Ontario Municipal SocialSer vices Association

1 Dundas Street West, Suite 2500, Toronto ON, M5G 1Z3 • 416.642.1659 • www.omssa.com

Municipal Innovations in Poverty Reduction

June 5-8, 2011London Convention Centre, London, Ontario

OMSSA 2011Annual Learning Symposium &

61st Annual General Meeting

Hosted in partnership with the City of London

2

Impo

rtan

t Dat

es

March 30, 2011Last date for nominations for OMSSA Board of Directors

April 11, 2011Last date for nominations for Lifetime Achievement, Champion of Human Services and Local Municipal Champion awards

May 6, 2011 Last date for hotel reservations at the Hilton London

May 25, 2011Last date for early-bird conference registration

Conference Savings Programs!Team Program: The more staff the greater the savings! We are pleased to offer special discounts for sending 3, 4 or 6 staff to the conference. Send 3 and save 10%, send 4 and save 15% or send 6 and save 25%. Discounts can be applied to full registrations only.

Partners and ExhibitorsOMSSA has a variety of Partnership opportunities during the Learning Symposium.

Partnership with OMSSA demonstrates to OMSSA members and conference delegates that you are committed to human services, and raises your company profile in the municipal social services sector.

This year OMSSA is pleased to offer delegates the opportunity to engage with a variety of exhibitors during the conference. Exhibitors will be located in meal and break areas, and special activities including an Exhibitor Passport and Partner Exhibitor Wine and Cheese will ensure fun and prizes!

Awards and Recognition ProgramAs part of our continued efforts to demonstrate the value of human services in Ontario, OMSSA is pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2011 Awards and Recognition Program. The OMSSA Awards and Recognition Program were developed to build on the awards traditionally bestowed on past-presidents and retiring OMSSA members who have made outstanding contributions to both OMSSA and their communities. In addition to celebrating past achievement, these awards look forward to many more years of exceptional leadership and engagement of OMSSA members. OMSSA Awards recognize the best practices and exceptional results accomplished by our members and human service practitioners. Additionally, they celebrate extraordinary leadership, engagement and innovative approaches to human services across Ontario.

Nominations are open from February 18th, 2011 to April 11th, 2011. All eligible nominations received will be reviewed by OMSSA’s Awards and Recognition Committee and winners will be chosen by OMSSA’s Board of Directors.

Event Partners3

OMSSA is pleased to have the following sponsors for this event and would like to acknowledge our valuable partnerships with:

Presenting Partner Social Housing Services Corporation

Host Partners Canada Mortgage and HousingCorporation

City of London

Halton Region

Regional Municipality of Peel

Dear OMSSA colleagues & friends,

We invite you to join us at OMSSA’s Annual Learning Symposium and 61st Annual General Meeting. This year’s event is being co-hosted with the City of London.

The theme for this year’s OMSSA Learning Symposium is Municipal Innovations in Poverty Reduction. This year’s theme has been specifically chosen to highlight how Service Managers from across Ontario are playing a key role in reducing poverty and improving the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities. Together we will share best practices and learn how CMSMs and DSSABs have engaged their residents in creating safe and healthy communities, developed partnerships with both the private and public sectors, built on Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and much more.

This year’s symposium sessions will examine opportunities for effective collaboration between individuals, communities, and governments in service delivery and will demonstrate the importance of social investment and community development.We are delighted with the diversity of presenters joining us throughout the conference who will share their thoughts on, and best practices for, reducing poverty in Ontario. Our workshop hosts are also set to offer engaging discussions on all elements of human services. We know that you will gain insightful information that can help you as you help others in your communities.

Whether you are an administrator, manager, or front-line staff member of a CMSM or DSSAB; a provincial government staff member; a representative of a provincial association or community agency; an elected official; or a member of the general public, your participation in this year’s symposium will not only nourish the spirit, but will also help to enable us to continue to work together to support our families and communities.

I look forward to seeing you there!

David RennieOMSSA President

4

Sunday, June 5

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Welcome Reception

Monday, June 6

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Opening Plenary Session: Short-term Thinking is Killing Prospects of Reducing Poverty Speaker: Don Drummond, retired Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Refreshment break and exhibits

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops 1.1 Lessons Learned from a Successful Community Development Partnership between Local Government, Education, Mental Health and Child Care Sectors

1.2 Tales from the Road: Conquering our Capital Repair Deficit One Town at a Time

1.3 Measuring Poverty: Asking the Right Questions

1.4 Approaching Integrated Service Delivery through Housing: WoodGreen Homeward Bound Program

1.5 Voices from the Margins: Working Together to Change Our Communities

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lunch OMSSA’s 61st Annual General Meeting

2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Concurrent Workshops 2.1 Next Steps in Ontario’s Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy

2.2 Reducing Poverty by Developing your Local Workforce

2.3 “Government Makes a Difference”: OMSSA and AMO Working Together on Next Steps Towards Reducing Poverty in Ontario

2.4 Homelessness in the North

2.5 Youth Futures: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty through Education

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sponsor and Exhibitor Wine and Cheese

