ACDS Notes

Last Call for the Innovation Awards
Nominations deadline is February 28th.


Supportive Living Accommodation Standards - Survey Results
ACDS sent a survey to our members in January, 2017 with a request to answer three questions:

1. What are the challenges with the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards?
2. What are the challenges with the Supportive Living Accommodation reviews?
3. What recommendations would you give to improve them?

Please click here for the survey results
The Political Scene

Start of the Spring Session
The Legislature's Spring Session starts on Thursday, March 2nd at 3:00pm, with the speech from the throne. Daily question period begins the following week, Monday-Thursday starting at 1:30pm.

Livestreams of the Legislature and committee meetings are available at assembly.ab.ca, by clicking on Assembly Online.

Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities  
Minister Sabir has announced a recruitment campaign for new Council members (click for info).
 
The Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities is responsible for providing advice regarding the opportunity for full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in the life of the province.  The application deadline is March 9th

Family Support for Children with Disabilities Provincial Parent Advisory Committee  
"The Minister of Community and Social Services is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving as Public Members and /or Co-chair of the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) Provincial Parent Advisory Committee (PPAC)."
Alberta.ca  
Training and Development

Conference 2017 Registration is Open
Join us April 24-26 in Calgary!



Positive Behaviour Supports
The deadline for completing the Train the Trainer pre-assessment is March 5th.


Seeking Regional Trainers
We are looking for additional regional trainers to facilitate the two day ACDS Positive Behaviour Supports training sessions, as needed. This very successful program is growing! Please contact training@acds.ca.
Workforce Update

Annual Data Collection - Final Days
The ACDS annual HR Data Collection Survey 2016 will close on February 28th. We have successfully incorporated your feedback from previous surveys to create a more concise process for this year. We would like to thank everyone for their continued participation, as you know accurate data tracking is vital to our advocacy efforts.

Please fill in each field using both human resource and accounting department files as required. Just a friendly reminder, that if your organization operates in multiple service regions you are only required to submit one survey with data from every service region.  
 
Click here to begin the HR Data Collection Survey 2016

2016 Pulse Check Data 
The provincial and regional data has been compiled into final reports and is available on the ACDS.ca members-only section under "Member Surveys".  
News, Links, and Events

16th Annual - Picture this...film festival
March 15th to 17th, hosted by the Calgary SCOPE Society


Everyone Belongs Outside
April 22nd, 10am-3pm - Event Poster 
"In partnership with Alberta Parks, the Prospect team has been hard at work planning an innovative outdoor inclusion showcase called Everyone Belongs Outside!  This event celebrates inclusion, increasing awareness about the continuous need to improve accessibility to the outdoors for all.
 
We have engaged a group of 17 local exhibitors, all who work to provide adaptive outdoor programming and help people overcome the barriers they face to outdoor recreation.  Not only will these businesses provide participants with information about their programs, but they will also be running fun activities throughout the day!"



Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations - Non-Profit Survey


"The Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations' annual Alberta Nonprofit Survey is the only source of province-wide "state of the sector" research that documents the ongoing experience and health of the nonprofit sector. The completed report is frequently used to help inform the decision-making of nonprofit leaders and boards, the Government of Alberta, foundations, and community stakeholders."
CCVO - Survey closes March 10th
Better care transitions urged after disabled First Nations teen dies
Graff made two recommendations in his report - a new process to ensure consistent services and supports for youth transitioning through systems, and ensuring the voice of the young person is included in case planning. 
Edmonton Journal
OCYA Report

Children's Services Minister responds to OCYA report
"We recognize that there is more work to be done to close these gaps. We accept the Advocate's recommendations and will continue to work with him as a valued partner in strengthening the ways we support children and youth."
Alberta.ca

Blind cabinet minister promises Canada's first national accessibility legislation will have teeth
Right now, Ms. Qualtrough is working with her colleagues on nailing down the basic principles of the bill, like whether it will include the creation of an ombudsman, how it will be enforced, and how to open up the definition of disability so the largest number of Canadians can see themselves and their situations reflected in the law. She says they haven't settled on a model but are pulling from what has worked and what hasn't in similar laws internationally and closer to home.
The Hill Times

The Complex Needs Initiative

The Complex Needs Initiative is hosting A Film Screening of the Paper Tigers Documentary Film
We invite yourselves and Community Service Provider staff you work alongside for an afternoon of learning and building community.

The film demonstrates the value of applying Trauma Informed Care principles and practices - highlighting hope and resilience and how the spirit of caring can lead to positive outcomes. This documentary is based in a school based environment and the practices they applied to make improvements will encourage and maybe inspire you to apply Trauma Informed Care principles and practices within your own work environments.
By attending this film screening you will become better informed about:
  1. Trauma Informed Care principles and practices
  2. Adverse Childhood Events (ACE's) research (outcomes and the current Alberta based ACE's research)
  3. Further education opportunities for advanced learning in the topic of Trauma Informed Care
Edmonton
Paper Tigers Documentary Film Screening

Princess Theatre, 10337 82 Avenue, Edmonton
Thursday, March 2, 2017
1:30 - 4:30
A discussion panel will be held (following the film)
Concession will be open

Calgary
Paper Tigers Documentary Film Screening

Globe Theatre, 617 8 Avenue, Calgary
Thursday, March 9, 2017
1:30 - 4:30
A discussion panel will be held (following the film)
Concession will be open



For more information, please contact:
Gloria Wesley, Manager
Provincial Complex Needs Coordinator
Program Development & Innovation
Disabilities, Inclusion & Accessibility Division
780-644-4677
Government of Alberta
 Gloria.wesley@gov.ab.ca
 Sandy Marcynuk, Consultant
Provincial Complex Needs Coordinator
Provincial Planning and Capacity Management
Community, Seniors and Addiction & Mental Health
587-773-5242
Alberta Health Services
sandy.marcynuk@albertahealthservices.ca
The ACDS Umbrella is a publication of the
Alberta Council of Disability Services
160 3015-12 Street NE
Calgary, Alberta, T2E 7J2
Phone: 403-250-9495 * Fax: 403-291-9864
© 2017 Alberta Council of Disability Services

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