DNSSAB Community Services Review, Based on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Client Population

Best & Promising Practices in Human Services Delivery & Research:

DNSSAB Community Services Review, Based on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Client Population.

Presented by D. Plumstead, MBA; Feb. 14, 2008

This Presentation:

• About Nipissing District & DNSSAB• Best & Promising Practices in

Human Services Delivery: ODSP Community Services Review

• Outcome of Review• Present Status• Policy and Service Delivery

Implications

Nipissing District and Ontario

About Nipissing District

TémiscamingueTémiscamingueTémiscamingueTémiscamingueTémiscamingue

MuskokaMuskokaMuskokaMuskokaMuskoka HaliburtonHaliburtonHaliburtonHaliburtonHaliburton

NipissingNipissingNipissingNipissingNipissing

Parry SoundParry SoundParry SoundParry SoundParry Sound

South AlgonquinSouth AlgonquinSouth AlgonquinSouth AlgonquinSouth Algonquin

Papineau-CameronPapineau-CameronPapineau-CameronPapineau-CameronPapineau-Cameron

MattawanMattawanMattawanMattawanMattawanMattawaMattawaMattawaMattawaMattawa

CalvinCalvinCalvinCalvinCalvinBonfieldBonfieldBonfieldBonfieldBonfield

ChisholmChisholmChisholmChisholmChisholm

East FerrisEast FerrisEast FerrisEast FerrisEast Ferris

North BayNorth BayNorth BayNorth BayNorth Bay

West Nipissing / Nipissing OuestWest Nipissing / Nipissing OuestWest Nipissing / Nipissing OuestWest Nipissing / Nipissing OuestWest Nipissing / Nipissing Ouest

TemagamiTemagamiTemagamiTemagamiTemagami

Bear Island 1Bear Island 1Bear Island 1Bear Island 1Bear Island 1

Nipissing 10Nipissing 10Nipissing 10Nipissing 10Nipissing 10

Nipissing, Unorganized, South PartNipissing, Unorganized, South PartNipissing, Unorganized, South PartNipissing, Unorganized, South PartNipissing, Unorganized, South Part

Nipissing, Unorganized, North PartNipissing, Unorganized, North PartNipissing, Unorganized, North PartNipissing, Unorganized, North PartNipissing, Unorganized, North Part

About Nipissing District


















Established in 1858: the oldest of the 10 Districts in Northern Ontario. Comprised of 11 Municipalities, 2 Unincorporated Territories (North & South), and 2 First Nations.

Part of the economic region of Northeastern Ontario Area: 17,000 sq. km.

Population (2006) ~ 86,000, or 15% of Northeastern Ontario. Density ~ 5 people /sq. km.

Cultural Diversity: approximately 25% of the District’s population is Francophone.

8.5% of the population is Aboriginal and 5% are Immigrants.

About DNSSAB


















STRUCTURE

Board established Feb.1, 1999: A merger of the District WelfareAdministration Board(DWAB) and City Social Services

Comprised of 12 elected Municipal Counselors

Represents eleven (11) Municipalities and two (2) Unincorporated Territories

About DNSSAB


















SERVICES

Ontario Works (OW)

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Children’s Services

Social Housing

Homelessness

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

ODSP Community Services Review and Best Practices – making the Connection

The ODSP Community Services Review:

Is community- based research (base camp) -analyzed needs and gaps at the community level

Is evidence-based (quantitatively & qualitatively)

Employed a methodology that led to a desired result

Lends itself to continuous learning and improvement

Facilitates learning and knowledge transfer while building relationships along the way

Provides a benchmark for moving forward

ODSP Community Services Review,2006: what & why?

WhatA study to review the needs of the ODSP clientsfor community services and the capacity of thecommunity to deliver services, based upon theseneeds.



Why?Because the DNSSAB Board and Management Team identified a relatively large ODSP caseload in Nipissing District (approx. 3500 people in a population of 85,000)-they wondered about the impact on community services and if there were needs and gaps.