Prog

ram

at a

Gla

nce

5

Tuesday, June 7

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Opening Plenary: People’s Blueprint Speakers: Michael Oliphant, Director of Research and Communications, Daily Bread Foodbank Pat Capponi, Lead Facilitator, Voices from the Street

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Refreshment break and exhibits

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Concurrent Workshops 3.1 Transforming Communities: Neighbourhood and Children’s Services Approach to Comprehensive Community Change (continues this afternoon)

3.2 Place-Based Strategies to Address Income Inequalities: Tips and Tools from Toronto

3.3 Combating Youth Poverty: London’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited

3.4 Talking about Human Services so People Will Listen: Tips and Tools for Service Managers

3.5 Housing Research: The Impact of the Special Priority Program on Victims of Domestic Violence

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Concurrent Workshops 4.1 Transforming Communities: Neighbourhood and Children’s Services Approach to Comprehensive Community Change (continued from this morning)

4.2 Poverty Plans that Get Results: Lessons From Vibrant Communities Canada

4.3 Housing First: “Addressing” Poverty and Homelessness, Embracing Hope, Offering Help and Building Bridges

4.4 Challenges of Poverty in Northern and Rural Ontario

4.5 Social Housing Services Corporation at your Service 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Refreshment break and exhibits

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. President’s reception

6:30 p.m. Awards gala and dinner

Wednesday, June 8

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Breakfast

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Concurrent Workshops

5.1 Parenting on a Low Income

5.2 Falling Through the Cracks: Housing Advocacy and Trusteeship Program

5.3 Data Strategies: Tapping into National Resources for Local Results

5.4 Local Immigration Partnerships: Systems Planning to Help People

5.5 Housing Careers as a Pathway out of Poverty

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Closing Plenary: Engaging Community in the Right Conversation Speaker: Mark Chamberlain, Chair, Hamilton Poverty Roundtable boxed lunch provided

Program at a G

lance

Don Drummond OMSSA is pleased to present Mr. Drummond with a Champion of Human Services award during Monday’s opening plenary session.

As a leader in providing valuable analysis on issues pertaining to all levels ofgovernment, Don Drummond’s career includes many notable accomplishments. Serving almost 23 years at the federal Ministry of Finance, he held a series of progressively more senior positions in the areas of economic analysis and forecasting, fiscal policy and tax policy. His posts include Associate Deputy Minister responsible for economic analysis, fiscal policy, tax policy, social policy, and federal-provincial relations. Mr. Drummond recently retired from his most current position leading TD Economics analyzing and forecasting economic performance

in Canada and abroad. Don has publicly and repeatedly stated the importance and role of fiscal policy in creating prosperous and healthy communities for all Ontarians.

Mark ChamberlainMark Chamberlain is the President and one of the founding partners of Trivaris Ltd., a commercialization company focused on transforming ideas from concept to sustainable companies and social enterprises. As an accomplished and proven entrepreneur, Mark brings his business acumen to community economic development in general and social enterprises specifically. Initiatives like Options for Homes, a nonprofit group providing quality, affordable housing in Hamilton and Crazy Daisy, a social enterprise that utilizes floral sales to promote mental wellness and employ individuals living with a mental illness. Mark was recognized with the Hamilton Distinguished Citizen of the Year for 2007 for his work on reducing poverty in Hamilton and was appointed to the National Council of Welfare, an advisory body to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development on matters of concern to low-income

Canadians. He is currently Chair of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction; Chair of the Hamilton Jobs Prosperity Collaborative; Chair of the Innovation Factory and a member of McMaster University Board of Governors.

6

Spea

ker P

rofil

es

7

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.OPENING PLENARY: SHORT-TERM THINKING IS KILLING PROSPECTS OF REDUCING POVERTY

Market forces alone will not reduce poverty. Indeed the modern competitive, globalized economy is raising the economic premium for education and the discount for not having it. The result is widening income disparities in most developed nations including Canada. Action that could alleviate poverty is too often viewed as a current fiscal pressure. The mindset needs to shift to thinking of poverty alleviation as a longer-term investment.

Speaker: Don Drummond, retired Chief Economist, TD Bank Financial Group

__________________________________________________

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

1.1 Lessons Learned from a Successful Community Development Partnership between Local Government, Education, Mental Health and Child Care SectorsIn this workshop, participants will learn about an innovative school/community/neighbourhood-focused community development initiative. Resulting from the Full-Day Kindergarten site selection process, the initiative’s primary goal was to introduce community preventative measures into the school, so as to reduce the impact of risk factors for mental disorders and to improve children’s positive social and emotional development. By involving families in the solution, and working with a range of service providers in new and innovative ways, the initiative resulted in an experience that exceeded expectations for parents, children, and service partners.

The workshop will share this model for community development, with a focus on “how” and “why” this partnership was so successful in community change. Participants will gain practical knowledge on community development, on how to work with schools and school boards, and on the processes, key strategies, and insights that are transferable and scalable for other settings.

