TAMRMS#: B06
title
Amendment of Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Pogram
Presented by: Connie Smigielski, Manager of Family & Community Support Services, Community Services Department
label
RECOMMENDATION(S)
recommendation
That Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Program, be amended by substituting the proposed Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Program Funding provided as an attachment to the June 24, 2019 agenda report entitled "Amendment of Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Pogram".
body
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To update Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant to align to the Provincial FCSS Funding Program and Council Policy C-CS-22 - Outside Agency Operating Grant Program.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Community Granting and Support for Delivery of Services
Service Name
Management of Grants for Delivery of Social Services
Service Definition
Provision of grants to deliver preventative social services in the community.
Service Component and Current Service Level
Family Life Education Program - Program is geared at enhancing parenting skills and support to families
Stop Abuse in Families education program - Program aims at providing educational, skill development and awareness workshops/presentations to school-aged children and youth on various topics
Community Liaison Program - Program that provides a range of information, referral and outreach support to individuals and families
Senior Support Program - A program that aims at providing a range of information, referral and outreach support to seniors. The support includes administrative support to Bereavement Fellowship.
Sidekick Program - Program is geared at providing mentorship and matches for children and youth.
Information and Referrals - Program aims at linking residents to needed services.
Volunteer Centre Program - Program aims at connecting residents to volunteer opportunities and organizations to volunteers.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
On June 10, 2019 the Governance, Priorities, and Finance Committee passed the following motion:
(POL-19-001))
That the Governance, Priorities and Finance Committee recommend to Council that Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Program, be amended by substituting the proposed Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Program Funding excluding Service Standard # 2 provided as an attachment to the June 10, 2019 agenda report entitled "Amendments to Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Program".
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City has been offering an annual operating grant program, administered by the Community Services Department (formerly FCSS) to eligible community not-for-profit organizations for the delivery of preventative social services, in accordance with the funding formula and regulations identified in the Family and Community Support Services Act ("FCSS Act"), for several years.
One of the key principles of the FCSS Program is local responsibility for priority-setting and resource allocation. Within the parameters of the FCSS Act and Regulation, each municipality determines how much of the available grant allocation it will access from the Province and how this funding should be allocated to best meet the needs of the community. Locally, St. Albert provides services through a hybrid model whereby some services are provided through City Administration and others through programs offered by not-for-profit, community-based organizations.
Prior to 2015, there was no policy providing governance to the process and criteria, in September 2015, Council Policy C-CS-14 - FCSS Operating Grant Pogram was passed.
The City offers other annual funding programs not-for-profits can apply to, to support their organizations. The Outside Agency Operating Grant Program has been providing support to organizations since 2012, including agencies already funded through the FCSS Operating Grant Program. Both funds have limited funding, and annual application requests always surpass the amount available for allocation. When agencies have not received their full request, they have the option to make a direct request to Council for further funding, sometimes resulting in not-for-profit organizations receiving funding from the City through multiple programs for the same programs or services.
Administration is recommending the following amendments to the Council Policy:
1. An additional Service Standard be included in the amended Policy that reads “Municipal dollars from multiple funding streams cannot be used to fund the same operational component”. The addition of this sentence aligns with recent amendments made to the Outside Agency Operating Grant Program. Further, will support stronger controls related to duplication to ensure organizations are not accessing two municipal grant programs to fund portions of the same staffing position or expense within their budget, and potentially free up dollars to support more organizations.
2. That the Council Policy be renamed to "FCSS Program Funding", and not be referred to as an operating grant. The name change aligns with the intent of the funding as per Service Standard #16 outlined in the Council Policy, which states that "Programs are funded not organizations, and means that FCSS funding is allocated to programs and services not organizations as an entity".
As per the recommendation from the Governance, Priorities and Finance Committee, Service Standard #2 has remained in its original intent.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Administration met with the five not-for-profit organizations currently funded through the FCSS Operating Grant Program to seek their input on the recommended amendments. Feedback received was positive, there were not concerns expressed with the recommendations.
The Community Services Advisory Committee reviewed the policy amendments and were unanimous in their support with the recommended changes.
IMPLICATIONS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
Should Council not support the recommended amendments, not-for-profit organizations could receive duplicate funding from City program funds, limiting the amount available to the community.
Legal / Risk:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES AND IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendations, the following alternative could be considered:
That the matter be directed back to Administration for further review taking into consideration the dialogue and feedback generated by Council.
Report Date: June 24, 2019
Author: Connie Smigielski
Department: Community Services Department
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer: Kerry Hilts
Chief Administrative Officer: Kevin Scoble