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
MattawanMattawanMattawanMattawanMattawan
MattawaMattawaMattawaMattawaMattawa
CalvinCalvinCalvinCalvinCalvin
BonfieldBonfieldBonfieldBonfieldBonfield
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
Welfare
Administration 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?
What
A study to review the needs of the ODSP clients
for community services and the capacity of the
community to deliver services, based upon these
needs.

2006: what & why?
What
needs.
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.

2006: what & why?
What
needs.
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%
Population:adults(18yrs.>)and
children(<17yrs.)
Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%
Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%
Nipissing District Ontario
Caseload Dependent
Children
Dependent
Children
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
Caseload(%)
Nipissing Ontario
Caseload: 2.5X, Dependent Children: 3X, average Younger caseload than average (ages 25-54)
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
children(<17yrs.)
Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%
Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%
Caseload Dependent
Children
Dependent
Children
Caseload

ODSP Caseload by Age Group :
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
18-21 22-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Age Group
Caseload(%)
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%
Caseload(%)
ODSP Mental Illness ,
Nipissing Ontario
P
s
y
c
h
o
s
i
s
P
s
y
c
h
o
s
i
s
N
e
u
r
o
s
i
s
N
e
u
r
o
s
i
s
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
children(<17yrs.)
Adults (18>) 5.5% 2.4%
Children (<17) 4.8% 1.5%
Caseload Dependent
Children
Dependent
Children
Caseload

2006: Scope of Review
Scope
Identified nine (9) key service areas for review:
- Financial Supports
- Housing
- Food Security
- Transportation
- Child & Family Supports
- Special & Discretionary Benefits
- Counseling
- Assessment & Referral
- Legal /Advocacy

2006: Scope of Review
Scope
Identified 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

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.

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.

Challenges:
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.

Challenges:
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 & legislation
While others can be acted upon locally.
- Approximately half of these are directed towards
MCSS – it is hard to disentangle the delivery of
‘community services’ from the administration of the
ODSP 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 household
expenditures (LICO or market basket measure).
Alternatively, make changes to the Shelter Maximum
which better reflects the national housing standards
(affordability, suitability & adequacy) and local market
(rent) conditions.

Review ODSP incomes: index to average household
expenditures (LICO or market basket measure).
Alternatively, make changes to the Shelter Maximum
which 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 counseling
services to the Special Benefits program.

For new ODSP clients: provide access to therapeutic
counseling services. Also, consider adding these counseling
services to the Special Benefits program.
Hold regular community forums to provide updates on core
services 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 for
people with disabilities (in multiple mediums).

Present Status (1 year later)
Some recommendations have been acted upon
The gap in trustee programs is being addressed
by 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 the
outcomes
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 to
HIFIS (Homeless Individuals & Families Information
System).
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
illness, etc.
- 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
illness, etc.
- 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!

Final note
Ontario

Final note
Ontario
Nipissing

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

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

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

Similar to DNSSAB Community Services Review, Based on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Client Population (6)

More from David Plumstead

More from David Plumstead (9)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

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