Speakers: Shelley Fehrman, Principal, Niagara District School Board

Tiffany Gartner, Manager, Children’s Services, Region of Niagara

Janice Horner, Manager, Children’s Services, Region of Niagara

_________________________________________________ 1.2 Tales from the Road: Conquering our Capital Repair Deficit One Town at a TimeOver the past two years Social Housing Services Corporation Technical Services staff have travelled to almost every part of the province to help housing providers and municipalities with their Social Housing Renovation and Retrofit Program (SHRRP) projects.

This workshop will talk about the different projects they’ve helped with – their scope, scale, the challenges, and successes. Participants will hear about the variety of issues affecting social housing buildings across Ontario, and how they can apply that knowledge to their own situation.

Speaker: SHSC Technical Staff

_________________________________________________1.3 Measuring Poverty: Asking the Right QuestionsHow can we measure poverty? How do we know we are making a difference in poverty reduction? Canada has traditionally used income measures such as the Low-income Cut-off (LICO) and the Low-income Measure (LIM) in evaluating its progress. But newer measures attempt to take a more multi-faceted approach. This session looks at two such measures. The first is the Ontario Deprivation Index, a provincial-level measure developed by Daily Bread Food Bank and the Caledon Institute in partnership with the Ontario Government and Statistics Canada, and which is now part of the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The second is a local Deprivation Index developed by the Kingston Community Roundtable on Poverty Reduction, designed to create a picture of the household circumstances of a person or family living in poverty in Kingston. By examining both measures, the session will explore the challenges and opportunities in measuring poverty and the efforts to reduce it in Ontario.

Speaker:Michael Mendelson, Senior Scholar, Caledon Institute of Social Policy

_________________________________________________1.4 Approaching Integrated Service Delivery through Housing: WoodGreen Homeward Bound ProgramCommunities across Ontario face immense challenges in delivering sustained social supports that can break the cycle of poverty. One proven solution to these challenges is illustrated by WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound. Launched

Monday, June 6

8

in 2004 by Toronto-based WoodGreen Community Services, Homeward Bound brings together the key supports that single mother-led families need to become self-sufficient. Unique in Canada, Homeward Bound’s holistic, four-year job-readiness program features training and education in a marketable skill, personal development support and safe and affordable housing and child care.

In early 2010, the Homeward Bound replication project began with key partners in Peel Region and funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation “Future Fund”. The Region of Peel sees Homeward Bound as a way of building on their own Human Services Integration strategy, while simultaneously increasing local capacity and collaborating with existing Peel services.

The project will also develop tools and resources so that other communities can replicate and implement WoodGreen Homeward Bound. Over the next year WoodGreen will work with the partners in Peel to finalize a “Homeward Bound How-to-Kit” and replication model. Come and learn how your community can launch its own WoodGreen’s Homeward Bound program, and hear how the Region of Peel sees the program fitting into their Human Services model.

Speakers: Drew Goursky, Manager, Program Design and Development, Human Services Department, Region of Peel

Graham Watts, Director, Partnership Development, WoodGreen Community Services

_________________________________________________1.5 Voices from the Margins: Working Together to Change our CommunitiesFor poverty reduction initiatives to have integrity and credibility, it is essential that people with lived experience participate in the process of social change. Enabling the voices of people with experience of poverty to be heard is a powerful step in building poverty-free communities. When those with power and influence hear and listen to the stories of those with lived experience, the impact can be profound and lead to personal and institutional transformation. In Halton Region, the social audit process led provincially by the Interfaith Social Assistance Reform Coalition had enormous impact on poverty reduction efforts in the community, public education system, a faith community, the CMSM, and on the witnesses who told their stories. In this workshop, you will learn about the social audit process and other techniques for engaging the voices of those with lived experience. As well, presenters will discuss

the organizational impact that the social audit has had locally.

Speakers:Deirdre Pike, Senior Social Planner, Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton

Joyce See, Director of Community Health, Community Health Services, Region of Halton

Colleen Sym, Executive Director/Lawyer, Halton Community Legal Services

Gillian Tuck Kutarna, Trustee, Halton District School Board

________________________________________________

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.LUNCH AND OMSSA 61ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Nominations to the OMSSA Board of Directors is now open. Each year at the association’s Annual General Meeting, one-half of the members of the OMSSA Board of Directors are elected to a two-year term of office. For the 2011-13 term, there are five (5) vacancies to be filled on the 10-member board.

Any voting member of the association can be nominated to stand for the board. Nominations to the board close March 30, 2011. To learn more about becoming an OMSSA board member please visit the OMSSA website.

2011 is an exciting year to join the Board as the organization continues its journey towards human services integration (HSI). HSI is a guiding focus for OMSSA in the development of the theory and practical tools to support our members and the province as they move towards a system of human services. This system will be coordinated, seamless, and tailored to the needs of people so they can maximize their potential, enhance their quality of life, and contribute to their community. As the association works to explore the best ways to support our members towards a more integrated service system, joining the Board means your voice can directly influence this ongoing process.

