THE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY OF MUSKOKA COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE A G E N D A Meeting No. CS-7-2007 Wednesday, June 20, 2007 1:30 p.m. Council Chamber, District Administration Building ______________________________________________________________________________ Pages 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. DECLARATION OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS 3. EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES 1- 4 a) Additional Best Start Funding Allocation Report No. CS-7-2007-1 Recommendation THAT Muskoka District Council approve the allocation plan as outlined in Report No. CS-7-2007-1 dated June 12, 2007 for a new allocation of funding of $138,200 under the provincial Best Start Initiative. 5 - 6 b) Muskoka Early Childhood Educator’s Symposium Report No. CS-7-2007-2 Recommendation None. For information only. 4. SOCIAL ASSISTANCE a) Young Adult Employment Preparation Workshop Presentation by Beverly David, Life Skills Trainer and Sarah Patchett, Employment Developer. Recommendation None. For information only. 5. FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 7 - 8 a) Community Services 2006 Staff Training Report Report No. CS-7-2007-3 Recommendation None. For information only. 9 b) Community Services Committee Summer Meeting Schedule Report No. CS-7-2007-4 Recommendation None. Information related to future meeting date options. 6. THE PINES/LONG-TERM CARE 10 - 12 a) The Pines – Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Annual Review Report No. CS-7-2007-5 Recommendation None. For information only. 13 - 14 b) Donations to The Pines Report No. CS-7-2007-6 Recommendation THAT The District Municipality of Muskoka approves the creation of The Pines Community Support Committee in accordance with Terms of Reference as outlined in Report No. CS-7-2007-6. 7. INFORMATION ITEMS Distributed a) Trends Opportunities Priorities TOP Report 2006/07, Muskoka Nipissing Parry Separately Sound Local Training and Adjustment Board Annual Report. CS-7-2007-INFO-A (To be distributed at meeting). 15 b) News Release, Ontario Child Benefit Cheques Set To Flow As 2007 Budget Bill Passes, dated May 10, 2007 from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. CS-7-20070-INFO-B 16 - 17 c) News Release, New Affordable Housing Project Opens in Huntsville, dated June 1, 2007 from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. CS-7-2007-INFO-C 18 d) News Release, McGuinty Government Ensuring High Quality Long-Term Care, dated May 31, 2007 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. CS-7-2007-INFO-D 19 - 28 e) Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) Action Update dated June 2007. CS-7-2007-INFO-E 29 - 30 f) News Release, Making Progress Towards an Accessible Ontario, dated June 12, 2007 from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. CS-7-2007-INFO-F 8. NEW BUSINESS 9. ADJOURNMENT Recommendation THAT the Community Services Committee adjourns to meet again on July 24, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. or at the call of the Chair. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 70 PINE STREET, BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO P1L 1N3 Telephone (705) 645-2412 Fax (705) 645-5319 1-800-461-4210 (705 area code) www.muskoka.on.ca TO: Chair and Members Community Services Committee FROM: Heather Moore Director of Programs DATE: June 12, 2007 SUBJECT: Additional Best Start Funding Allocation REPORT NO: CS-7-2007-1 RECOMMENDATION THAT Muskoka District Council approve the allocation plan as outlined in Report No. CS-7-2007-1 dated June 12, 2007 for a new allocation of funding of $138,200 under the provincial Best Start Initiative. ORIGIN Staff. The original 2007/08 Best Start Allocation for Muskoka was $418,900. The portion of that funding pertaining to the 2007 calendar year was allocated within our annual corporate budget submission that has been approved by Muskoka District Council. On May 23, 2007, The Commissioner of Community and Social Services received notice from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services that an additional $138,200 would be flowed to Muskoka as Enhanced Funding (letter attached) for 2007/08. It is now necessary for Community Services Committee and Council to approve a disbursement plan for the new one-time funding. ANALYSIS The guidelines around spending of the Best Start Enhanced Funding are quite general. The allocation letter states that it is being provided "to help to address ongoing pressures in the early learning and care system." Since the allocation, staff has considered different options for allocation. In 2006, Best Start funding was directed to: part time Case Aide position, support to the Best Start Network (meeting costs, office supplies, printing, copying, advertising, phone, etc.), French translation, Wage Improvement, start up funding for three new programs, School Integration program, Wage Subsidy, Fee Subsidy and Special Needs Resourcing, for expenditures totalling approximately $318,000. Planned 2007 expenditures