Why?Because the DNSSAB Board and Management Team identified a relatively large ODSP caseload in Nipissing District (approx. 3500 people in a population of 85,000)-they wondered about the impact on community services and if there were needs and gaps.

In response to the above, an initial study was undertaken (MCSS /MCYS 2005) and it confirmed the following - the highest provincial ODSP caseload per capita, a relatively high number of dependent children and a high rate of mental illness:

Nipissing District ODSP Caseload, 2005

Caseload: 2.5X, Dependent Children: 3X, average

ODSP Caseload: Nipissing District & Ontario, 2005

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

Popu

latio

n: a

dults

(18

yrs.

>) a

ndch

ildre

n (<

17

yrs.

)

Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%

Nipissing District Ontario

Caseload DependentChildren

DependentChildren

Caseload

ODSP Caseload by Age Group : Nipissing District and Ontario, 2005

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

18-21 22-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+Age Group

Cas

eloa

d (%

)

Nipissing Ontario


Caseload: 2.5X, Dependent Children: 3X, average Younger caseload than average (ages 25-54)


0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

Popu

latio

n: a

dults

(18

yrs.

>) a

ndch

ildre

n (<

17

yrs.

)

Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%



DependentChildren

Caseload

ODSP Caseload by Age Group : Nipissing District and Ontario, 2005

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

18-21 22-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+Age Group

Cas

eloa

d (%

)

Nipissing Ontario


Caseload: 2.5X, Dependent Children: 3X, average Younger caseload than average (ages 25-54)

A greater incidence of mental illness

23.0%21.0%

18.0%16.0%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Cas

eloa

d (%

)


ODSP Mental Illness , Nipissing District and Ontario, 2005

Nipissing Ontario

Psychosis

Psychosis

Neurosis

Neurosis


0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

Popu

latio

n: a

dults

(18

yrs.

>) a

ndch

ildre

n (<

17

yrs.

)

Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%



DependentChildren

Caseload

ODSP Community Services Review, 2006: Scope of Review

ScopeIdentified nine (9) key service areas for review:

- Financial Supports- Housing- Food Security- Transportation- Child & Family Supports- Special & Discretionary Benefits- Counseling- Assessment & Referral- Legal /Advocacy

ODSP Community Services Review, 2006: Scope of Review

ScopeIdentified nine (9) key service areas for review:

- Financial Supports- Housing- Food Security- Transportation- Child & Family Supports- Special & Discretionary Benefits- Counseling- Assessment & Referral- Legal /Advocacy

Not included in scope- Health Services delivered under the Health Act- Public Health Services- Education and Employment Supports /Assistance

ODSP Community Services Review, 2006: How was Review Conducted?

How?Through a project structure: Steering Committee, Reference Committee and Terms of Reference.

Qualitative & quantitative analysis through stakeholder engagement - primarily ODSP clients and community service organizations.

Surveys, Focus Groups, Community Consultations, Meetings and Interviews.

Further quantitative analysis of data from the MCSS Stats.& Analysis Unit: beneficiaries, family structure, dependents and trends.

Additional disability-related reports referenced.

ODSP Community Services Review, 2006: Challenges Encountered

Challenges: No roadmap or similar studies to follow -first kind of study at District level.

MCSS was unable to sit on the Steering and Reference Committees. MCSS Staff did however, provide input & feedback on all report drafts.




Disability by its nature is set within a complex environment – research & analysis becomes difficult.

North Bay’s service system is equally complex due to a multitude of organizations offering numerous services.




Disability by its nature is set within a complex environment – research & analysis becomes difficult.

North Bay’s service system is equally complex due to a multitude of organizations offering numerous services.

Difficult to obtain quantitative data from community service organizations.

Difficult to differentiate between “community” and “publicly delivered” services, especially where mental illness is concerned.

Outcomes: Key Findings

Approximately 45 key findings across the nine (9) service areas – these findings can be summarized into the following themes:

Financial Hardship

Unmet Needs (housing, food, benefits, counseling)

Transportation difficulties (for clients & service organizations)

Children at Risk

The need for Services Integration /Gateway to Services

Better Communications (between key ODSP Stakeholders,i.e., clients, MCSS and service organizations).