OMSSA Board of Directors Election (Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7)

Elections to the 2011-12 OMSSA Board of Directors will follow the Annual General Meeting. You may also cast your ballot immediately following the AGM until 3:00 p.m. and again on Tuesday, June 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The new OMSSA Board of Directors will be announced at the Awards Gala on June 7, 2011.

Mon

day,

Jun

e 6

9

2.3 “Government Makes a Difference”: OMSSA and AMO Working Together on Next Steps Towards Reducing Poverty in OntarioIn early 2009, OMSSA and AMO published a joint paper on poverty reduction. “Government makes a difference: Working together towards poverty reduction” emphasized the need for CMSM and DSSAB leadership in developing local solutions to poverty, together with provincial policy and funding leadership to support service managers. In the two and a half years since the publication of this paper, much has changed in the human services landscape including the introduction of a new housing strategy, a social assistance review, and full-day early learning. This session uses the OMSSA-AMO paper as a lens through which to assess the changes in Ontario and to look ahead to the steps still needed to reduce poverty in our province.

Speakers:TBA

_________________________________________________2.4 Homelessness in Northern Ontario: Lessons for the Rest of the ProvinceHomelessness in northern Ontario has fundamental differences than in southern Ontario: a scattered population base, long distances between communities, lack of public transportation, lower incomes, fewer employment opportunities, and a higher cost of living. The Northern Ontario Service Delivery Association (NOSDA) developed an inventory of northern homelessness problems and practices to show leadership and to identify strategies and tools to address this difficult and often overlooked issue in northern Ontario. This session will present an overview of NOSDA’s inventory, followed by a broader discussion about recommendations that can help service managers from across the entire province confront the challenges of homelessness and poverty.

Speaker: Chris Stewart, Executive Director, Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA)

________________________________________________

2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

2.1 Next Steps in Ontario’s Long Term Affordable Housing StrategyDuring the first half of 2011, the Ontario government has proceeded with its Long-term Affordable Housing Strategy, with much focus on new legislation and regulations for housing and homelessness. Looking ahead, however, there are still many pieces of the Strategy to developed, including the creation of local housing and homelessness plans, the crafting of a Minister’s Policy Statement, and the consolidation of housing and homelessness funding. This session will provide updates from key provincial staff involved in the LTAHS implementation, and will include a conversation between participants and panelists about the key next step issues for CMSMs and DSSABs.

Speaker: TBA

_________________________________________________2.2 Reducing Poverty by Developing your Local WorkforceIn OMSSA’s employment and income issues policy paper, “Climbing the ladder of self-sufficiency,” we emphasized the importance of the CMSM and DSSAB role in leading local workforce development activities at both the macro (community-wide) scale and the micro (individual, one-on-one) scale. By engaging at both levels simultaneously, municipal human service managers can create community momentum for workforce development while providing direct support to the people who need it most. This session presents two examples of “best practices” in macro-scale and micro-scale workforce development activities. Both the cross-sectoral community initiative in Peterborough that is engaged in planning and labour force research and development, and the skills development-oriented community kitchens of Muskoka provide innovative examples of how CMSMs and DSSABs can become leaders using local workforce development to address the challenges of poverty.

Speakers: Heather Elliott, Community Engagement Coordinator, District of Muskoka

Gord Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Development Board

Linda Mitchelson, Head, Social Services Division, City of Peterborough_________________________________________________

Monday, June 6

10

Mon

day,

Jun

e 6 2.5 Youth Futures: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

through EducationParticipants will learn about an innovative initiative targeted at young people living in poverty who would be the first person in their family to attend post-secondary education. The program is based on the fundamental notion that education and accessibility to post-secondary education can break the cycle of inter-generational poverty. It provides leadership training, six weeks of paid employment, and two weeks of university experience with volunteering professors and student mentors. The program achieves this through a variety of partnerships, in-kind contributions, and existing initiatives. Participants will learn about how and why the program evolved; the components of the program; the success rate and lessons learned; and future initiatives for the program.

Speaker: Mitchell Kutney, Youth Futures Coordinator

4:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.SPOTLIGHT WINE AND CHEESE WITH EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS

Mix and mingle with colleagues and exhibitors before heading out for the evening. Exhibitors and sponsors will also take the stage to share their products and program initiatives.

11

________________________________________________9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. OPENING PLENARY: THE PEOPLE’S BLUEPRINTA collaboration between Daily Bread Food Bank and Voices From the Street, the People’s Blueprint research project equipped 18 people who were receiving social assistance in communities across the province with the tools they needed to become community researchers. Each went back to their home communities and conducted over 100 video-taped interviews that demonstrate, in an intensely personal way, the hopes, challenges, and experiences of people living on social assistance in Ontario. This plenary session will feature a moderated discussion with members of the Peoples’ Blueprint, and will provide insight into the peer research process, how participating in this project profoundly affected the members of the Peoples’ Blueprint panel, and the key themes that emerged through their research.

