Enhancing Community Integration: Findings and Recommendations from the Best Start Network

1. Manitoulin-Sudbury District Greater Sudbury Best Start Network’s Community Integration Leaders Project Findings and Recommendations

2. Integration by Network and Parent Experience: CGS & MS

3. Enablers and Barriers to Integration Enablers • Planning & accountability framework • Partner representation & buy-in • Shared vision, leadership, resources • Engaging existing community supports (LSPN) • Collaboration out of necessity • Trust and embracing change • Direction from Ministry Barriers • Differing mandates • Lack of support for integration • Gaps at the Network table • Lack of shared planning • Lack of Ministry direction • Varied support with schools and school boards • Large geography • Complexity • Burden of reporting

4. Service and Family Outcomes • Improved knowledge-transfer, planning & professional development • Improved ability to respond to community needs • Improved delivery of Early Id screening & child/family programs • Increased participation in programs • Improved school-readiness, parenting skills & knowledge • Improved service delivery - supportive, inclusive, accessible, seamless • Vast majority of parents satisfied with programs, workshops, parent supports, information and referrals, as well as staff • Overall EDI is improving or stable (Lang., Comm., Social Competence) • Grade 3 EQAO is improving • Outreach is challenged by transportation and geography • Wait times not impacted

5. Innovative Information Technology • A social marketing firm reviewed internet reach and capacity of existing Network websites • Greater Sudbury had an independent and robust website, while MS site was embedded in the District Services Board website • Based on their analysis and recommendations, steps were made to increase access and traffic • MSBSN created separate Best Start page • GSBSN improved “usability” and content from parent user perspective • GSBSN improved usability for contributors to make it easier to post, with less errors

6. Innovative Information Technology: Access & Use • Almost all parents have access to internet regardless of income (96%) • Almost all access internet from home • Almost half use mobile devices • Email and Facebook were the most common, followed by YouTube and Pinterest. Instagram and Twitter were uncommon. • The easier the website is to navigate, the more people use it. • Many parents go to the GSBSN website for information – especially the calendar of events and receive email updates. Few were using the MSBSN likely due to the difficulty in navigating the site. • And for both – two-thirds of parents find information in other places

7. Innovative Information Technology • Hosted a live ‘webinar’ Ask the Expert – All about Parenting • 12 YouTube “Parenting Pointers” videos for websites/Facebook • 715 views in 3 weeks • To increase our audience we held a promotion to “like” the Best Start Facebook page with a draw for $150 • This led to an increase in unique visitors, new visitors, email subscriptions and average daily reach.

8. Innovative Technology • Integrating more IT options and maintaining them requires • Resource allocation • Staff training • Dedicated staff member • Digital guidelines for access and consistency

9. Integrated Service Delivery Models Key Elements • Vision/Mission • Collaborative Agreement • Co-Location • Service Develop. & Systems Planning • Service Co-ordination • Common Intake & Referral • Family Centred Planning • Integrated Service Plan • Information Sharing • Assigned Service Co-ordinator • Access to Specialized Expertise MCYS Principles • Child, Youth, Family-Centred • Individualized • Culturally Competent • Least Intrusive • Community-based • Flexibility • Effectiveness • Shared Responsibility • Co-ordination, Collaboration

10. Chapleau Model

11. Community Wide Consultation

12. Integrated Service Delivery Models • Rural communities impacted by geography, diversity, culture & capacity “rural culture” • Significant potential of co-location/integration • Requires planning, co-ordination, buy-in & a common vision • Requires local input (front line and family) and consistent support from management

13. Recommendations: Use of IT • Create strategic plans at the network and hub level for the use of social media tools • Provide staff training, time allocated to task, develop policies that provide consistency and clarity • Use the Guidelines – including the continual monitoring of sites, feedback & new opportunities • Explore the use of more sophisticated IT

14. Recommendations: Integrated Service Models • Integration is a continuum – determine appropriate level • Adopt common intake mechanisms and structured case management processes • Use key elements of Integrated Children’s Service model • Understand rural culture • Use schools as Hubs • Ministry direction

15. Questions? Thank you!