Outcomes: Recommendations

25 recommendations for Improving Services

- Some require changes to policy & legislationWhile others can be acted upon locally.

- Approximately half of these are directed towardsMCSS – it is hard to disentangle the delivery of ‘community services’ from the administration of theODSP program.

- Viewed from the perspective of “all at once” the list may appear daunting or even unattainable. Viewed from the perspective of “incrementalism” however, these improvements are achievable.

- As with any investment decision, cost and impact on client outcomes needs to be considered.


Some of these recommendations include:

Review ODSP incomes: index to average householdexpenditures (LICO or market basket measure).

Alternatively, make changes to the Shelter Maximumwhich better reflects the national housing standards (affordability, suitability & adequacy) and local market(rent) conditions.



Review ODSP incomes: index to average householdexpenditures (LICO or market basket measure).

Alternatively, make changes to the Shelter Maximumwhich better reflects the national housing standards (affordability, suitability & adequacy) and local market(rent) conditions.

Increase the basic needs benefit by an amount that will decrease the clients’ food-to-income ratios to that of the median, or approximately 10% of income.

Alternatively, create a food allowance which would be added to the basic needs and shelter allowance (and index this to the nutritious food basket).



Review the present Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program with the view of providing support-services funding that matches the rent-subsidy funding.




For new ODSP clients: provide access to therapeutic counseling services. Also, consider adding these counselingservices to the Special Benefits program.




For new ODSP clients: provide access to therapeutic counseling services. Also, consider adding these counselingservices to the Special Benefits program.

Hold regular community forums to provide updates on coreservices and changes to directives, such as benefits(MCSS).

Establish a lead (ex: DNSSAB) for organizing a community networking event for service organizations, Ministries, etc.on a set schedule (ex. quarterly, every 4 mos., etc.).

Produce an annual Community Services Directory forpeople with disabilities (in multiple mediums).

Present Status (1 year later)

Some recommendations have been acted upon

The gap in trustee programs is being addressedby MCSS (NE Region) and a local service organization (LIPI)

North Bay has extended bus discounts to all ODSP clients ($25)

Ontario Works (OW) will be tracking the number of ODSP clients who apply for Discretionary benefits, and theoutcomes

DNSSAB and MCSS are reviewing their respective Discretionary and Special Benefits programs

DNSSAB is planning an upcoming housing forum

Present Status (1 year later)

Some recommendations have been indirectly acted upon:

The streamlining of shelter data and information is in progress – the community is considering switching over toHIFIS (Homeless Individuals & Families InformationSystem).

The LHIN (NE Region) is focusing on supportive /supported housing in Nipissing District.

DNSSAB received an additional 25 housing allowance units under the AHP (Affordable Housing Program).

Social assistance rates have had a 4% increase (two increases of 2%).

Policy Implications

Policy Implications

- Need to monitor trends at all levels of geography (i.e. not only in cities of 100,000+); the caseload continues to grow in many communities, the family /household types are changing, and there are more complex cases of mental illness, etc.

Policy Implications

Policy Implications


- Multiple Ministries are funding multiple service organizations and programs – this lends itself to a convoluted, fragmented service sector.

- Social assistance is a complex file but nevertheless, we need to pay attention to the unmet needs throughout the province.

Policy Implications

Policy Implications


- Multiple Ministries are funding multiple service organizations and programs – this lends itself to a convoluted, fragmented service sector.

- Social assistance is a complex file but nevertheless, we need to pay attention to the unmet needs throughout the province.

- Given current resource allocation, which marginal costs will produce the greatest social benefits?

- Standardization vs. Specialization…..?

Policy and Service Delivery Implications Final note

Think Globally – Act Locally!



Ontario



OntarioNipissing

Thank you!

Government & Nonprofit

DNSSAB Community Services Review, Based on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Client Population