Speakers:Michael Oliphant, Director of Research and Communications, Daily Bread Foodbank

Pat Capponi, Lead Facilitator, Voices from the Street

________________________________________________

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

3.1 Transforming Communities: Neighbourhood and Children’s Services Approach to Comprehensive Community Change(continues this afternoon) The Child and Youth Agenda is a concrete 3-year plan of action to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in the city of London. Priorities and goals for action: End Poverty, Make Literacy a Way of Life, Lead the Nation in Increasing Healthy Eating and Healthy Physical Activity and Moving to a Family-Centred Service System - London System Reengineering.

London’s Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy and Implementation Plan is a road map that contains the collective ideas of a resident task force for creating the best city they can imagine. The hard work of over 100 residents resulted in a comprehensive city-wide strengthening neighbourhoods strategy and five year implementation plan endorsed by City Council. Their document is a vehicle for collective action.

In this morning session, the City of London will share with

you the transformation occurring in London at both the systems and neighbourhood level. Hear about community innovation and collaboration that is moving London from WORDS TO ACTION. Hear about local strategies that are improving outcomes for children, youth and families and are strengthening all of London’s neighbourhoods.

In addition, join municipalities in a discussion that highlights specific tools they are actively using to employ a community development planning approach as they move forward with comprehensive community change.

This session continues this afternoon in session 4.1 when you will have the opportunity to learn more about comprehensive change through participating in one of five conversations.

Speaker:Lynne Livingstone, Director, Neighbourhood & Children’s Services, City of London

3.2 Place Based Strategies to Address Income Inequalities: Tips and ToolsHistorically, Toronto has been home to a larger concentration of low-income people than are other jurisdictions in Ontario. There has been growing concern over those being left behind and the by-products of social exclusion. Over the recent years, the City of Toronto has implemented a place-based strategy to address income inequalities through service planning and integration at the local level and focused investments through city partnerships with other orders of government, funders, community-based organizations, and residents. As a result, innovative solutions to die-hard problems have produced a new way of meeting the needs of Toronto’s poverty-affected neighbourhoods.

In this session, the City of Toronto will present an overview of its place-based strategy including its research work on Neighbourhood Well-being Indices (NWI) that provide an analysis of social, economic and demographic characteristics of its 140 neighbourhoods; the work of the Neighbourhood Action Partnership Tables in the priority neighbourhoods; the structures of collaboration to achieve the focused investments; the integrated case management and programming introduced to address resident needs; and the outcomes accomplished as a result of these activities and investments.

Participants in the session will receive a workbook on the

Tuesday, June 7

12

indicator matrix for adapting to their own communities and outlines of the programs implemented in Toronto. They will learn about the key features required to implement a successful place-based approach and will make direct connections with Toronto city staff tasked with indicator development and program delivery for possible collaborative initiatives across municipal jurisdictions. Speakers: Chris Brillinger, Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, City of Toronto

Harvey Low, Manager, Social Research, Social Development, Finance and Administration Division, City of Toronto

Sarah Rix, Policy Development Officer, Social Development, Finance and Administration Division,City of Toronto

3.3 Combating Youth Poverty: London’s Youth Opportunities Unlimited ProgramCombating youth poverty is more than providing shelter. Integrated services are a foundation piece for youth to own their destiny. In 2007, YOU began a three-year renovation project to bring affordable housing, health, nutrition, education, training, and employment for youth all under one roof. YOU provides youth with a touchstone as they work toward achieving independence and encourages self-reliance.

Speakers: Steve Cordes, Executive Director, Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Chantel Grayston, Youth Worker, Youth Opportunities Unlimited

3.4 Talking about Human Services so People will Listen: Tips and Tools for Service ManagersThe good news is that the human services sector has been receiving increasing attention from politicians and policy makers, as they recognize the value of the sector to the wider community. Still, many misconceptions remain about what human services are and why they matter. This session will give participants the practical communications tools to market the importance of the human services sector to a variety of audiences—municipal councils, business leaders, media, and community decision makers. A series of one-pagers developed by OMSSA for each of the human services sectors will be shared.

Speaker: David Wills, Media Profile

3.5 Housing Research - The Impact of the Special Priority Policy for Victims of Domestic Abuse For many years, the Special Priority Policy (SPP) has given victims of domestic abuse a placement priority on social housing waiting lists. Under the auspices of OMSSA’s Service Manager Housing Network, an SPP research was conducted to obtain an empirical understanding of the policy impact. Does the policy help victims of domestic abuse? What is the impact on other housing applicants? What are the lessons learned in terms of waiting list management? This session will present the key findings of the research project and will examine the broad policy implications for helping low-income housing seekers with their affordable housing needs.

Speakers:

Nadia Jamil, Policy and Research Analyst, Ontario Municipal Social Services Association

Gerard Warnaar, Manager Housing Access and Policy, Region of Halton

________________________________________________

12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.LUNCH

Bring your Exhibitor Passport and enjoy your lunch while visiting the many exhibitors at this year’s conference. Don’t forget to submit your passport at the end of today to be eligible for great prizes.