for our original allocation include similar expenses, plus funding for our Children's Services Community Facilitator position, new in 2007. It should be noted that the Enhanced Funding has been allocated for the current provincial fiscal period only. However, it flows from the 2007 provincial budget commitment of a new, ongoing allocation to child care. Therefore, while we plan in the absence of an ongoing commitment, we are optimistic that Enhancement Funding will be available in future years. Certainly, any area where funds are directed will receive a clear message that this does not represent an ongoing enhanced funding envelope at this time. Staff recommendations for the new funding include: 1. Additional $20,000 to support Early Learning Initiatives developed by the Early Learning Subcommittee of the Best Start Network. The activities of this group reflect the primary policy direction of Best Start for 2007 - enhanced integration of services for children; 2. $20,170 to Community Living South Muskoka, bringing total annual funding for Special Needs Resources provided by this agency to $192,500; 3. $330 to Community Living Huntsville, bringing total annual funding for Special Needs Resources provided by this agency to $192,500 (there has been a historical funding inequity between these two agencies, which is addressed this year by this one time allocation.); and 4. $10,000 towards procuring a Facilitator to review options for the integration of several different children's planning tables - Best Start, Early Years, and the Muskoka Planning Council. If these initiatives were approved, $87,700 remains to be allocated. Staff believe that it would be beneficial for, and of interest to, our Committee to engage in a discussion about their preferences for funding choices. Those choices could include more funding in traditional areas, with priorities as identified by Committee, or could reflect other new initiatives that support provincial and local priorities of enhanced service integration, broad access to quality early learning opportunities, or increased supply of licensed child care spaces. We look forward to the opportunity to hold this discussion with Committee on June 20, 2007. Respectfully submitted, With the concurrence of, Heather Moore Rick Williams Director of Programs Commissioner of Community Services Ministry of Community Minlstere des Services and Social Services soclaux et communautaires Ministry of Children and Mlnlst8re des services ® Ontario Youth Services a I'enfance et ala jeunesse North East Region R8glon du Nord-Est 621 Main Street West 621, rue Main OUest North Bay ON P1 B 2V6 North Bay (Ontario) P1B 2V6 705-474-3540 ext, 205 (705) 474-3540 poste 205 1 800 461 6977 18004616977 TTY: 705-474-7665 ATS : 705-474-7665 FacsimOe: 705-474-5446 Telecopieur: (705) 474-5446 May 23, 2007 MEMO TO: Rick Williams, Commissioner District Municipality of Muskoka FROM: Mary Lynne O'Leary Municipal and First Nations Services Manager North East Region Re: 2007/08 Best Start Child Care Allocation The following outlines your 2007/08 Best Start Child Care allocation that Ontario is delivering to fund the early learning and child care components of Best Start. In addition to this, an enhanced allocation is being provided via Best Start to help to address ongoing pressures in the early learning and care system. 2007/08 Allocation $359,800 $138,200 $35,400 $23,700 L-:....=-=~ ,,__ $557,100 Best Start Operating and Enhanced funds are being flowed under IFIS TP Business Unit Detail Code A661 - Best Start Operating. Best Start Wage Improvement funds are being flowed under IFIS TP Business Unit Detail Code A446 - Best Start Wage Improvement. Best Start Planning funds are being flowed under lAS TP Business Unit Detail Code A447 - Best Start Planning. .../2 -2- These allocations are currently being processed, and should be available to you shortly. If you have any questions, please contact Ron Ferguson at (416) 325-5777 or email Ron at [email protected]. Ljrtl~ L-l ~L( Mary Lynne O'Leary cc. Arfona Zwiers, Best Start Implementation Manager Peggy O'Connor, Program Supervisor - Best Start Lead Margaret Buddo, Program Supervisor COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 70 PINE STREET, BRACEBRIDGE, ONTARIO P1L 1N3 Telephone (705) 645-2412 Fax (705) 645-5319 1-800-461-4210 (705 area code) www.muskoka.on.ca TO: Chair and Members Community Services Committee FROM: Arfona Zwiers Coordinator of Children’s Services DATE: June 8, 2007 SUBJECT: Muskoka Early Childhood Educators’ Symposium REPORT NO: CS-7-2007-2 RECOMMENDATION None. For information only. ORIGIN Staff. Follow up to Report No. CS-3-2007-3 Muskoka Early Childhood Educators’ Symposium. ANALYSIS Muskoka held its third symposium for early childhood educators on May 11th and 12th, 2007, entitled “Play, Learn, Share”. There were 100 attendees. 78% were from Muskoka, and 64% work directly with Muskoka children. All of Muskoka’s full-time child care centres were represented, as well as the home child care programs. Other local children’s services agencies’ staff were also able to attend.