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February 24, 2022

Top Stories

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What Does Poverty Look Like in Ontario?

Poverty is increasingly affecting a wider swath of Ontarians and the ripple effects of living with a low income can also be broad. Without the support services found in many large urban centres, living in poverty can become even more complicated and devastating in rural parts of the province.


TVO's The Agenda recently discussed the issue of poverty in communities across Ontario. They invited two OMSSA Board Members - Vice President Henry Wall and Polly Smith - for a panel discussion on poverty in Ontario.

View the segment
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Save the Date for OMSSA's 2022 Exchange Conference

We are excited to announce the date of our 2022 OMSSA Exchange Conference:


May 2, 3 and 4, 2022


Coming to you virtually over three mornings, this conference will bring together hundreds of professionals from front-line employees to service managers, and community organizations, from across Ontario to exchange knowledge, best practices, and creative solutions.


As we get closer to May, we will offer more information on our exciting program and confirmed speakers. Join us virtually from the comfort of your home this May. We look forward to seeing you at this year's event!

Submit Your RFPs to OMSSA's RFP Board

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OMSSA is pleased to announce the launch of our Requests for Proposals and Quotes (RFP/RFQ) Board on March 1, 2022, with the latest open RFP/RFQ opportunities in the broader human services sector.


Interested members can email OMSSA your open RFPs to jobs@omssa.com for inclusion on this board.


OMSSA is developing a new monthly newsletter that will be used to promote the RFP/RFQs, and they will be shared on OMSSA’s social media channels.


Please subscribe to our newsletter today by clicking on the button below, filling out the form on our subscription webpage, and checking “RFP/RFQ Opportunities.” Please share this information and subscription option with your colleagues who may be interested and/or manage RFPs for your organization.

Submit your RFP
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Policy Monitor

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  • After consultation with members, OMSSA has shared it priorities with the provincial and federal governments as they work to develop and finalize their 2022 budgets. You can read OMSSA's pre-budget submission to the Ontario Government and the Federal Government.


  • OMSSA provided its response to the proposed regulatory amendments related to the Community Housing Renewal Strategy.




  • The Ontario Government announced a $73 million investment over three years to train and provide clinical placements for over 16,000 personal support worker (PSW) and nursing students as part of the government’s plan to recruit and retain tens of thousands of long-term care staff.


  • The Ontario Government is investing $90 million over three years through the new Addictions Recovery Fund to immediately expand addictions services and increase the number of treatment beds across the province.


  • The Ontario Government is investing $6.84 million through the new Addictions Recovery Fund to immediately enhance access to bed-based addictions treatment supports at Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology.


  • The Ontario Government is providing nearly $5.5 million to help build 30 accessible modular housing units in London to support people with addictions and mental health challenges, and those from racialized groups or at risk of homelessness.


  • The Ontario Government is investing over $2.9 million in seven projects to help build and renovate 98 supportive housing units in the Thunder Bay area.



  • The Ontario Government is calling on citizens 16 years of age and older to help their communities in times of crisis by joining Volunteer Corps Ontario. The new program will register, screen and train volunteers so Ontario is better prepared to mobilize volunteers and safely respond to emergencies, from public health crises to natural disasters.

OMSSA Updates

OMSSA Invites Board Nominations for the 2022-24 Term


OMSSA is inviting nominations for the Association’s Board of Directors by Friday, April 8, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.


Members will be elected to the Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association for a two-year term of office. For the 2022-2024 term, there is one (1) vacancy to be filled on the 10-member Board. This year’s AGM is being held in-person on Thursday, June 23, 2022.


Visit OMSSA's website to learn more about eligibility and how to submit your nomination before the deadline.

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Learn more

The Latest from OMSSA's Blog: How Can Human Services Empower Young Leaders?


Nohad Abou-Hamad and Ben Reyes-Landicho are the recipients of the 2021 OMSSA Young Leader Award. Both are currently working for the City of Ottawa as Case Workers. They are sharing a few of the lessons and skills they have developed as leaders that can be applied across all of the human services sectors.

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Read more

The Latest from OMSSA's Blog: An Interview with Cordelia Abankwa


Cordelia Abankwa is the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Employment and Training Division with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and the recipient of the 2021 OMSSA Patti Moore Human Services Integration Award. OMSSA sat down with Cordelia for an interview to discuss her work with the Ministry and experiences over her career within municipal and provincial settings. 

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Read more

If you would like to contribute to OMSSA's Knowledge Exchange blog, please contact OMSSA's Communications and Member Engagement Manager, Rob Kirsic, at communications@omssa.com.