________________________________________________

1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

4.1 Transforming Communities: Neighbourhood and Children’s Services Approach to Comprehensive Community Change (continued from this morning)

This session continues this afternoon from the conversations in session 3.1. The opportunity to learn more about comprehensive change through participating in one of the following conversations:

• Community Engagement Approaches: Building on the morning’s panel discussion, learn more about local approaches and tools being used to engage communities in municipalities across Ontario

Tues

day,

Jun

e 7

13

• Neighbourhood Demonstration Projects : London will highlight key collaborative Child and Youth Agenda initiatives happening in neighbourhoods across the city. Projects include Basic Needs Beacons, Grade 7 School & Community Wraparound, Matched Savings and Microloans, Healthy Eating Healthy Physical Activity Westminster Neighbourhood Initiative, Huron Heights Neighbourhood Literacy Initiative

• Systems Reengineering: London will share with you their bold plan to create a truly family-centred system based on a network of Neighbourhood Child and Family Centres.

• Neighbourhood Engagement: London embarked upon an ambitious community development process that was fundamentally about helping residents work to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhood. Three years later, we will share with you our learnings, successes, and challenges. In addition, learn more about the ACE tool and how London is using it to “engage for change.”

• Social Awareness and Advocacy: London’s Ending Poverty Working Group will share with you how they are changing the conversation in their community through various initiatives such as “therealissue” media campaign, London’s Food Charter, Child and Youth Network’s position papers: “Clearing the Path Out of Poverty.”

Speaker: Lynne Livingstone, Director, Neighbourhood & Children’s Services, City of London

4.2 Poverty Plans that Get Results: Lessons From Vibrant Communities Canada Vibrant Communities Canada is a network of 13 cities with collaborative community roundtables focused on poverty reduction. Evaluating Vibrant Communities 2002-2010 examines the results achieved, lessons learned, and critical success factors. Across Canada, 164 poverty reduction initiatives have been launched, resulting in increased assets for over 170,000 individuals living in poverty. This session is vital to communities with existing or emerging poverty roundtables. Session participants will learn from the experiences of Vibrant Communities about governance and management of collaborative community planning, effective community-engagement processes and the results that can be achieved through community roundtable efforts. In this session, the City of Hamilton and the Regions

Tuesday, June 7

of Waterloo and Niagara will share their experiences as examples of communities that have engaged in cross-sector planning to reduce poverty

Speakers:Tom Cooper, Director, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction

Liz Weaver, Director, Vibrant Communities Canada/Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement

4.3 Housing First: “Addressing” Poverty and Homelessness, Embracing Hope, Offering Help and Building BridgesThis session presents the experiences from two communities that have undertaken innovative approaches to eliminating homelenessness. In Toronto, the Streets to Homes (S2H) embodies a ‘housing first’ philosophy in which housing should be available without prerequisites such as going through a shelter or a treatment centre. Providing clients with housing improves their quality of life, decreases dependence on emergency services, and provides better access to social services and community non-profit organizations. By partnering with community organizations, S2H builds on their individual strengths, local knowledge, and innovation.

Cambridge Shelter Corporation (CSC) believes in a “whole person” approach to serving clients. Over the past 11 years, CSC has identified homelessness, housing, and service models to ensure clients have access to the services they need to achieve personal success. The Bridges provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and outreach to homeless people and individuals living in poverty. Saginaw House provides an abstinence-based living environment for men who require supports for substance use treatment. Through a partnership among private investors, Cambridge Shelter, and the Region of Waterloo, program outcomes include housing stability, quality of life, social integration, and income.

Participants in this session will hear from both communities and will learn how both take their own approach to giving vulnerable people the tools, resources and encouragement they need to stabilize their living environment and move out of poverty.

Speakers: Marie Morrison, Manager Social Planning, Region of Waterloo, Social Services

Gordon Tanner, Acting Manager, Streets to Homes, Toronto Shelter, Support & Housing Administration

Anne Tinker, Executive Director, Cambridge Shelter Corporation

14

Tues

day,

Jun

e 7 4.4 Challenges of Poverty in Rural and Northern

OntarioIn a province as diverse as Ontario, the face of poverty will differ greatly depending on the geographical setting. Rural, remote, and northern communities are challenged by their relative isolation and inaccessibility, creating the potential for people living in poverty to remain outside local poverty reduction efforts. This session will bring together 3 senior CMSM and DSSAB administrators to discuss the unique challenges of poverty in rural and northern communities, and to explore some of the unique solutions to the problem of rural and remote poverty.

Speakers:Anne Comtois-Lalonde, Administrator, Social Services, United Counties of Prescott & Russell

David Landers, Chief Administrative Officer, District of Cochrane (CDSSAB)

Keith Palmer, Director of Community Services, County of Dufferin

Session 4.5 Social Housing Services Corporation at your ServiceUnder the Social Housing Reform Act, SHSC was given a mandate to deliver business-oriented solutions to Ontario’s social housing providers and service managers. The New Housing Services Act will likely expand SHSC’s role to provide additional services that build on the existing model of value-added programs in conservation management, investments, insurance, bulk purchasing, asset management, training, and research.

