simmons
Director, Central Region
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Labels: MTCU_Updates
Friday, July 06, 2007
Provisioning: Thinking Holistically about Women's Work
"Provisioning is defined as the work of securing resources and providing the necessities of life for those whom one has relationships of responsibility." - Sandra Tam, WEDGESandra Tam was the guest presenter for ACTEW's June members meeting. Sandra is a researcher at the University of Toronto and has worked in Ontario’s community-based employment and training sector.
As part of the Women on the Edge of the Global Economy (WEDGE) Research Team, Sandra studies young women's provisioning. Her presentation included examples and strategies from women in Toronto as well as in various communities in Canada.
Sandra's review of her research findings inspired an energetic discussion among ACTEW members on how women's unpaid and largely unrecognized obligations affect their access to employment and training services and to participate fully in the labour market.
In particular, child care was noted as a key aspect of provisioning for many clients, or potential clients. Members discussed how often services are inaccessible to women with children when agencies cannot offer care. Some funders seem not to realise the importance of child care as a program support; members were encouraged to utilize ACTEW's new child care fact sheet for statistics and facts upon which to ground funding requests.
Some of the negative effects of provisioning for those who are already employed are illuminated by a research previously covered in this blog. A study at McMaster University found that workers with home commitment get fewer opportunities for career advancement.
The discussion also linked provisioning to work on sustainable livelihoods. The sustainable livelihoods, which is a holistic model similar to provisioning, looks at a client's resources, talents and networks, rather than at her barriers, and leverages assets to support other areas in her life. Both models take into considation the whole person, rather than simply the employment segment.
For more on provisioning, review some of Sandra's publications:
> Slide Presentation from the ACTEW meeting: "Provisioning: Thinking Holistically About Women's Work"
> Research Summary: "Understanding Young Women's Provisioning"
> Information Sheet: "The WEDGE Provisioning Research"
For examples of the sustainable livelihoods model, check out these reports by Eko Nomos on the Canadian Women's Foundation web site:
> Women in Transition Out of Poverty: An asset-based approach to building sustainable livelihoods
> Women in Transition Out of Poverty: A guide to effective practice in promoting sustainable livelihoods through enterprise development
Labels: ACTEW_Activities, Resources_and_Research