In the News

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Member Stories:

District of Muskoka's Home For Good opens in Bracebridge in the battle against homelessness

Cornwall wants to build another 48 housing units in 2022-24

Homeowners offered a chance for a forgivable loan of up to $10,000 for repairs in Kawartha Lakes

Paramedic Services Expanding In Dryden

Over $2M in funding enabling housing, homelessness supports in Lanark County

County outlines $11M spending plan on homelessness for 2022

PELASS presents ‘snapshot’ of homeless people in the region

Human Services Headlines:

(OPINION) How did Ontario's disgraceful disability support program get so bad?

Area 'Nanna' is homeless but determined in impossible search for a home

Local moms push for more childcare services in Parry Sound

Warden wants the City to bring parties together to talk future of IRC

Study probes why some in Sarnia-Lambton aren't working

Kitchener's tiny home project to address homelessness an 'inspiration' for other cities

Singles in deep poverty neglected by pandemic supports

How a new online resource is trying to help Ontarians stuck in a ‘vicious cycle of recidivism and poverty’ (paywall)

Sector News and Resources

OMSSA would like to congratulate Jelena Payne on being named the City of Windsor's first Commissioner of Economic Development and Innovation, overseeing the Economic Development, Land Use Planning, Information Technology and Building Services departments effective April 4, 2022. The current Executive Director of Housing and Children’s Services, Debbie Cercone, will assume the role of interim Commissioner of Human and Health Services, pending a recruitment for the position on a permanent basis.

There is a rising homelessness crisis that exists amidst a housing affordability crisis. It is taking a devastating toll on individuals and communities. Increasing housing affordability is the primary solution; however, there are a range of actions that can be taken by all orders of government to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness. The next step needed is to come together to jointly co-design and implement a plan of action to end homelessness in Ontario. This is an achievable goal with time and there is a moral and economic imperative to act now. It is in the interest of all people in the province. AMO has developed and provided a proposal to the province, with five recommended foundational steps and twenty-three recommended actions. Read AMO's proposal here.

AMO is pleased to release “A Blueprint for Action: An Integrated Approach to Address the Ontario Housing Crisis.” The Blueprint takes a principle-based approach and outlines nearly 90 recommendations on how to guide collective action to build a strong housing sector throughout the province. Read AMO's document here.

As ambulances face increasing offload times in hospitals, the Ministry of Health has now provided guidance should the expansion of consolidation (“batching”) of patients within the hospital be strategically needed to enable paramedic crews to return to service quickly. This practice has been used by various paramedic services across the province and this ministry direction is now providing a more consistent approach to “batching”. Hospitals and paramedic services that are considering further expansion and formalization of the batching of patients may work towards establishing a MOU between the hospital(s) and paramedic service(s). This MOU is to include the assignment of liability and is to be done with appropriate municipal council/DSSAB approvals where the Single/Upper Tier Municipality/DSSAB employs and delivers paramedic services. Read the guidance document here.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer published a report providing an estimated cost of the provincial and territorial aspects of the federal national child care plan announced in Budget 2021. Read the report here.

The Canadian Reconciliation Barometer is an organization that came together to measure progress towards Reconciliation. The organization has issued its 2021 report focusing on Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives on our progress toward Reconciliation in Canada. Members can also learn about Reconciliation progress in different regions if you’re interested in seeing how things are doing in your home(s). Read the report here.

Indigenous communities across Canada have been seeking equity-based agreements in major projects which could be key to unlocking new levels of control over the development of their territories. Beyond the decision-making power that these agreements grant over how those major projects impact their territories, they also open the door to arrangements that prioritize long-term community benefits such as greater than usual employment and training. The Conference Board of Canada looks more closely at this growing trend to understand its impacts on Indigenous communities, and the barriers that lie ahead. Read more here.

The City of Greater Sudbury has launched a new online Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Dashboard. The dashboard provides a collection of KPIs that offers insight into the organization's financial performance, customer service, internal business processes and employee experience. View the dashboard here.

Job Opportunities

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Facilities Administrator Property Services - Parkdale Scattered Homes

YWCA Toronto | Apply by February 25

Program Manager, Children's Services

City of Toronto | Apply by March 3

12 Month Temporary Children’s Early Years Pedagogical Leader 

County of Wellington | Apply by March 4

Community Relations Worker

PSDSSAB | Apply by March 6

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Advisor

Niagara Region | Apply by March 8

Maintenance Worker

Homes First Society | Apply by March 10

Associate Director Program Implementation, Research & Development

Child Development Institute | Apply by March 14

...and many more

Virtual Training

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Resolving Difficult Conversations (Advanced) | March 1-3

Understanding Client Behaviours | March 7-8

Inclusive Leadership: Theory to Practice | March 8

Trauma-Informed Care | March 21-29

Creating Interactive Digital Meetings and Learning Sessions | March 23

OW Directives and SAMS Training: Emergency Assistance | March 30 - April 1

...and many more

The Ontario Municipal Social Services Association

30 Duncan Street, Suite 606

Toronto, ON M5V 2C3

416-479-1491

www.omssa.com

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