This working session will ask you, SHSC’s clients, what you need from us – training, services, research, toolkits, it is up to you. We want to hear what we can do to help you create healthy, sustainable communities for the future.

Speakers: Keir Brownstone, General Manager, GLOBE

John Osmond, Director, Client Services, SHSC

15

Tuesday, June 7

________________________________________________

5:30 p.m. PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION AND AWARDS GALA DINNER

Join delegates on Tuesday for an evening of fun, food, and tradition! The President’s reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the Awards Gala and dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m.

During the evening the new OMSSA Board of Directors will be introduced, and this year’s award recipients will be honoured.

OMSSA Awards and Recognition ProgramThese annual awards recognize the best practices and exceptional results accomplished by our members and human service practitioners. Additionally, the OMSSA Awards celebrate extraordinary leadership, engagement and innovative approaches to human services across Ontario. Nominations are open from February 18th, 2011 to April 11th, 2011. All eligible nominations received will be reviewed by OMSSA’s Awards and Recognition Committee and winners will be chosen by OMSSA’s Board of Directors. Nominations may be submitted under the following three award categories:

1. Lifetime Achievement To recognize the long-standing contribution of exceptional OMSSA members who have recently retired or who plan on retiring in the year in which the award is given.

2. Local Municipal Champions To recognize the great work done by teams from among CMSM and DSSAB staff across the province. Teams can include partners from community organizations or initiatives working together with a CMSM or DSSAB.

3. Champion of Human Services Now in its second year, this award recognizes a champion who has displayed extraordinary leadership and made an exceptional contribution to human services.

To learn more about OMSSA’s awards program, make a nomination and download forms please visit the OMSSA website.

16

Wed

nesd

ay, J

une

8 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS

5.1 Parenting and PovertyChild and family poverty is a significant issue across Ontario. Policymakers and the public need a more informed understanding of the challenges of of families raising children while living on a low income. How does living on a low income impact a parent’s capacity to promote their children’s growth and development? How do parents cope with living on a low income? What strategies would make a big difference in the daily lives of these families? This workshop will share the findings of a research study that explored the realities of parenting and promoting child growth and development in the context of poverty from the perspectives of parents, public health home visiting staff, and the public. The presenters will also facilitate a discussion about poverty reduction and mitigation strategies being implemented by other municipalities within the current political/economic context.

The workshop is aimed at increasing awareness in the following areas:

• The impact of living on a low income on a parent’s capacity to promote their children’s growth and development

• How parents cope with living on a low income (coping strategies/helpful programs & services)

• Strategies that would make a big difference in the daily lives of these families

• Toronto residents’ views of and support for strategies that would support families living on a low income

Speakers: Dia Mamatis, Research Consultant, Toronto Public Health-Healthy Public Policy

Rita Paul-Sen Gupta, Research Consultant, Toronto Public Health-Healthy Public Policy

5.2 Falling Through the Cracks: Housing Advocacy and Trusteeship ProgramIn the County of Lambton, the community identified the need to service a segment of the population who were living in poverty and at constant risk of eviction and homelessness. Many of this population had multiple barriers such as mental health issues or disabilities, but did not meet the criteria of service providers such as ODSP or Canadian Mental Health. In response the County’s Housing and Social Planning departments, together with a private-sector partner developed an innovative program called the

Housing Advocacy and Trusteeship Program. The two-phased program serves many seniors in the community, as well as those who have previously “fallen through the cracks” but who still require extensive supports. Participants in this session will learn about the program’s origins and implementation, and its tremendous success in keeping people in poverty housed.

Speakers: Tracy King, Housing Advocacy Worker, County of Lambton

Connie Van Sickle, Social Housing Supervisor, County of Lambton

5.3 Data Strategies: Tapping into National Resources for Local ResultsThe success of local efforts to reduce poverty and to plan for human services is based, in large part, on the ability to obtain and analyze local data. In Canada, there are emerging national strategies designed to support local evidence-based and data-driven initiatives. The Community Social Data Strategy and Community Data Canada are examples of such networks that support the development of local data to inform local community planning. This session will explore how communities in Ontario are working together to develop extensive data repositories and to address local challenges of poverty.

Speaker: TBA

17

Wednesday, June 8

5.4 Local Immigration Partnerships: Systems Planning to Help PeopleLocal Immigration Partnerships, known as LIPs, have existed since 2008, and are one of the best practices models for local immigrant settlement and inclusion planning in Ontario. LIP initiatives create the ideal conditions for multi-stakeholder partnerships to develop as municipal, provincial, and federal governments join forces with community organizations and businesses to develop a strategy to integrate newcomers in the economic and social life of Ontario’s communities.

Workshop presenters will share their experience of collaboration and partnership development, community consultation, research, and other promising practices that contribute to the success of Local Immigration Partnership projects in Peel Region and London - Middlesex, as well as province-wide. Workshop attendees will learn about establishing and sustaining a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral community initiative; practical examples of effective stakeholder engagement, leadership structure, and local planning and evaluation tools; and the Welcoming Communities Initiative as a resource for practices and strategies for conducting evidence-based programming.

