Social development program

1. Social development program March 11,2008

2. Topics of discussion • What is Income Support? • Learners and income support transfer • National child benefit • Service delivery • Special needs

3. WHAT IS INCOME SUPPORT? Income Support provides financial benefits to indigent individuals and families who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, like food, clothing, ETC. The level of assistance varies depending on each individual circumstances and situation including. We take into account the following; existing financial resources, their ability to work, assets, and the household number.

4. Vision The standard of living on TsuuT`ina is improved by supporting our nation members and residents to become a skilled, self sufficient, and competent TsuuT`ina workforce.

5. Mission To collaborate with other departments and services to provide holistic programs that empower the TsuuT’ina Nation people and residents that support families, increase employability, and reduce dependency on Income Support; thus improving the overall quality of life of TsuuT`ina Nation members and residents.

6. Goals Our goal is to assist and provide support to our families with entry into the work force by directing them to the programs, trainings, jobs, and or education institutions that will help them reach their employment goals.

7. Active Measures In the context of combating the demands within the Canadian economy, the Provincial governments instituted active measures which are policies designed to improve employability of the unemployed to the career and job markets. These active measure policies are mirrored in the development of the INAC Federal Income Support policies and procedures manual. TsuuT`ina Income Support Department has plans in 2009-10 to do revisions and development of policies that will reflect more the TsuuT`ina Customs and Practices. We have a community work task force in place and Governance has agreed to help us and facilitate this process.

8. Income Support Case Management Process The journey to work and preparing to enter the workforce takes commitment to a change of lifestyle. This journey can have many faces; life skills, upgrading, self-employment, work practicum, employability skills training, training, and other personnel development. Stages of the Case Management Process are; A. Application B. Intake/Employment Readiness Assessment C. Case Planning D. Career, Career planning & Labor Market Information E. Work Supports

9. Role of Case Managers 1. Case managers are key partners with client to collaboratively develop case plans that implement active measures that will help them become participating members the workforce. 2. Actively help client identify their goals and needs. 3. Refer clients to other needed supports to help them fulfill their case plans. 4. Ensure timely issuance.

10. Client Categories for Benefits Core Essentials Benefits are provided based on 3 categories • Not to Expect to work • Expected to work ‘A’ ’B’ ‘C’ • Adult and Youth Learners • These categories are based on Employment Readiness Assessment

11. Not Expected to Work A and B • NETW A –must have a medical in place- recent increase in rates • NETW B – multiple barrier client • Receive an additional personal needs supplement benefit of $78.00 per month per client

12. Learners – Adult and Youth Requirements : Over the age of 18 Out of regular K-12 education system for one year Notice of assessment for employment, Immigration and Industry (EEI) Identifying clients as a leader with provincial funding for tuition and books only

13. Continued Learners Adult - Youth • Students in Aboriginal trainings to Employment Program (ATEP) or a First Nations Training to Employment Program (FNTEP) do not require a NOA, However a letter from the training provider is required. • Students enrolled in UCEP are not eligible for funding under income support as a Learners, they continue to receive funding through PSE

14. Supplemental Benefits to Adult Learners : • $78.00Personal Needs Supplement to be issued to Learner households if: • There are no dependants , and • The spouse/cohabiting partner is NETW and • The Learner was assessed as the meeting the criteria for NETW

15. $120 Employment and Maintenance Allowance: Employment Maintenance Allowance for learner who have employment income, or whose partner/cohabiting spouse has employment income, prorated for the period of study.

16. $0.12 per KM Learners Travel: • For learners reside on-reserve and have to use a private vehicle to commute to a training program located off-reserve

17. Special Need Benefits for Adult Learners • Employment Training and Transitions support -$500.00 per calendar year • Child Care for Learners – Costs incurred be eligible Learners attending training will be compensated at rates consistent with child care other then for employment

18. Youth Learners Youth Requiring Exceptional Consideration - extends Learner Benefit to eligible youth requiring specialconsideration • Learners benefit extended to eligible 16-19 years old who are attendance in the regular school system (includes cyber school), and :

19. Continue youth learners • Cannot live at home due to family breakdown Or • are a single parent youth and • Must be full time attendance in regular K12 education system

20. Programs under Income Support Department National Child Benefit (NCB) Off Reserve Residential Program Resource and Employment Center Each of these programs will have their own power point presentation except of the Homeless Shelter which is still in the process of being established.

21. Organizational Chart TsuuT`ina Nation Membership Chief & Council Administrative Committee Nation Administrator Director Casework Supervisor Off Reserve Residential Coordinator NCB Coordinator Career & Employment Counselors ; Senior Intake Case Manager Executive Assistant Financial Tech/Budget Assistant NCB Assistant Junior Income Case Manager Receptionist/File Clerk Receptionist/Secretary NCB Contractors File Clerks (2) Note: This organizational chart is subject to revision.

22. Successful 2008-09 Goals & New Initiatives A. Resource & Employment Center (LMIC)– approved in principle & a verbal commitment for funding made by both INAC and the province of Alberta. The purpose of the TTLMIC is to prevent and reduce reliance on Income Support by providing first; knowledge, awareness and access for the TsuuT`ina Nation about career training, education, and jobs., second; it would ensure the latest information on the economy & job market trends.., and third; it will serve as a mechanism to better match clients skills with existing employment opportunities. We are purchasing the necessary startup necessary for the LMIC and we are meeting with the Provincial representative regarding the staffing. B. Youth Center - in collaboration with the other TsuuT`ina Nation Recreation departments and TsuuT`ina Chief and Council support, a youth center was established at the Seven Chiefs Sportplex on the TsuuT`ina Nation. C. Reduced Income Support to 10% to become the leading First Nation in Alberta to have the lowest Income Support dependency.

23. 2009-10 New Initiative – Homeless Shelter The proposed GuwaGuduwa (Homeless) Shelter is a local community shelter that will help alleviate chronic homelessness and reduce criminal recidivism by providing short–term shelter that seeks to obtain long–term housing, establish mentoring relationships, and secure stable employment for its clients. The GuwaGuduwa (Homeless)Shelter will be an emergency homeless shelter for adults 18 and over. It will be located on TsuuT`ina Nation. GudwaGuduwa will be overseen by the TsuuT`ina Income Support Department. The goal of the homeless shelter will be a local community collaborative to help reduce and alleviate chronic homelessness and criminal recidivism on TsuuT`ina Nation by providing meals for the hungry, shelter, & programming, community volunteerism, and to give referrals that will support and empower them to transform their lives.

24. Income Support Budget 8.3 TsuuT`ina Income Support program is presently financially supported by three funding sources; federal, provincial, and TsuuT`ina proceeds for the casino charities. The federal budget is primarily for the delivery of Income Support to on- reserve nation members and other residents who qualify. Approx. $1,779,688.00 but C & C approved however, only $1,426,000 toward the Income Support Program. The balance was relocated by C & C as they sought the need. The provincial budget is for the delivery of the Off Reserve Income Support to only BBC evacuees whom were relocated into the City of Calgary $1,989,685. TsuuT`ina proceeds through the casino charities are fund the Off Reserve Residential program for general nation members who do not have housing on the reserve and the BBC evacuees whom were evacuated from the Blackbear Crossing. $5,035,600.00 Resource and Employment Center (Labor Market) $199,000.00.

25. Income Support Community Taskforce This community taskforce is involved in working toward changing existing Income Support Policy along with the Governance Department. If you are interested in getting on this community taskforce, please call Ivonne @ 238-4015.