In short, by attending this workshop, participants will increase their knowledge of how to lead and participate in solution-focusd and action-driven local planning initiatives that are grounded in evidence-based research, informed by key stakeholders, and that build on a shared vision and the existing assets of a community.

Speakers:TBA

5.5 Housing Careers as a Pathway out of PovertyAs CMSMs and DSSABs consider labour market and workforce development strategies, one area not to be overlooked is housing. Whether in the areas of property management, technical services, or environmental efficiency, careers in housing can become pathways out of poverty for vulnerable people. This session examines two exciting and innovative programs that offer opportunities for workforce attachment through the housing sector.

Speakers:Keir Brownstone, General Manager, GLOBE

Jean McIsaac Wiitala, Executive Director, MNO Housing Investments

________________________________________________

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CLOSING PLENARY - ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN THE RIGHT CONVERSATIONWithout a sustainable foundation, we will have little hope of achieving objectives for reducing poverty and improving human health and well-being. Mark Chamberlain will highlight why poverty is a community-wide challenge. From economics, health, and housing, it is important to recognize the need for everyone to share the responsibility and change the current conversation. Mark will provide non-traditional, thought-provoking ideas for creating solutions by engaging the community in the right conversation, and will highlight why sustainability is the key factor in creating long-term change.

Speaker:Mark Chamberlain, Chair of Hamilton Poverty Roundtable

18

Social Housing Services Corporation

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

City of London

Regional Municipality of Peel

Halton Region

Supportive Approaches ThroughInnovative Learning (SAIL)Ex

hibi

tors

19

Registration Information

Payment of a full conference registration fee entitles delegates to attend all plenary and workshop sessions, all meals (three breakfasts, three lunches, welcome reception, and one President’s Reception and Awards Gala dinner being held on Tuesday, June 7.

Payment of two day, day-and-a-half, and daily conference registration fees entitle the delegate to attend plenary and workshop sessions on the day(s) for which they have registered, and to breakfast and lunch on that day (please see the Program at a Glance). Registrants wishing to attend the Welcome Reception and/or President’s Reception and Awards Gala dinner can purchase a ticket separately.

Team Program: The more staff the greater the savings! We are pleased to offer special discounts for sending 3, 4 or 6 staff to the conference. Send 3 and save 10%, send 4 and save 15% or send 6 and save 25%. Discounts can be applied to full registrations only.

Cancellation and Sharing PoliciesRequests for refunds to the event will be honoured, less a $50.00 administration fee, provided a written notice of cancellation and request for refund is received more than five business days prior to the event. No refunds will be issued within five business days of the first day of the event. A substitution will be accepted up to and including the first day of the event. OMSSA reserves the right to cancel the program due to insufficient registrations and will be responsible for refunding the registration fee only.

Only delegates who have pre-registered for an OMSSA event may participate in conference workshops and associated activities. If a registered delegate chooses to send alternates for his/her registration, a $100.00 sharing fee per alternate will apply.

Please register for the 2011 Annual Conference using the registration forms found on the OMSSA website

• Submit your registration and payment by May 25, 2011 to receive early-bird rates• The conference program may be subject to change at any time without notice• For registration information, contact Meagan Shepherd at (416) 642-1659 or mshepherd@omssa.com • For program content information and inquiries regarding the hotel or other activties, please contact Christie Abramovic

at (416) 646-0512 or cabramovic@omssa.com

AccommodationThe Hilton Hotel London is conveniently connected to the London Convention Centre via a skywalk and is located at 300 King Street, London, Ontario, Canada N6B 1S2. Make your reservation on line or call 1-519-439-1661 and reference the OMSSA Learning Symposium.

Accommodation rates:Standard Room $110.00/nightKing Suite $110.00/nightDeluxe Room $110.00/nightBusiness Class $145.00/nightBusiness Class Suite $110.00/night*Plus applicable taxes

20

Regi

stra

tion

Fees Member Fees Non-Member Fees

Individual Registration Early Bird by May 25

After May 25

Early Bird by May 25

After May 25

Full Registration, June 5 – 8 Includes Welcome Reception June 5 and Presidents Reception Awards Dinner June 8 $850 $950 $895 $999

Two Day (June 6 & 7) $595 $700 $695 $800

Day and a Half - June 7 – June 8 noon $495 $600 $595 $700

One Day - June 6 or June 7 $295 $400 $395 $500

Team Registration

Team of 3 Full Registrations save 10% (price per person) $765 $865 $805 $900

Team of 4 Full Registrations save 15% (price per person) $725 $825 $760 $850

Team of 6 Full Registrations save 25% (price per person) $635 $735 $675 $750

Extras

Sun. June 5 - Welcome Reception $40 $50 $50 $60

Tues. June 7 - President’s Reception and Awards Dinner $110 $130 $130 $150

All fees are subject to applicable taxes